Iran Protests: The ongoing protests in Iran have now taken a serious turn. Public anger on streets is continuously escalating. Amidst this, Australia, Canada, and the European Union have issued a joint statement criticising the Iranian government’s actions. In the joint statement released by Global Affairs Canada, the foreign ministers of the three countries praised the courage of the Iranian people. The statement said, “We commend the bravery of the Iranian people who are standing up for their dignity and their fundamental right to peaceful protest.”
Iran Protest Deaths: Killing of protesters is completely reprehensible
Joint statement strongly condemned the Iranian regime’s actions against the protesters. The foreign ministers stated that the killing of protesters, the use of violence, arbitrary arrests, and intimidation tactics in Iran are completely reprehensible. The Iranian regime is adopting a repressive approach against its own people. The three parties demanded that Iran immediately cease the excessive and lethal use of force.
Iran Government Crackdown: Demand to stop violence in Iran
Statement said that Iran must immediately end the use of excessive and lethal force against protesters by its security forces, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Basij. According to the joint statement, more than 40 people have lost their lives so far. The foreign ministers emphasised that the Iranian regime has a responsibility to protect its citizens. The statement said that Iran should allow freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly so that people can express themselves without fear of reprisal.
Iran Latest News: Internet shut down in Iran, Khamenei declares – We will not back down
Amidst the ongoing protests in Iran, authorities shut down internet services on Friday to quell the unrest. Meanwhile, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed not to back down and accused the protesters of working on behalf of exiled opposition groups and the United States. Khamenei criticised the protesters, accusing them of causing destruction on their own streets to please the president of another country. Khamenei’s target was clearly Trump, who had said in an interview that the US would retaliate if the Iranian regime targeted the protesters.
Iran Protests: People take to the streets to remove Iran’s Khamenei
In Iran, people are on the streets protesting against the government led by Khamenei. These protests are against rising inflation, the failing economy, and the repressive actions of the security forces. Iran’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi had called for protests on Thursday and Friday at 8 PM local time. The protests gained momentum on the night of January 8th, leading the Iranian government, under President Masoud Pezeshkian, to shut down internet and international telephone services in the country.
Slogans of “Death to America” were chanted
Iranian state media acknowledged for the first time on Friday that there had been casualties during the protests, although it did not provide specific figures. The state media also blamed the violence on terrorist agents linked to United States and Israel. Meanwhile, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in an address to the nation, called US President Donald Trump “arrogant” and accused him of having the blood of Iranians on his hands. Khamenei said Trump should focus on his own country’s problems.
Khamenei hinted that security forces would now take a tougher stance against the protesters. Videos broadcast on state television also showed chants of “Death to America.” Khamenei also targeted Trump on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), claiming that more than a thousand Iranians were killed in a 12-day conflict in June, which he alleged was ordered by Trump.
