Iranian president vows to len to protesters amid brutal police response, violent clashes | World News
In this frame grab from footage circulating on social media shows protesters dancing and cheering around a bonfire as they take to the streets despite an intensifying crackdown as the Islamic Republic remains cut off from the rest of the world, in Tehran, Iran. (AP)
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that officials will len to protesters but accused rioters of trying to “destroy the entire society” as protests spread across the country, challenging the Islamic Republic’s theocracy.
Demonstrators flooded the streets in Tehran and violence during the over two-week protests killed at least 116 people, activs said. The statement the Iranian president reportedly symbolises a hardening tone from the reform leader, who has so far failed to convince the public as anger soared amid a dwindling economy that has posed a direct challenge to the government.
An interview aired Iranian state television on Sunday showed President Pezeshkian saying: “People have concerns, we should sit with them and if it is our duty, we should resolve their concerns. But the higher duty is not to allow a group of rioters to come and destroy the entire society,” AP reported.
The adminration imposed an internet shutdown in the country on Thursday that has led to protesters getting cut off from the rest of the world. However, videos that have emerged from Iran showed thousands of people protesting on the streets of the nation’s capital on Saturday morning.
In this frame grab from footage circulating on social media from Iran shows protesters taking to the streets despite an intensifying crackdown as the Islamic Republic remains cut off from the rest of the world in Tehran, Iran.(AP)
Protesters allegedly chanted “Death to Khamenei” referring to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and “Long live the Shah.”Story continues below this ad
According to a US-based Human Rights Activs News Agency, 2,600 people have been detained so far. Meanwhile, Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf warned that the US military and Israel would be “legitimate targets” if America strikes Tehran.
Qalibaf made the comments as several Iranian lawmakers raised slogans, “Death to America” amid rushing to the dais in the Iranian parliament.
New protests broke out in the country on Saturday as people rallied in the northern drict of Theran. However, in a major setback to protesters, Iran’s attorney general said anyone protesting would be considered an “enemy of God”.
(with inputs from AP)
