Since Thursday last week, a series of pro- and anti-government rallies across Iran have gotten not only violent by has led to over 400 people arrested and police deployed with teargas, water cannon to disperse the crowd.
Prompted by economic hardship, discontent in alleged corruption in the government, people took to the streets in anti-government protests, the most serious mirroring those which followed after the disputed presidential election results of 2009 of then-President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
According to the state broadcaster, a total of some 12 people are reported dead across several cities following last nights events. Security forces repelled protesters who stormed military bases and police stations. Some of these protesters are reported to have been armed without citing the exact location where such an assault was put forth.
President Hassan Rouhani emphasized Sunday that citizens are ”absolutely free” to criticize the government and reserve the right to protest, however, he noted violence should not be used. ”Criticism is different from violence and damaging public properties” while warning demonstrators from engaging in disruptive behaviour.
Rouhani took a swap at Trump over his Twitter comments vis-a-vis the situation in Iran. ”This man in America who is sympathizing today with our people has forgotten that he called the Iranian nation terrorists a few months ago.”
Neba Benson,
BaretaNews Foreign Correspondent/Analyst
