Flames engulf automobiles on a avenue in Tehran, Iran, amid a standoff between protesters and safety forces. (Reuters/Yonhap)
US President Donald Trump mentioned he’s contemplating “some very robust choices” as he condemns Iran for its bloody crackdown on anti-government demonstrations.
Human rights teams say a whole bunch of protestors have died to date.
The demonstrations, that are seen as the best disaster confronted by the Islamic Republic since its institution in 1979, threaten to plunge the Center East into chaos as soon as once more.
The Human Rights Activists Information Company, a US-based group of Iranian activists, reported Sunday that no less than 544 folks had died and greater than 10,600 had been arrested within the protests, which started on Dec. 28. Of the lifeless, 483 had been civilian protestors and 47 had been troopers and different members of regulation enforcement.
Iran Human Rights, a nonprofit based mostly in Norway, mentioned that whereas 192 deaths had been confirmed as of Monday, the dying toll may very well be as excessive as 2,000.
For the reason that Iranian authorities shut off the web and cell networks on Jan. 8 and has not introduced the variety of fatalities, the accuracy of those studies is unsure.
In accordance with some studies, many of the lifeless at some hospitals in Tehran suffered gunshot wounds.
Because the bloodshed in Iran intensifies, the US has been exploring concrete motion.
“We’re taking a look at it very significantly. The army is wanting [. . .] at some very robust choices,” Trump advised reporters aboard Air Pressure One on Sunday.
However Trump additionally raised the opportunity of dialogue.
“Yesterday, the leaders of Iran known as; they wish to negotiate,” Trump mentioned, including that “a gathering is being arrange.”
Trump added that “we could need to act due to what’s taking place earlier than the assembly,” suggesting he’s leaning towards taking army motion.
The Trump administration was reportedly planning to debate concrete measures in a high-level assembly on Tuesday.
The Iranian protestors, who took to the streets amid an financial disaster, are demanding the top of the theocratic authorities that has dominated Iran for many years and calling on Iran’s Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to step down.
AFP reported that some Iranian residents have been waving the flag of the Pahlavi dynasty, which dominated Iran earlier than the Islamic Republic.
The Iranian authorities claims that the demonstrations are being pacified.
Al Jazeera reported that Iranian International Minister Abbas Araghchi advised international diplomats on Monday that the “state of affairs is now underneath complete management.”
He claimed that the protestors had “turned violent and bloody to provide an excuse” for the Trump administration to intervene.
“We’re prepared for warfare but additionally for dialogue,” Araghchi commented.
The Iranian authorities describes the demonstrations as “riots” and says its crackdown represents a wrestle by the Iranian state in opposition to the US and the “Zionist regime,” that means Israel.
By Cheon Ho-sung, workers reporter; Kim Ji-hoon, workers reporter; Kim Gained-chul, Washington correspondent
Please direct questions or feedback to [english@hani.co.kr]
