Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday told US President Donald Trump to focus on the problems in his own country.
The US president had stated earlier that the US was watching the situation in Iran “very closely”.
“If they start killing people like they have in the past, I think they’re going to get hit very hard by the United States,” Trump had said.
Iranians staged their biggest protests yet of an almost two-week movement sparked by anger over the rising cost of living, chanting slogans including “death to the dictator” and setting fire to official buildings, videos showed on Friday.
Internet monitor Netblocks said authorities had imposed a total connectivity blackout late on Thursday and added early on Friday that the country has “now been offline for 12 hours … in an attempt to suppress sweeping protests”.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency has reported at least 34 protesters and four security personnel killed, and 2,200 arrested during the unrest, which analysts say highlights deeper disillusionment with the status quo.
Authorities have tried to maintain a dual approach to the unrest, saying protests over the economy are legitimate and will be met by dialogue, while responding to some demonstrations with tear gas amid violent street confrontations.
More to follow
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