SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
Iranian cities hit by anti-government protests
Anti-government demonstrations that began in Iran on Thursday have now spread to several major cities. Large numbers reportedly turned out in Rasht, in the north, and Kermanshah, in the west, with smaller protests in Isfahan, Hamadan and elsewhere. The protests began against rising prices but have spiralled into a general outcry against clerical rule and government policies.
A small number of people have been arrested in Tehran, the capital. They were among a group of 50 people who gathered in a city square, Tehran's deputy governor-general for security affairs told the Iranian Labour News Agency.
The US State Department condemned the arrests and urged "all nations to publicly support the Iranian people and their demands for basic rights and an end to corruption".
Also at Bloomberg and Reuters.
Update: Street protests hit Iran for third straight day as pro-government rallies held
Iran Confronts 3rd Day of Protests, With Calls for Khamenei to Quit
Update 2: Iran blocks Instagram, Telegram apps as government protesters will 'pay the price' for unrest (archive)
CEO says Iran blocking (Telegram) messaging app after issuing warning to protesters
Iran protests: 'Iron fist' threatened if unrest continues
(Score: 3, Insightful) by shortscreen on Sunday December 31 2017, @11:21PM (3 children)
No, a democratic Iran can't be an ally, because they might not vote to sell themselves out to "US interests."
The State Department cheering for protests just means that they are probably funded by US cash and that the US has their own handpicked puppet leaders ready to take over if any change in governance does come about. (See also: "Yats is the guy")
(Score: 2) by Bot on Monday January 01 2018, @12:30PM
> The State Department
Yes sadly it seems another of those destabilization moves. They spoke TOO SOON.
I mean, if it were a grassroots protest, the State Department would not support it unless they knew who is behind it, and what they want to achieve. It takes a bit of digging for that. So, at best, it's some political action by well known opposition masked as street protest.
Account abandoned.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 01 2018, @11:20PM (1 child)
Do you mean like when they overthrew the democratically elected government of Iran and installed the Shah?
(Score: 2) by shortscreen on Tuesday January 02 2018, @09:31AM
Yes. But with cell phones.