<\/p>\n
WASHINGTON: January 4, 2017. Russia urged the United States Thursday not to meddle in Iran\u2019s affairs, but the US State Department followed just a few hours later with a forceful statement in support of Iranian protesters.<\/p>\n
The State Department said it condemns deaths and arrests related to the Iranian protests in the \u201cstrongest possible terms.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have ample authorities to hold accountable, those who commit violence against protesters, contribute to censorship, or steal from the people of Iran.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo the regime\u2019s victims, we say: You will not be forgotten,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n
Anti-government demonstrations erupted a week ago in Iran, and US President Donald Trump has expressed support for the protesters in a series of tweets, as has the White House through its press secretary as well as the State Department.<\/p>\n
At least 21 people have died in the demonstrations, which began as protests against economic hardship. Iran\u2019s army chief said on Thursday that police forces had quelled the unrest, but his troops were ready to intervene if needed.<\/p>\n
In October, Trump declined to certify that Iran was complying with the nuclear deal. He must decide in mid-January if he wants to continue to waive energy sanctions on Iran.<\/p>\n
Trump\u2019s UN envoy, Ambassador Nikki Haley, has called for an emergency Security Council meeting on Iran, saying the UN needed to speak out in support of the protesters. As yet, no meeting has been scheduled.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
WASHINGTON: January 4, 2017. Russia urged the United States Thursday not to meddle in Iran’s affairs, but the US State Department followed just a few hours later with a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[178],"class_list":{"0":"post-24121","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-iran-protests","7":"tag-save"},"yoast_head":"\n