By Pooya Stone
The White House on Sunday condemned Iran for using “lethal force” against demonstrators during the unrest that left two dead and saw authorities arrest dozens and restrict internet access.
“The United States supports the Iranian people in their peaceful protests against the regime that is supposed to lead them,” White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement
“We condemn the lethal force and severe communications restrictions used against demonstrators,” she added.
“Tehran has fanatically pursued nuclear weapons and missile programs, and supported terrorism, turning a proud nation into another cautionary tale of what happens when a ruling class abandons its people and embarks on a crusade for personal power and riches,”
Morgan Ortagus spokesperson for the United States Department of State, wrote on Twitter: “We stand by the people of Iran as they demand accountability and transparency from their government. Iran did not use the billions of dollars in JCPOA sanctions relief to build schools or hospitals, but to fund terrorist proxies throughout the Middle East.”
“The United States supports the Iranian people in their peaceful protests against the regime that is supposed to lead them. We condemn the lethal force and severe communications restrictions used against demonstrators.”
“Tehran has fanatically pursued nuclear weapons and missile programs, and supported terrorism, turning a proud nation into another cautionary tale of what happens when a ruling class abandons its people and embarks on a crusade for personal power and riches”, the US Department of State tweeted.
Democratic Senator Robert Menendez wrote on Twitter: “As people peacefully assemble across the Middle East, this weekend in Iran, governments must respect the rights of their citizens to protest and express themselves.”
Two Republican members of Congress responded to widespread protests by the Iranian people:
Arkansas Republican Senator Tom Cotton wrote on Twitter:
The Iranian people are tired of the regime ignoring their basic needs while funneling vast sums to terrorists throughout the Middle East. We must stand with the brave protestors demanding accountability from the ayatollahs.
Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) November 17, 2019
Also answering the question of why the Iranian protests matter, William Hurd, a Texas Republican in the House of Representatives, tweeted:
Why #IranProtests matter: the only way we prevent Iran from supporting terrorism and obtaining nuclear weapons is a change in government, and that can only happen if the Iranian people stand up. We must amplify their message so this tyrannical regime can be stopped. https://t.co/1z3UHr7Fm2
— Rep. Will Hurd (@HurdOnTheHill) November 16, 2019
