Iran's Official Protest Against US Support for Student Demonstrations - 2003-06-16

The Iranian government has officially protested to the United States regarding what it calls "open interference" in Iran's internal affairs. A spokesperson for the Islamic Republic's Foreign Ministry stated today in Tehran that Iran's protest has been submitted to the Swiss embassy in Tehran, which represents US interests in Iran. The Iranian government claims this reaction is in response to Washington's public support for the ongoing anti-government protests in Tehran. The Tehran regime asserts that the US has incited unrest in Iran and that the Iranian government has the right to take legal action against the US. Following six days of protests that have continued for six consecutive nights, Iranian youth took to the streets again early this morning, continuing their demonstrations against the Islamic Republic regime. President Bush spoke about the Iranian protests yesterday, stating that these demonstrations are a positive step towards the Iranian people's aspiration for freedom. The US President noted that freedom is a powerful motivation and that the protests in Tehran indicate that the Iranian people desire freedom in their homeland. Over 250 discontented Iranians, including intellectuals, journalists, reformists, and religious figures, have issued a strong statement in support of students' rights to express their opinions against the conservative Islamic regime of Iran. In this unprecedentedly strong open letter, it is stated that the Iranian people have the right to oversee their rulers and that if the people determine that their rulers should go, they should be able to remove them. The statement refers to the clerics ruling Iran, asserting that if someone is allowed to occupy a position and is regarded as a divine and absolute authority, it is a blasphemy and an insult to humanity and human dignity. Nightly protests near Tehran University began last Tuesday and have continuously grown. After the regime increased its security measures and the Basij and Ansar Hezbollah began attacking the demonstrators, the scale of the protests slightly decreased. Riot police surrounded Tehran University last night and warned Ansar Hezbollah not to attack the university grounds or beat the students. Several gunshots were heard, but no reports of injuries have been received. Student protests have spread to at least three other cities and have resulted in at least one death. Iranian media report that 109 people have been arrested.