U.S. State Department Supports Recent Protests in Iran

The Persian Twitter account of the U.S. State Department announced its support for the recent public protests in Iran. On Friday, August 12, the State Department wrote on its Persian Twitter page: "We are closely following the recent protests in Isfahan, Karaj, Shiraz, Tehran, and other cities in Iran." The message continued: "As Secretary Pompeo said, the bitter irony of Iran's economic situation is that the regime is busy filling its own pockets while its people are crying out for jobs, change, and opportunities." A new wave of street protests began on Tuesday in response to Iran's economic and political situation. These protests, which initially took place in cities like Isfahan, Shiraz, and Golshahr Karaj, spread to Tehran on Thursday evening. Numerous reports and videos on social media indicate that these protests continued on Friday night in various locations, including Tehran, Karaj, and Isfahan. In its Twitter message, the U.S. State Department stated: "While it is ultimately up to the people of Iran to determine the direction of their country, the U.S. supports the voices of the Iranian people, which have been ignored for a long time." The message added: "America hopes that the next 40 years in Iran will not be marked by repression and fear, but rather by freedom and fulfillment for the Iranian people." Amidst the protests, the extravagant wedding of the son of Morteza Moradian, the Islamic Republic's ambassador to Denmark, has also drawn public criticism regarding the wealth of the elite. The Fararu website reported that this "lavish" wedding is taking place while 12 million Iranians of marriageable age cannot afford to marry due to economic problems. Seyyed Mohammad Mahdi Sadrsadat, a conservative cleric residing in Qom, also stated in an Instagram post that such events could indicate the end of the clerical regime, which has always promoted simplicity and defended the rights of the poor. The U.S. State Department's Persian Twitter account also referenced a report from Radio Farda, stating: "The 'good genes' and 'smart' individuals of the regime often claim to have had independent economic activities since their youth, while students, lawyers, teachers, religious minorities, women's rights activists, workers, and children are imprisoned or deprived of education and work." The U.S. government has recently criticized the domestic policies of the Islamic Republic and called for change. In this context, Mike Pompeo, the U.S. Secretary of State, has repeatedly referred to the criticisms of the Iranian people towards the Islamic Republic. He noted that the protests in Iran on July 6 were the result of the regime's "corruption" and "injustice," stating that the world has heard the voices of protesting Iranians. On July 31, during a gathering of Iranians in California, he likened Iranian officials to a "mafia" and stated that the U.S. stands with the Iranian people in achieving their demands. On August 3, he also remarked that the people of Iran are gradually realizing that the 'thief-led' government of the Islamic Republic is not the government they want, which will lead them towards a fundamental decision-making process.