White House: We Support the Right of the People of Iran to Peacefully Protest

The White House issued a statement late Sunday, U.S. time, reiterating its support for peaceful protests in Iran. The statement reads: "We support the right of the people of Iran to express their protests peacefully. Their voices deserve to be heard." Sarah Huckabee Sanders, White House spokesperson, stated: "We encourage all parties to defend the fundamental right to express opinions peacefully and to refrain from any actions that would lead to censorship." These remarks come as Iranian officials have blocked citizens' access to social media networks and messaging apps like Telegram and Instagram. Ismail Jabbarzadeh, the political deputy of the Minister of Interior, confirmed these restrictions during a press conference on Sunday evening, adding that this is a "temporary" decision. However, the international organization Reporters Without Borders condemned the restrictions on access to cyberspace and applications like Telegram and Instagram, stating, "This action suppresses the freedom of information and the people's right to know." In recent days, the U.S. President, the State Department, and several U.S. lawmakers have expressed support for peaceful protests in Iran. Donald Trump, the U.S. President, tweeted on Sunday about the "widespread protests in Iran," writing: "People are finally realizing how their money and wealth are being stolen and spent on terrorism. It seems that this will no longer be the case." The U.S. Mission to the United Nations also issued a statement ahead of the New Year, saying, "At the beginning of the New Year, our hope and prayer accompany millions of people who are suffering under repressive regimes in North Korea, Venezuela, and especially Iran. [Iran] is where the oppressed people have now found their voices. The Iranian government is being tested by its own people." The Iranian Foreign Ministry previously reacted to the U.S. President's statements, describing them as "hypocritical and interventionist." Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, also responded to the recent protests without naming the U.S. President, stating that he "called the Iranian nation terrorists a few months ago" and "has no right to show sympathy for the people of Iran." Protests and demonstrations that began three days ago in several cities in Iran expanded on Saturday evening. These protests continued on Sunday as well. The protests have turned violent in several cities, and according to official reports from Iran, at least two people have lost their lives in Lorestan province. Several protesters have also been arrested.