US President Donald Trump reiterated earlier offers to ‘free’ Iran on Sunday as protests escalated across the Islamic Republic. Unverified reports suggest that his administration is drawing up plans for ‘large-scale airstrikes’ — following earlier warnings that Washington would “start shooting” if the agitators were hurt. The developments came even as the Iranian regime led by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei intensified its crackdown and warned that dissenters would face the death penalty.
Tehran escalated its threats Saturday, with the Iranian attorney general Mohammad Movahedi Azad warned on Saturday that anyone taking part in protests would be considered an “enemy of God”. The statement was carried by state media and added that even people who “helped rioters” would face the charge. Article 190 of Iranian law outlines the severe punishment for people considered ‘enemies of God’ — including execution, hanging, amputation of limbs or permanent internal exile.
According to an AP report on Sunday, at least 116 people have been killed and more than 2,600 others detained. With the internet down in Iran and phone lines cut off, it has also become difficult for international organisations to gauge the full magnitude of the demonstrations.
‘Iran is looking for freedom’
Trump has offered support for the protesters and repeatedly warned the Khamenei regime against its intensifying crackdown. The New York Times and Wall Street Journal also cited US officials to report on Saturday night that Trump had been given military options for a strike on Iran, but hadn’t made a final decision.
“Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!” he wrote on Truth Social.
Trump also shared posts from key cabinet members that reiterated American support for the people of Iran and vowed that the crackdown would “not go unchallenged”. Trump had indicated earlier on Saturday that his administration was closely monitoring the situation and voiced hope that the protestors would be safe. He also warned that the US “would start shooting” if the agitators were attacked or killed.
“Iran’s in big trouble. It looks to me that the people are taking over certain cities that nobody thought were really possible. We’re watching the situation very carefully. I made the statement very strongly that if they start killing people like they have in the past, we will get involved. We will be hitting them very hard where it hurts, and that doesn’t mean boots on the ground, but it means hitting them very hard where it hurts so we don’t want that to happen,” the US President had said.
Protests hit two-week mark
The latest agitation in Iran began roughly two weeks ago as the rial currency fell to new depths. Scattered demonstrations over economic uncertainty and escalating living costs have gradually morphed into a nationwide movement calling for the end of the Islamic Republic ruling the country since the 1979 revolution. According to a CNN update, the protest has now spread to more than 100 cities. By some estimates nearly 200 people have been killed and thousands more arrested since the agitation started.