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U.S. Keeps Watch on Iran Protests
(MENAFN) The Trump administration is closely tracking mass demonstrations sweeping Iran to determine whether they possess the force necessary to destabilize the government, media disclosed Friday.
"The protests are serious, and we will continue to monitor them," an unnamed senior US official informed media.
Earlier in the week, administration analysts concluded the unrest—which erupted in late December—lacked the power to overthrow Iranian leadership. However, officials are now revisiting that assessment following a surge in protest intensity later in the week, media confirmed.
The White House did not immediately provide comment when contacted about the reporting.
Since December's final days, Iran has experienced successive waves of civil unrest sparked by the Iranian rial's dramatic devaluation and worsening economic hardship. The upheaval originated December 28 near Tehran's Grand Bazaar before spreading to multiple urban centers nationwide. Internet monitoring organization NetBlocks documented that the country experienced internet blackouts exceeding 12 hours.
Tehran has withheld official figures on casualties. Yet on Thursday, the Human Rights Activists News Agency reported 2,277 arrests, dozens wounded, and 42 fatalities—including eight members of security forces.
Iranian authorities have blamed the US and Israel for inciting the turmoil, with officials issuing stern warnings Friday that Iranian security apparatus and judicial authorities "will show no tolerance whatsoever toward saboteurs."
US President Donald Trump issued a stern warning January 2 threatening American intervention should Iran kill peaceful demonstrators, declaring on his Truth Social platform: "If Iran violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the US will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go."
Subsequently, in statements covered by media on January 8, Trump attributed certain protest deaths to logistical challenges and crowd-related incidents.
He said: "Well, some were killed because of, you know, crowd control issues and other things. I don't know."
Trump added that he was monitoring the situation very closely, noting the large size of the crowds.
"The protests are serious, and we will continue to monitor them," an unnamed senior US official informed media.
Earlier in the week, administration analysts concluded the unrest—which erupted in late December—lacked the power to overthrow Iranian leadership. However, officials are now revisiting that assessment following a surge in protest intensity later in the week, media confirmed.
The White House did not immediately provide comment when contacted about the reporting.
Since December's final days, Iran has experienced successive waves of civil unrest sparked by the Iranian rial's dramatic devaluation and worsening economic hardship. The upheaval originated December 28 near Tehran's Grand Bazaar before spreading to multiple urban centers nationwide. Internet monitoring organization NetBlocks documented that the country experienced internet blackouts exceeding 12 hours.
Tehran has withheld official figures on casualties. Yet on Thursday, the Human Rights Activists News Agency reported 2,277 arrests, dozens wounded, and 42 fatalities—including eight members of security forces.
Iranian authorities have blamed the US and Israel for inciting the turmoil, with officials issuing stern warnings Friday that Iranian security apparatus and judicial authorities "will show no tolerance whatsoever toward saboteurs."
US President Donald Trump issued a stern warning January 2 threatening American intervention should Iran kill peaceful demonstrators, declaring on his Truth Social platform: "If Iran violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the US will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go."
Subsequently, in statements covered by media on January 8, Trump attributed certain protest deaths to logistical challenges and crowd-related incidents.
He said: "Well, some were killed because of, you know, crowd control issues and other things. I don't know."
Trump added that he was monitoring the situation very closely, noting the large size of the crowds.
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