US Conflicting Messages to Iranian Nation

Lawmakers criticized the hypocrisy of the recent statements by US officials claiming support for the Iranian nation, saying the US cannot act one way and behave another way.

"The United Sates which has imposed oppressive sanctions against Iranian people for many years cannot claim that it is supporting the Muslim Iranian nation," Alireza Ebrahimi told ICANA on Sunday.

US President Donald Trump, along with other high-ranking officials in the US establishment, were quick to send warning messages to the Iranian government and claims of support for people when anti-inflation protests broke out in Iran's second largest city Mashhad—which were later spread to other cities, including the capital Tehran.

Trump —who branded the "Iranian people" a nation on the path of "bloodshed and terror" in his maiden UN speech in Sept. 2017, and included it in its controversial travel ban—has particularly been fervent in his support for protestors.

"Big protests in Iran. The people are finally getting wise as to how their money and wealth is being stolen and squandered on terrorism," Trump contended in a tweet on Sunday. "Looks like they will not take it any longer. The USA is watching very closely for human rights violations!"

US Vice President Mike Pence in a tweet late Saturday voiced support for the protests in Iran, and called for Tehran "to end [alleged] terrorist activities, corruption" and "[purported] disregard for human rights."

Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the United Nations, said in a statement, "The Iranian government is being tested by its own citizens. We pray that freedom and human rights will carry the day."

  War of Nerves

Lawmaker Asghar Salimi condemned the "US war of nerves and provocative policies against Iran," saying, "Clearly we see that the enemies of the Islamic Republic take advantage of any opportunity they get to interfere in Iran's internal affairs."

Other lawmakers censured the US silence on massacres of the Yemeni people by Saudi Arabia, which is logistically backed by the US, and Shias in Saudi town of Al-Awamiyah, who saw their town flattened by Riyadh's security apparatus in complete silence of Washington.

Lawmaker Ardeshir Nourian highlighted the repeated defeats of US and its allies in the region as the main reason for their enmity toward the Iranian nation.

"To offset such defeats, the US is trying to ride on the wave of the protests in Iran to portray that people and government are opposed to each other," he concluded.

The protests had largely dissipated on Sunday except some pockets in Tehran and other cities, where police subdued some "agitators" who tried to disrupt public order.