No Sign Of New Protests In Iran As A Hard-Line Cleric Calls For Executions And Threatens Trump
HuffPost
A Iran returns to an uneasy calm after protests led to a violent crackdown, a senior cleric is calling for the death penalty for detained demonstrators.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — As Iran returned to uneasy calm after a wave of protests that drew a bloody crackdown, a senior hard-line cleric called Friday for the death penalty for detained demonstrators and directly threatened U.S. President Donald Trump — evidence of the rage gripping authorities in the Islamic Republic.
Trump, though, struck a conciliatory note, thanking Iran’s leaders for not executing hundreds of detained protesters, in a further sign he may be backing away from a military strike. Executions, as well as the killing of peaceful protesters, are two of the red lines laid down by Trump for possible action against Iran.
Harsh repression that has left several thousand people dead appears to have succeeded in stifling demonstrations that began Dec. 28 over Iran’s ailing economy and morphed into protests directly challenging the country’s theocracy.
There have been no signs of protests for days in Tehran, where shopping and street life have returned to outward normality, though a week-old internet blackout continued. Authorities have not reported any unrest elsewhere in the country.
“Iran canceled the hanging of over 800 people,” Trump told reporters in Washington, adding that “I greatly respect the fact that they canceled.”
There were fresh reports of violence across Iran, although an internet blackout made it difficult to assess the full extent of unrest.
The pre-dawn raid was carried out by Marines and Navy sailors launched from the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford.
Iranian authorities have cut off the nation from the internet and international telephone calls amid the protests.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the White House is legally required to keep paying its dues despite withdrawing from the 31 agencies related to the world body.
Allies including France and Germany are working closely on a plan on how to respond should the United States act on its threat to take over Greenland.
The agreement is a strong sign that the Venezuelan government is responding to Trump’s demand that they open up to U.S. oil companies.
The upcoming meetings will be crucial to the administration's hopes to boost crude oil production and exports from Venezuela.
Deposed Venezuelan president will face the narco-terrorism charges the Trump administration used to justify capturing him and bringing him to New York.
Trump's comments to reporters aboard Air Force One raised the possibility of further U.S. military interventions in Latin America.
Trump’s decision to attack Venezuela, arrest its president and temporarily run the country marks a striking departure for a politician who long criticized others for overreaching on foreign affairs and vowed to avoid foreign entanglements.
The protests, have become the biggest in Iran since 2022, when the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody triggered nationwide demonstrations.
With the capture of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro, President Donald Trump and his allies are calling the audacious U.S. military operation an unqualified success.
The Venezuelan government called it an “imperialist attack” and urged citizens to take to the streets.