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Iran Holds Pro-Government Rallies After Economic Protests Iran Holds Pro-Government Rallies After Economic Protests
(35 minutes later)
Thousands of pro-government demonstrators rallied in Tehran on Saturday in support of Iran’s leaders, days after unauthorized protests broke out over declining economic conditions in the country and dozens of people were arrested.Thousands of pro-government demonstrators rallied in Tehran on Saturday in support of Iran’s leaders, days after unauthorized protests broke out over declining economic conditions in the country and dozens of people were arrested.
About 4,000 people took part in the annual rally in the capital, state media reported. The planned event commemorated pro-government counter-demonstrations against those who had challenged the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president in 2009.About 4,000 people took part in the annual rally in the capital, state media reported. The planned event commemorated pro-government counter-demonstrations against those who had challenged the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president in 2009.
State television stations showed marchers carrying banners in support of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city. Typically, pro-government demonstrations are orchestrated by the state, and many of those attending are bused in.State television stations showed marchers carrying banners in support of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city. Typically, pro-government demonstrations are orchestrated by the state, and many of those attending are bused in.
Pro-government rallies were scheduled in more than 1,200 cities and towns, state television reported.Pro-government rallies were scheduled in more than 1,200 cities and towns, state television reported.
The rallies took on added significance after unauthorized demonstrations — the largest protest in years — erupted on Thursday in major cities over the rise in the price of food supplies. The protests have shown no sign of abating, days later.The rallies took on added significance after unauthorized demonstrations — the largest protest in years — erupted on Thursday in major cities over the rise in the price of food supplies. The protests have shown no sign of abating, days later.
On Saturday, Iranians in Tehran shouted, “Death to the dictator” and “Clerics should get lost,” witnesses said. Referring to the supreme leader, others chanted: “Shame on you Seyyed Ali Khamenei. Let the country go.”On Saturday, Iranians in Tehran shouted, “Death to the dictator” and “Clerics should get lost,” witnesses said. Referring to the supreme leader, others chanted: “Shame on you Seyyed Ali Khamenei. Let the country go.”
Some protesters burned a banner with an image of his face.Some protesters burned a banner with an image of his face.
Video shared on social media later Saturday showed Iranians directly calling for Mr. Khamenei to step down, chanting, “Referendum, referendum, this is the slogan of the people.” (After the 1979 revolution, the Islamic Republic was established with a referendum.)Video shared on social media later Saturday showed Iranians directly calling for Mr. Khamenei to step down, chanting, “Referendum, referendum, this is the slogan of the people.” (After the 1979 revolution, the Islamic Republic was established with a referendum.)
Overtly political demonstrations are rare in Iran, where security services are omnipresent, and officials called on the crowds to halt them.
Later in the evening, the police fired tear gas to disperse a protest at Tehran’s central Vali-e Asr Square, a witness said.
“Young people are angry and frustrated, without a hope in the future,” said Nader Karimi Juni, a reformist journalist. “If they join these small groups of determined students, there could be a real problem.”“Young people are angry and frustrated, without a hope in the future,” said Nader Karimi Juni, a reformist journalist. “If they join these small groups of determined students, there could be a real problem.”
Overtly political demonstrations are rare in Iran, where security services are omnipresent, and officials called on the crowds to halt them.
Interior Minister Abdolrahman Rahmani Fazli urged Iranians on Saturday “not to participate in these illegal gatherings as they will create problems for themselves and other citizens,” according to the BBC.Interior Minister Abdolrahman Rahmani Fazli urged Iranians on Saturday “not to participate in these illegal gatherings as they will create problems for themselves and other citizens,” according to the BBC.
The Revolutionary Guards, which along with its Basij militia spearheaded a crackdown against protesters in 2009, said in a statement carried by state news media on Saturday that efforts were underway to replicate that unrest, and that Iran “will not allow the country to be hurt.”The Revolutionary Guards, which along with its Basij militia spearheaded a crackdown against protesters in 2009, said in a statement carried by state news media on Saturday that efforts were underway to replicate that unrest, and that Iran “will not allow the country to be hurt.”
President Trump tweeted support for the protesters, saying the government should respect the people’s right to express themselves. “The world is watching!” Mr. Trump said.President Trump tweeted support for the protesters, saying the government should respect the people’s right to express themselves. “The world is watching!” Mr. Trump said.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bahram Qassemi, condemned the statement by the president, and another by the State Department supporting the protesters, as “meddlesome” and “opportunistic.”A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bahram Qassemi, condemned the statement by the president, and another by the State Department supporting the protesters, as “meddlesome” and “opportunistic.”
In a rare move, state television broadcast images of the protests on Saturday, acknowledging that some people were chanting the name of Iran’s one-time shah, who fled into exile before its 1979 Islamic Revolution.In a rare move, state television broadcast images of the protests on Saturday, acknowledging that some people were chanting the name of Iran’s one-time shah, who fled into exile before its 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Some social media users called for more antigovernment rallies in Tehran and other cities later Saturday. There were protests in cities like Karaj and Zanjan, where a crowd tore down a billboard with a portrait of Mr. Khamenei. Some social media users called for more antigovernment rallies in Tehran and other cities later Saturday. Pprotests spread to cities like Karaj and Zanjan, where a crowd tore down a billboard with a portrait of Mr. Khamenei.
Early in the afternoon, about 30 students standing behind the fences of Tehran University shouted at passers-by, asking them to join in the protest, witnesses said. The students chanted a slogan against both reformists and hard-liners: “This is the end of their adventure,” meaning the Islamic republic. The police fired tear gas to disperse a protest at Tehran’s central Vali-e Asr Square, a witness said. About 300 to 400 people had amassed there and chanted antigovernment slogans, according to the semiofficial Fars news agency, which is close to the country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.
The demonstrations spread to Tehran University, where about 30 students standing behind the fences of shouted at passers-by, asking them to join in the protest, witnesses said. The students chanted a slogan against both reformists and hard-liners: “This is the end of their adventure,” meaning the Islamic republic.
The hard-line Fars news agency tweeted a response, saying that “opportunists are trying to raise unrest in front of Tehran University.”The hard-line Fars news agency tweeted a response, saying that “opportunists are trying to raise unrest in front of Tehran University.”
Security forces arrested a few people from a crowd of hundreds that had gathered on sidewalks in the capital. A cat-and-mouse game between protesters and police forces ensued, with some protesters throwing stones.Security forces arrested a few people from a crowd of hundreds that had gathered on sidewalks in the capital. A cat-and-mouse game between protesters and police forces ensued, with some protesters throwing stones.
The protests were the first major demonstrations since the 2009 demonstrations, at least in the first days, and they appeared to be steered by reformist politicians who had challenged the re-election of Mr. Ahmadinejad. The protests were the first major demonstrations since the 2009 demonstrations, and they appeared to be steered by reformist politicians who had challenged the re-election of Mr. Ahmadinejad. The results of the vote had set off more than six months of street protests, with three million people pouring into the streets in the early days.
The results of the vote had set off eight months of street protests, with three million people pouring into the streets in the early days. Pro-reform groups, including the grass-roots Green Movement, said the vote had been rigged. Pro-reform groups, including the grass-roots Green Movement, said the vote had been rigged.
On Saturday, videos on social media showed protests in provincial cities, too. They were driven by discontent over issues including the deteriorating economy, corruption and lack of personal freedoms.
President Hassan Rouhani won re-election this year on promises to revitalize an economy hit hard by international sanctions. But even as Iranians emboldened by his victory sought reforms, the cumulative effect of the sanctions and decades of government mismanagement have taken their toll on the economy.
At the government-sanctioned rally on Saturday, one demonstrator, Ali Ahmadi, 27, blamed the United States for Iran’s economic problems, according to The A.P.At the government-sanctioned rally on Saturday, one demonstrator, Ali Ahmadi, 27, blamed the United States for Iran’s economic problems, according to The A.P.
“They always say that we are supporting Iranian people, but who should pay the costs?” he said.“They always say that we are supporting Iranian people, but who should pay the costs?” he said.
Mr. Rouhani won re-election this year on promises to revitalize an economy hit hard by international sanctions. But even as Iranians emboldened by his victory sought reforms, the cumulative effect of the sanctions and decades of government mismanagement have taken their toll on the economy.
The unauthorized protests began in Mashhad, a city of two million in the northeast that is one of the holiest places in Shiite Islam. Some protesters shouted, “Death to Rouhani.”The unauthorized protests began in Mashhad, a city of two million in the northeast that is one of the holiest places in Shiite Islam. Some protesters shouted, “Death to Rouhani.”
Tehran’s deputy governor-general for security and law enforcement, Mohsen Hamedani, dismissed reports that officials planned to impose a curfew in Tehran starting at 2000 local time, the semiofficial ISNA news agency reported.Tehran’s deputy governor-general for security and law enforcement, Mohsen Hamedani, dismissed reports that officials planned to impose a curfew in Tehran starting at 2000 local time, the semiofficial ISNA news agency reported.
Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri, a reformist ally of the president, said that hard-line conservative opponents of the Mr. Rouhani might have galvanized the protests but lost control of them.Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri, a reformist ally of the president, said that hard-line conservative opponents of the Mr. Rouhani might have galvanized the protests but lost control of them.
“Those who are behind such events will burn their own fingers,” the state media quoted him as saying.“Those who are behind such events will burn their own fingers,” the state media quoted him as saying.
Analysts say that while the general discontent may spur more protests in coming days, the demonstrations may die down. Especially in the capital, where middle-class Iranians set the tone, many residents despise some of Iran’s leaders and have been hurt by the bad economy. But they fear insecurity and unrest even more, experts say.Analysts say that while the general discontent may spur more protests in coming days, the demonstrations may die down. Especially in the capital, where middle-class Iranians set the tone, many residents despise some of Iran’s leaders and have been hurt by the bad economy. But they fear insecurity and unrest even more, experts say.
“The middle-classes like me are scared of losing what they have,” Mr. Juni said. “They won’t join the protests, I think.”“The middle-classes like me are scared of losing what they have,” Mr. Juni said. “They won’t join the protests, I think.”