Iran officials weigh in on US protests

Jun 1, 2020

In a role reversal, Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi issued a statement expressing support for protests taking place across the United States.

Mousavi, speaking in English, said, “To the American people, the world has heard your outcry over the State oppression; the world is standing with you.” He continued, “The American regime is pursuing violence and bullying at home and abroad. We are greatly regretful to see, along with people across the world, the [violent] incidences of US police that have recently unfolded. We deeply regret to see [that] the American people who peacefully seek respect … are suppressed indiscriminately and met [with the] utmost violence.”

Mousavi added, “To the American officials and police, stop violence against your people and let them breathe.”

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also took to Twitter to call out the United States over the protests. Reprinting a US State Department press release about protests in Iran and crossing out Iran and replacing it with the United States in the title, Zarif tweeted May 30, “Some don’t think Black Lives Matter. To those of us who do: it is long overdue for the entire world to wage war against racism.”

Comments by Zarif and Mousavi are aimed primarily at the United States and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for expressing support for protests in Iran. Iran has always maintained that protests in their country were an internal affair and have rejected any comments and/or statements by either the United States or countries within the European Union.