Dhaka — Iran’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has called on former US President Donald Trump to support Iran’s ongoing anti-government protests, expressing grave concern over what he described as violent repression by the country’s authorities.
In a message posted on social media platform X, Pahlavi appealed directly to Trump, urging his “urgent attention, support and action.” He alleged that Iranian security forces had opened fire on protesters, saying millions of “brave Iranians” were being targeted as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei resorted to violence to cling to power.
Pahlavi also warned that the Iranian government had effectively cut the country off from the outside world by shutting down internet services, mobile networks and landline communications, leaving protesters facing bullets with little access to information or international attention.
The protests began on December 28 after traders in Tehran’s major markets launched a strike against soaring inflation and the rising cost of living, driven by the prolonged depreciation of the Iranian rial. Within days, demonstrations spread rapidly across cities and rural areas in nearly all of Iran’s 31 provinces, bringing large parts of the country to a standstill.
The Islamist government has responded by deploying security forces nationwide and intensifying efforts to suppress the unrest. Authorities recently enforced a nationwide communications blackout as protests continued to escalate.
According to a report cited by Time magazine, more than 200 people have been killed over the past 13 days in clashes involving police and security forces.
Meanwhile, Trump has repeatedly warned Tehran against using force to quell the protests, threatening military action if the Iranian government continues its crackdown. He has issued such warnings at least four times since the unrest began.
