Protests raging across Iran have escalated into a full-blown crisis, drawing sharp international condemnation. In a unified front, Australia, Canada, and the European Union issued a joint statement blasting the Iranian government’s brutal crackdown on demonstrators. The foreign ministers hailed the courage of Iranian citizens standing up for their dignity and right to peaceful protest.
The statement, released through Global Affairs Canada, pulls no punches. It denounces the killings, violence, arbitrary arrests, and intimidation tactics employed against protesters. ‘The Iranian regime’s repressive approach against its own people is utterly reprehensible,’ the ministers declared, demanding an immediate halt to excessive and lethal force by security forces, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Basij militia.
At least 40 lives have been lost in the unrest, according to the joint declaration. The ministers stressed Iran’s duty to protect its citizens, urging authorities to uphold freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly without fear of reprisal.
The demonstrations erupted amid soaring inflation, economic woes, and heavy-handed security responses. Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi called for nationwide protests at 8 PM local time on Thursday and Friday, igniting widespread action. In response, officials shuttered internet services and international calls to curb the momentum under President Masoud Pezeshkian’s administration.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed no retreat, accusing protesters of being pawns of exiled opposition and the United States. He targeted former U.S. President Donald Trump, who warned of repercussions if the regime targets demonstrators. As streets fill with fury, the world watches a pivotal moment unfold in Iran’s turbulent landscape.