Activist Masih Alinejad blasts Iran’s president over Trump criticism

Canadian Senator Leo Housakos sent a message of support of protesters in Iran, calling on worldwide solidarity.

“We should all be supporting a world where Iranians are free, Iran stops exporting terror, and the Ayatollahs’ brutal reign ends,” Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Conservative caucus, posted on X on Friday. “Stand with the people of Iran.”

Iran has sent a letter to the UN Secretary-General and members of the Security Council protesting President Donald Trump’s post on the ongoing demonstrations in Iran, according to Axios journalist Barak Ravid.

In the letter, Tehran reportedly says it will “exercise self-defense decisively and proportionately” if the United States launches an attack.

US Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene criticized President Donald Trump’s stance on Iran, saying the last presidential election was about stopping the United States acting as “world police” and focusing on America.

“Trump voters spent the week threatening a tax revolt because they are so furious about the never-ending waste, fraud, and abuse of their hard-earned money going to foreigners and foreign wars,” she posted on X on Friday.

“In 2024, we voted for America to STOP being the world’s police, funding foreign wars and murdering innocent people, and funding fraud, scams, and foreigners brought/let in America,” the Republican House member from Georgia said.

Canada updated its travel advisory for Iran on Friday, keeping the “avoid all travel” warning in place and adding new language on demonstrations linked to rising living costs and economic grievances.

“Canadians in Iran are likely to be subject to increased surveillance and scrutiny by Iranian authorities, including for activities and behaviors that would be considered normal in Canada, including taking photographs in public places, travelling to remote areas not usually frequented by tourists, and interacting with the local population,” the statement said.

“Keep a low profile and don’t share your personal information with strangers,” it added.​

The revised notice warns that recent protests have led to clashes with security forces, casualties, arrests and potential disruptions to transport and telecommunications, saying the situation is “highly volatile” and could escalate without notice.

UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, Mai Sato, said she is closely monitoring a sixth day of demonstrations across the country and warned of “growing confrontation” between protesters and security forces, urging authorities to respect freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly.

“I call on the Iranian authorities to respect the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, and refrain from using excessive force against peaceful protesters,” Sato posted on X on Friday.

“The violent response witnessed during the Woman, Life, Freedom movement must not be repeated. A functioning civic space is essential for any society. People must be able to voice dissent and participate in peaceful protest without fear of reprisal,” she added.