US State Department shares Iran protest video, voices support

Activist Masih Alinejad criticized Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian for saying he would stand against any US “aggression” on Iran, after Donald Trump warned Washington would act if the Islamic Republic killed protesters.

“Khamenei and his army pull the trigger and you reformists whitewash. You have no problem with shedding people's blood; your only problem is that a foreign country stops the crime,” she posted on X on Friday.

“Now you understand why people hate you? Because you have officially announced that no one has the right to stop the killing of the Iranian people! This means that you yourself are murderers and aggressors, Mr. Pezeshkian!” Alinejad added.

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.