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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed protests in Iran in separate calls on Sunday with the foreign ministers of Cyprus and France, State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said.
“Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke today with Republic of Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos,” Pigott said in a readout. “The two leaders discussed the United States’ counternarcotics operations in the Caribbean and the protests in Iran.”
In a separate call, Rubio spoke with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot. “The two leaders discussed protests in Iran, the recent US law enforcement operation in Venezuela, and diplomatic efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war,” Pigott said.
Germany’s foreign minister said he would raise Iran’s protests and the government’s response in talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, describing Tehran’s leadership as having lost legitimacy.
“The people are protesting against this regime. A regime that shuts down the internet, that restricts the right to communication, has basically lost its legitimacy. They are afraid of their own population,” Johann Wadephul said in a video he posted on his Instagram account.
"This is a matter that concerns us very much. I will also talk about this with my colleague Marco Rubio in Washington,” Wadephul added.
A large crowd of protesters gathered in Tehran’s Punak neighborhood on Sunday night, chanting slogans including “Long live the Shah (King),” videos sent to Iran International show.
Iran’s exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi urged US President Donald Trump to back efforts to “liberate” Iran, amid nationwide anti-government protests in the country.
“Mr. President, you have already established your legacy as a man committed to peace and fighting evil forces. There is a reason why people in Iran are renaming streets after your name,” Pahlavi said, addressing Trump in an interview with Fox News.
“Let's hope that we can permanently seal this legacy by liberating Iran so that we and you can make Iran great again. Let's partner on this and have a better future for our countries and for our people,” he added.
US President Donald Trump is scheduled to be briefed on Tuesday on specific options to respond to the nationwide protests in Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing US officials.
The planned meeting with senior administration officials will focus on possible next steps, including boosting anti-government sources online, deploying cyber operations against Iranian military and civilian sites, imposing additional sanctions and military strikes, the report added citing US officials.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine are expected to attend the meeting.
No final decision is expected from Trump at the meeting, as deliberations remain at an early stage, according to the report.
