European leaders are joining President Donald Trump in condemning Iran‘s violence against protesters in the country.
France, Germany, and the United Kingdom released a joint statement on Friday slamming Iran for attempting to put down widespread unrest with violence.
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“We are deeply concerned about reports of violence by Iranian security forces, and strongly condemn the killing of protestors,” they wrote.
“The Iranian authorities have the responsibility to protect their own population and must allow for the freedom of expression and peaceful assembly without fear of reprisal. We urge the Iranian authorities to exercise restraint, to refrain from violence, and to uphold the fundamental rights of Iran’s citizens,” the three countries added.
Trump recently warned Iran that he will intervene if they start killing protesters.
“I tell the Iranian leaders — you better not start shooting because we’ll start shooting, too,” he said.
The international unrest with Iran comes with reports of the country killing dozens of protesters in attempts to end the demonstrations. Videos out of the country show masses of people marching against the Islamic regime. At least one shows protesters cheering a mosque that was set on fire.
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Pro-opposition protesters in London also raised the country’s pre-revolution lion and sun flag, signaling the lack of support for the regime overseas. The flag-raising also indicates renewed support for Iran to return to its more western-friendly roots before the Islamic revolution. Since the 1979 overthrow of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the country has adopted conservative Islamic law that enforces social norms like mandatory hijabs for females in public. In Iran, there are reports of protesters burning hijabs, smoking, and wearing western skirts in defiance of the regime.
The death of Mahsa Amini in September 2022 invigorated portions of the Iranian public’s opposition to the conservative Iranian government. Amini had been arrested for not wearing an hijab and later died under suspicious circumstances.
Under Pahlavi’s reign, hijabs were outlawed and women’s rights were expanded. Anti-Islamic Iran protesters often wish for a return to the westernized-Iran present before the revolution. The original revolution came about as a result of the Pahlavi dynasty’s authoritarian characteristics, which included secret police who silenced dissent.
European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also condemned Iran’s violence against its citizens.
“Tehran’s streets, and cities around the world, echo with the footsteps of Iranian women and men demanding freedom. Freedom to speak, to gather, to travel and above all to live freely. Europe stands fully behind them. We unequivocally condemn the violent repression of these legitimate demonstrations,” she wrote on X.
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Iran has also cut off internet and long-distance phone access for its citizens in an attempt to dampen the spread of media from the anti-regime resistance, or potentially the government’s violence against protesters.
Starlink, an Elon Musk innovation, has enabled protesters to share images from the country via satellite.
The wide protests were also spurred on by an economic crisis in the country with recent skyrocketing inflation. Iran’s government tried to quell some fears with a $7 monthly stipend to citizens, but protests have continued.
It’s unclear when the unrest will end. Some speculate it will build to a regime change. Reza Pahlavi, son of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, has said he is a willing leader if Iran’s government falls.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei told Trump to “manage his own country” after his comments about violence against protesters.
“The US President has said that if the Iranian govt. does such-and-such, I’ll take the side of the rioters. The rioters have put their hopes in him. If he’s so capable, he should manage his own country,” he wrote on X.
It’s also unclear if Trump will intervene in Iran’s affairs. The country assisted Israel last year in bombing Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday that the U.S. supports the Iranian people.
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“The United States supports the brave people of Iran,” he wrote on X.
The Washington Examiner reached out to the State Department for comment, but did not receive a response.
