Mass protests have broken out nationwide in Iran, including in the city of Zanjan.
European leaders urged Iran to allow its citizens to demonstrate without reprisal after Tehran signalled security forces would crack down on the protesters whom US President Donald Trump has pledged to support.

Protests that erupted in late December over Iran’s troubled economy have escalated into the most significant challenge to the Iranian government in recent years, claiming the lives of at least 62 individuals.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissed Trump as having hands “stained with the blood of Iranians” as his supporters shouted “Death to America!” in footage aired by Iranian state television. State media later referred to the demonstrators as “terrorists,” setting the stage for a violent crackdown as in other protests in recent years.
Mass protests have broken out nationwide in Iran, including in the city of Zanjan.
Mass protests have broken out nationwide in Iran, including in the city of Zanjan.(AP)

President Trump, addressing the situation, warned Iran with a stern message, stating, “They have been told very strongly, even more strongly than I’m speaking to you right now, that if they do that, they’re going to have to pay hell.”

When queried about the possibility of meeting with Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah, Trump was non-committal. “I’m not sure that it would be appropriate at this point to do that as president,” he remarked. “I think that we should let everybody go out there, and we see who emerges.”

During an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News, which aired Thursday night, Trump went so far as to suggest that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, might be considering leaving the country. “He’s looking to go someplace,” Trump noted. “It’s getting very bad.”

Speaking in an interview with Sean Hannity aired Thursday night on Fox News, Trump went as far as to suggest Khamenei may want to leave Iran.

“He’s looking to go someplace,” Trump said. “It’s getting very bad.”

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