Pompeo: Protesters in Iran fed up with country’s leadership

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday commented on demonstrations in Iran, saying protesters are fed up with the country’s leadership.

“The people of Iran are tired of the corruption, injustice, and incompetence from their leaders,” Pompeo said in a statement. “We condemn the government’s same futile tactics of suppression, imprisonment of protestors, and the denial of Iranians’ frustrations.”

 

 

Pompeo’s comments come as protestors take to the streets of Tehran, and workers go on strike amid the collapse of country’s currency. Most of the demonstrations have centered around traders at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar.

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The U.S. is planning to reimpose economic penalties on Iran following President Trump‘s decision last month to withdraw the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal. Those penalties are expected to reduce the country’s hard currency earnings from oil exports, prompting public panic in Iran.

President Hassan Rouhani has sought to reassure Iranians that the country and its economy would be able to handle new sanctions.

“Even in the worst case, I promise that the basic needs of Iranians will be provided,” Rouhani said in a televised address. “We have enough sugar, wheat and cooking oil. We have enough foreign currency to inject into the market.”

He also referred to U.S. sanctions on Iran as “psychological, economic and political war,” and that the U.S. would pay for Trump’s decision to withdraw from the multilateral pact.

“Withdrawal was the worst decision he could make,” Rouhani said, referring to Trump. “It was appalling. It hurt America’s global reputation.”