Defense secretary: Iranians ‘standing up and asserting their rights, their aspirations’

Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Sunday that the Iranians are “standing up and asserting their rights” in their protests against the Ayatollah and current Iranian government. 

The defense secretary responded to Margaret Brenna’s question on CBS’s “Face The Nation” regarding the anti-government protests that are erupting in Iran.

“You can see the Iranian people are standing up and asserting their rights, their aspirations for a better government, a different, a different regime,” he said.

{mosads}Esper said the administration does “stand with the Iranian people” and support their “aspirations” to live their lives in prosperity.

“I just think you see a very corrupt regime that the Iranian people are finally standing up and trying to hold them accountable,” he said.

But the defense secretary said the regime is the “legitimate government” of Iran, and the administration’s offer to meet still stands. When asked if how the Iranian protesters are treated will affect Trump’s willingness to meet, Esper said there are no preconditions on meeting.

On negotiations between U.S. and Iran, @EsperDoD acknowledged that Iran, once deemed “corrupt” is “still the legitimate government” and didn’t rule out talks. Says, “The president has drawn no preconditions other than to say we’re willing to meet with the Iranian government” pic.twitter.com/KjPtYfL79X

— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) January 12, 2020

National security adviser Robert O’Brien said the regime is having a “bad week” after it also took responsibility for shooting down a Ukrainian plane after days of denying it. 

“This was a regime that’s reeling from maximum pressure, they’re reeling from their incompetence in this situation and the people of Iran are just fed up with it,” he told ABC’s “This Week.”

“This is a regime that’s reeling from maximum pressure, they’re reeling from their incompetence in this situation and the people of Iran are just fed up with it,” White House national security adviser Robert O’Brien says about the Iranian regime. https://t.co/SBtfYJ3x95 pic.twitter.com/8t7IGnqlUM

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) January 12, 2020

Iranian protesters took to the streets Saturday condemning their government for shooting down the commercial airline that killed 176 people on board. They chanted “death to liars” and “death to dictator” referring to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. 

President Trump expressed his support for the Iranian protesters Sunday morning when he called on them to “NOT KILL YOUR PROTESTERS.”

To the leaders of Iran – DO NOT KILL YOUR PROTESTERS. Thousands have already been killed or imprisoned by you, and the World is watching. More importantly, the USA is watching. Turn your internet back on and let reporters roam free! Stop the killing of your great Iranian people!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2020

His tweet followed a Saturday tweet directed at protesters saying, “your courage is inspiring.”

به مردم شجاع و رنج کشیده ایران: من از ابتدای دوره ریاست جمهوریم با شما ایستاده‌ام و دولت من همچنان با شما خواهد ایستاد. ما اعتراضات شما را از نزدیک دنبال می کنیم. شجاعت شما الهام بخش است.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2020

The plane was shot down after Iran launched missiles against Iraqi bases holding U.S. troops as retaliation for the U.S. strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.