Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei strongly condemned the protests. He spoke of “troublemakers” and people “harmful to the country” and signaled a tough course against the demonstrators.
Reza Pahlavi, son of the Shah who was overthrown in 1979, called for nationwide strikes in Iran on Saturday from his exile in the USA. Workers and employees in key sectors such as the oil, gas and energy industries should stop working, Pahlavi explained on Platform X. The aim is to weaken the financial lifelines and bring the repressive apparatus to its knees.
Pahlavi also called for demonstrations on Sunday at 6 p.m. (local time/3:30 p.m. CET). It’s not just about taking to the streets, but also about occupying and holding central places in cities.
From his exile, Pahlavi claims a leadership role in the opposition. For years there has not been a political force in Iran that the demonstrators recognize as a credible opposition. Many people in the country are therefore placing their hopes on support from abroad. The current mass protests also featured the slogan “Long Live the King” – a direct reference to the exiled son of the former Shah.
Following a call from European leaders for a renunciation of violence, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called on Saturday for the immediate release of all arrested protesters in Iran and the full restoration of internet access in the country. “The streets of Tehran and cities around the world echo with the steps of Iranian women and men demanding freedom,” the German politician wrote on social networks. Europe stands firmly at their side and condemns in the strongest possible terms the violent suppression of the legitimate demonstrations.
