US President Joe Biden has vowed to “free” Iran — adding that protesters will “free themselves pretty soon” — during a campaign speech in California.
Seven weeks of protests have gripped Iran since the death of Mahsa Amini, 22, in the custody of Iran's morality police. The mass uprisings have triggered a violent clampdown by authorities.
“Don't worry, we're gonna free Iran. They’re gonna free themselves pretty soon,” said Mr Biden of anti-government demonstrators during a campaign rally for US Representative Mike Levin at MiraCosta College near San Diego, as dozens of demonstrators gathered holding banners supporting Iranian protesters.
Mr Biden did not specify what actions would be taken by the US in Iran.
The White House's National Security Council did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The US said on Wednesday it would try to remove Iran from the 45-member UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) over the government's denial of women's rights and brutal clampdown on protests.
Since the protests began, the US has ceased negotiations with Iran’s government on resuming an agreement to stop the country’s nuclear weapons programme.
It has also accused Tehran of supplying Russia with weaponry for its Ukraine invasion.
On Thursday, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused the US, Europe and Israel of waging a “war” against the country during the protests.
His comments came after rights groups said an 18-year-old in the north-western city of Sanandaj had become the latest teenager to be killed by security forces.
Government security forces have been accused of widespread abuses in the continuing clampdown on protesters.
The Norway-based group Iran Human Rights says 176 people have been killed so far.
“The events over the past few weeks weren’t simple street riots. The enemy started a hybrid war. The US, Israel, some sly, vicious European powers and certain groups used whatever they had to do this,” said Mr Khamenei in English.
He said that he had no issue with the youth taking part in protests, which he said were out of “excitement, emotion and some negligence in understanding”, but claimed “the main directors” had then hatched plots to co-opt this.
All about the Sevens
Cape Town Sevens on Saturday and Sunday: Pools A – South Africa, Kenya, France, Russia; B – New Zealand, Australia, Spain, United States; C – England, Scotland, Argentina, Uganda; D – Fiji, Samoa, Canada, Wales
HSBC World Sevens Series standing after first leg in Dubai 1 South Africa; 2 New Zealand; 3 England; 4 Fiji; 5 Australia; 6 Samoa; 7 Kenya; 8 Scotland; 9 France; 10 Spain; 11 Argentina; 12 Canada; 13 Wales; 14 Uganda; 15 United States; 16 Russia
TECH%20SPECS%3A%20APPLE%20WATCH%20SERIES%208
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More coverage from the Future Forum
More on Quran memorisation:
Company%20Profile
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
The years Ramadan fell in May
Stormy seas
Weather warnings show that Storm Eunice is soon to make landfall. The videographer and I are scrambling to return to the other side of the Channel before it does. As we race to the port of Calais, I see miles of wire fencing topped with barbed wire all around it, a silent ‘Keep Out’ sign for those who, unlike us, aren’t lucky enough to have the right to move freely and safely across borders.
We set sail on a giant ferry whose length dwarfs the dinghies migrants use by nearly a 100 times. Despite the windy rain lashing at the portholes, we arrive safely in Dover; grateful but acutely aware of the miserable conditions the people we’ve left behind are in and of the privilege of choice.
MATCH INFO
Fixture: Ukraine v Portugal, Monday, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
Challenge Cup result:
1. UAE 3 faults
2. Ireland 9 faults
3. Brazil 11 faults
4. Spain 15 faults
5. Great Britain 17 faults
6. New Zealand 20 faults
7. Italy 26 faults
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Zayed Sustainability Prize