Iranian Official to Trump: 'Don’t Get Excited’!
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Senior adviser to the Iranian Parliament Speaker for international affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian called on US President Donald Trump not to “get excited” over recent protests in Iran against high prices.
“Mr. Trump don't get excited. People's economic demands are different to rioters. Iranians prefer national security & religious democracy as practiced by Islamic system over WH's terrorist & deceptive policies,” Amir Abdollahian said in a message posted on his official Twitter account on Sunday.
Some cities in Iran have been scenes of demonstrations in the past days after prices of several staples rose by up to 40 percent.
During the rallies, people called on the government to help control rising food prices and inflation, but some opportunists attempted to turn the situation ugly and materialize their vested interest at the cost of social security.
However, they all faced tough opposition from pro-government demonstrations held across the country to mark what has become known as “Dey 9" epic.
The US president also sided with the opportunists, tweeting, “…Iranian govt should respect their people’s rights, including right to express themselves. The world is watching!”
That is while according to Article 27 of the Iranian Constitution, “public gatherings and marches are allowed so long as the participants do not carry arms and are not in violation of the fundamental principles of Islam.”
Iranian officials maintain that peaceful protests are the right of every citizen as long as the rallies comply with the legal conditions.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani began his second term in office in August, with the country’s economic issues high on his agenda.
Rouhani’s administration has managed to reduce the inflation rate, but it still faces many economic challenges.
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei has said economic issues were the country’s top priority, urging Iranian officials to make relentless efforts to solve problems facing people, including unemployment among the youth.
“Economy must be the top priority of all members and sectors of the government,” the Leader said in a meeting with President Hassan Rouhani and the members of his administration in Tehran on the occasion of the Administration Week.
On Wednesday, Ayatollah Khamenei once again called on officials to pursue Resistance Economy with determination in order to address “high prices, inflation and recession.”
