TENSE

Trump Administration Announces Support for Iran Protests

State Department releases statement supporting “a peaceful transition of government.”

The State Department issued a Friday evening statement in support of Iranian protestors demonstrating against their government. The protestors’ chief complaints included economic inequality and soaring food costs. The State Department statement accused Iran’s leaders of turning the country “into an economically depleted rogue state whose chief exports are violence, bloodshed, and chaos.” The statement condemned the reported arrests of more than 50 protestors, and appeared to support regime change in Iran. “On June 14, 2017, Secretary Tillerson testified to Congress that he supports ‘those elements inside of Iran that would lead to a peaceful transition of government,’” the statement read. “The Secretary today repeats his deep support for the Iranian people.”