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President Trump spent much of early January threatening Iran with military action. Trump listed the protests that the country had been experiencing and the subsequent military response as the reasoning.
The unrest began Dec. 28 over the collapse of Iran’s currency, then spiraled further on Jan. 8 with Iran’s exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi joining the fray. The country went into a media blackout not long after. Despite that, some photos and reports did get out of the country depicting the thousands killed in response to these protests. Then, this past weekend, several anti-government protests were staged at Universities across Iran.
However, Iran claims those who have died in protests were killed by “terrorists,” with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Feb.21 claiming some of those supposed terrorists were armed and funded by the US and Israel.
Recently, American forces have taken positions in the Middle East, including two aircraft carriers, dozens of fighter jets, bombers and planes within striking distance. On Friday, Feb. 20, Trump said he might use them in a limited strike to pressure the end of Iran’s nuclear program. According to The New York Times, he also told advisers that if an initial strike fails, “he may mount a bigger attack to drive its leaders from power.”
Iran has thus far responded by asserting that the United States would bear full and direct responsibility for unpredictable and uncontrolled consequences. Similarly, Iranian citizens are still grieving from the death toll that came from the December-January protests. Citizens who spoke to The New York Times differ on whether outside intervention would fix anything within the country. Many feel the strikes are inevitable.
Despite the fatalism surrounding this issue, Trump has yet to seek approval from Congress. That could change at the State of the Union address on Tuesday, Feb. 24.
