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.
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Iranians protest in Tehran after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after she was detained by the morality police in September. AP Photo -
Protests have intensified despite a vicious government crackdown that has left as many as 200 people dead, although estimates of the toll by rights groups vary. AP Photo -
At least eight members of the security forces have also been killed or wounded during the unrest and there are signs that violent resistance could be intensifying. AP Photo -
A fire burns at the office of the governor of Mahabad, in the West Azerbaijan province of Iran. AFP -
Protesters gather in the a courtyard of Chitgar complex in western Tehran. AFP -
Iranian protesters continue to defy a deadly crackdown by security forces. AFP -
A woman cuts her hair at the grave site of Nika Shahkarami in the city of Khorramabad, during a reported memorial held to mark 40 days since the death of the 16-year-old. AFP -
A woman not wearing a headscarf stands on top of a vehicle as thousands make their way towards Saqez, Mahsa Amini's home town, to mark 40 days since her death in police custody. AFP -
Iranian riot police prepare to confront protesters the capital, Tehran. AFP -
Iranian protesters surge forward amid clashes with riot police in Tehran. AFP -
A crowd blocks an intersection during a protest to mark 40 days since Amini's death in custody. AP Photo -
Iranian police arrive to disperse a protest in Tehran. AP Photo -
Protesters chant at a vigil for Amini at the Khajeh Nasir Toosi University of Technology in Tehran. Reuters -
Students at Sharif University of Technology attend a protest. AP Photo -
Police outside Sharif University during a student protest. AP Photo -
Students at the university protest over the death of Amini, who was in 'morality police' custody for allegedly breaking strict rules on head coverings for women. AP Photo -
The students' banner says: 'No to mandatory hijab'. AP Photo
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.
