Iran strikes back at Pompeo’s tweet supporting countrywide protests

Tehran hit back at U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday, two days after he tweeted his support for countrywide protests in Iran that followed an official announcement of gasoline rationing and price hikes of at least 50 percent.

During a parliament session, its chairman Ali Larijani said Pompeo’s tweet on Saturday proved US’s intention to undermine Iran’s security as it constitutes an open expression of support of unjustified rioters rather than rightful protesters.

Commenting on Saturday’s demonstrations in a cabinet meeting on Sunday (November 17), Iranian President Hassan Rouhani also stressed the differences between peaceful demonstrators and violent protesters. “The entire nation has the right to protest... but we should not let any insecurity in the society,” he said.

Many people in oil-producing Iran see cheap gasoline as a national right and the price hike sparked worries about a further squeeze on living costs, despite assurances from the Iranian authorities that the revenue raised would be used to help needy families.

The gasoline price increase is expected to raise around $2.55 billion a year for additional subsidies for 18 million families, or about 60 million Iranians on lower incomes, the government said.