After being repeatedly broadsided by Washington’s incendiary regime-change rhetoric, Tehran is now returning the favor. Iran’s Foreign Ministry seems to be urging Americans to “rise up” against their government.
The ministry tweeted out a photograph of a black demonstrator, fist in the air, standing defiantly in front of a group of riot police. The image is accompanied by a quote from civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.
Iran foreign ministry tweets about Floyd protests
“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up & live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,’” the text reads.
— Foreign Ministry, Islamic Republic of Iran 🇮🇷 (@IRIMFA_EN) June 1, 2020
This tweet comes after the string of protests in the US, to urge the government to take strict action against the police officer that killed George Floyd.
This isn’t the first time that Iran has ribbed the Trump administration over ongoing protests across the US.
As nationwide anger grew over the police killing of Minneapolis resident George Floyd, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called out the US for its human rights record, artfully editing a State Department press release about alleged injustices in Iran to make his point.
Mike Pompeo responded to the criticism by accusing Tehran of “exterminating Jews” and other alleged crimes. Washington has repeatedly called for a revolt against Tehran, claiming that they stand with the Iranian people – even as the US imposes crippling sanctions on their country.
You hang homosexuals, stone women and exterminate Jews. pic.twitter.com/eip0bu8RIL
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) May 30, 2020
This flurry of social media activity comes in the backdrop of a spat between the United States and Iran, which has seen the former impose crippling sanctions on the economy of the latter. Iran and the United States have engaged in multiple wars of words; however, there have been many punches thrown as well. In January 2020, United States bombed and killed the Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, to which Iran retaliated by bombing a US army compound in Iraq.
Both sides continuously threaten each other through various diplomatic channels. Iran does not have diplomatic relations with the United States and Israel. Both the United States and Israel regularly condemn Iran for its activities in the Middle East.
Until now, the stalemate continues.
Trump’s unwelcome approach to Floyd protests
Protests began outside the White House came after Trump’s response the murder of George Floyd by the police. He took to social media to express his disapproval of protests and suggested bringing in the military.
Read more: Trump hid in underground bunker during White House protest
Trump over the past few days has taken to Twitter to denounce a law enforcement response he felt hasn’t been strong enough, especially criticizing local Democratic leadership across the country and suggesting the military may need to be called in to deal with rioting.
This cavalier attitude has led to violent protests, with people vandalizing store fronts and police cars. The United States has been forced to send in the National Guard into cities all across the country because of prolonged riots.
Read more: Unrest over George Floyd murder wreaks havoc in US
Thousands of National Guard troops patrolled major US cities Sunday after five consecutive nights of unrest over the George Floyd murder and associated police brutality boiled over into arson and looting, sending shock waves through the country.
Iran foreign ministry tweet about Floyd no surprise after tense relations with US
The US Treasury Department slapped fresh sanctions on Iran in March, accusing several Iranian firms of aiding terrorism. Meanwhile, Tehran and the UN have called for the easing of sanctions amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Read more: US puts new sanctions on Iran despite calls for relief
As part of its “maximum pressure” campaign against the government in Tehran, the Trump administration has applied over a thousand individual Iran-related sanctions since its withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA, or Iran nuclear deal) in 2018.
However, UN Human Rights Commissioner Michelle Bachelet called for the easing of these penalties, given the ongoing pandemic.
“When the Americans say they are ready to help Iran against the coronavirus, it is one of the greatest lies in history,” Rouhani said on Monday.
“If they want to help Iran, all they need to do is to lift sanctions,” the Iranain leader added.
RT with additional input by GVS News Desk