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The world’s eyes are on Iran this week, where anger over the dire economic situation and decades of repression is boiling over. The Iranian government is responding with force, prompting international leaders to discuss possible measures to increase pressure on it.
“I personally have never experienced this degree of blackout in Iran,” Babak Kamiar, the head of Euronews’ Persian team tells “Brussels, my love?”.
“The numbers of those killed, injured and detained is horrible,” he continued, pointing out that these figures are still difficult to assess due to limited access to information. Euronews’ journalists Stefan Grobe and Marta Pacheco also join the conversation.
How did the protests begin?
The Iranian demonstrations began in late December, with shopkeepers protesting the soaring gold prices and the collapse of the country’s national currency.
The protests rapidly escalated, gathering wider discontent among the population. At the time the podcast was recorded, the country was experiencing an internet shutdown, making it difficult for international media to find information.
The United States (US)’ reaction to the situation remains difficult to predict. President Donald Trump has taken different positions this week, leaving the international community uncertain about what the US’s next steps will be.
“To me this is clear proof that Trump kinda had overpromised, or at least he thought he could do something and then was presented with a series of bad options,” Grobe said, highlighting the difficulties that a US military intervention in Iran could entail.
The European Union (EU) is also working on its next steps. “The EU has already started moving from words to actions,” Pacheco stated, explaining that the bloc has banned Iranian diplomats from entering the European Parliament and is considering new sanctions.
Additional sources • Georgios Leivaditis, sound edtor and mixer.
