Vice President Mike Pence tweeted America’s support for anti-government protestors in Iran Monday as the death toll rose to 12 and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called for calm.
“As long as @RealDonaldTrump is POTUS and I am VP, the United States of America will not repeat the shameful mistake of our past when others stood by and ignored the heroic resistance of the Iranian people as they fought against their brutal regime,” Pence pledged in a series of tweets.
"The bold and growing resistance of the Iranian people today gives hope and faith to all who struggle for freedom and against tyranny. We must not and we will not let them down," he added.
President Trump tweeted early Monday about the protests commenting, “Iran is failing at every level despite the terrible deal made with them by the Obama Administration. The great Iranian people have been repressed for many years. They are hungry for food & for freedom. Along with human rights, the wealth of Iran is being looted. TIME FOR CHANGE!”
President Rouhani responded to Trump’s comments, claiming he had no right to sympathize with the Iranian people because of past remarks.
"This man in America who is sympathizing today with our people has forgotten that he called the Iranian nation terrorists a few months ago,” Rouhani said. “This man who is against the Iranian nation to his core has no right to sympathize with Iranians."
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) argued Sunday that he believes the protests highlight Obama’s failed policies in Iran. He says that the Obama administration emboldened the theocratic regime by ignoring anti-government protestors in 2009.
According to the latest reports, new protests broke out in Tehran and other cities Monday, with video footage showing protestors chanting anti-government slogans.