Hey fam, big news from Tehran! 🇮🇷 Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi just dropped a statement saying the protests across the country are "under total control" after a weekend of clashes and an ongoing internet blackout. 🤯
The context: Since late December, Iranians have been hitting the streets over the plunging rial and deep economic issues. Things got rough over the weekend, with reports of violence that Tehran says were blown up to give US President Donald Trump an excuse to step in.
Speaking to foreign ambassadors, Araghchi fired back at Washington, saying Iran isn't looking for a fight—but if it comes to it, they're ready. He also mentioned they're open to negotiations, as long as talks are fair, respectful, and based on equal footing. ✌️
On the US side, Trump warned aboard Air Force One that "very strong options," including military force, are on the table if Iran crosses a red line. He even claimed Iranian leaders reached out wanting to negotiate.
Meanwhile, Iranians are dealing with a nationwide internet blackout that authorities say will be lifted soon. For a generation used to rolling updates on WhatsApp, Instagram, and TikTok, going offline is a major shift. 📱🚫
What's next? Keep an eye on whether talks actually take off and if Iran flips that internet switch back on. Either way, this standoff between Tehran's "total control" claim and Washington's force threat is heating up. Stay tuned! 🔥
Reference(s):
Iran says situation 'under total control' amid U.S. threat of force
cgtn.com
