 "Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu (Reuters)")
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed support for the Iranian people on Sunday as protests continued to ripple across multiple cities in the Islamic Republic.
“We stand in solidarity with the struggle of the Iranian people and with their aspirations for freedom, liberty and justice,” Netanyahu said during his weekly cabinet meeting.
He added, “It is very possible that we are standing at a moment when the Iranian people are taking their destiny into their own hands,” according to a statement from his office.
From economic strikes to political demands
The unrest began last Sunday when shopkeepers across Iran staged strikes over economic grievances. Since then, demonstrations have grown both in size and scope , with protesters making broader political demands. AFP reports that at least 40 cities—mostly medium-sized towns in western Iran—have seen some level of protest activity.
The official Iranian toll indicates that at least 12 people, including members of security forces, have died in the clashes so far.
A history of tension
Israel and Iran, long-standing arch-foes, fought a 12-day conflict last year. The hostilities began after Israel launched a series of strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and residential areas, citing the need to disrupt Tehran’s atomic research and ballistic missile development. Iran retaliated with drone and missile attacks targeting Israel. The United States later joined Israel in briefly targeting Iranian nuclear sites before a ceasefire was declared.
Netanyahu on nuclear oversight
Addressing Tehran’s nuclear programme on Sunday, Netanyahu said he had discussed the issue with US President Donald Trump during his official visit this week.
“We reiterated our shared position of zero enrichment on the one hand, and the need, of course, to remove the 400 kilogrammes of enriched material from Iran and subject the sites to strict and genuine oversight,” Netanyahu said.