Tel Aviv, Israel – US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, announced that the United States is not currently considering direct intervention in the widespread protests sweeping Iran. He emphasized that Washington is currently content with “close monitoring” and following the aspirations of the Iranian people.
Huckabee’s warnings and the bet on Trump
In remarks carried by the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation (Kan), Huckabee asserted that the Iranian leadership had miscalculated, stating, “It seems that Iran did not take President Donald Trump seriously.” The ambassador explained that the current US position focuses on closely monitoring developments on the ground before making any political or procedural decisions. The demands of the Iranian protesters are also being assessed as the protests spread.
Map of the protests: From “bazaar” to full-blown uprising
Hakki’s remarks come at a critical juncture in the protests that began on December 28. The unrest was sparked by a strike by merchants in Tehran’s bazaar, protesting the currency collapse and the decline in purchasing power under the weight of international sanctions.
Field facts about the uprising:
The protests were recorded in at least 50 cities, and included 25 out of 31 provinces. The movements are also concentrated intensively in western Iran, particularly in areas inhabited by Kurdish and Lur ethnic groups.
“Extreme force” warning
Despite Huckabee’s statement that there would be no direct intervention “at present,” the threat from US President Donald Trump remains. He previously vowed to strike Iran “very hard” if the authorities carried out extrajudicial killings or “killed protesters.” Washington is closely monitoring whether Tehran is crossing this red line, especially given the current internet blackout.
