U.S. Senator Graham: ‘To the people of Iran, help is on the way’

"Change is coming to Iran" according to U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham during an interview with Fox News on Tuesday (6 January). He warned Iran that "if you keep killing your people for wanting a better life, Donald Trump is going to kill you."

Graham made the comments to the broadcaster following nationwide protests and ongoing clashes between Iranian forces and protesters in the country.

The Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA) reported that at least 36 people have been killed during the last 10 days of demonstrations across Iran.

HRANA says more than 2,000 protesters have been arrested across 31 provinces after the unrest was sparked by an economic crisis in the country.

The protests began on 28 December, when business owners took to the streets in Tehran to express their anger at the fall of the Iranian rial against the U.S. dollar.

Since then, more demonstrators have taken to the streets and have been heard chanting anti-government slogans.

Footage from Iran have shown protesters setting fire to a council building in Karaj and burning the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Security forces have been reported to be using tear gas to disperse the demonstrators, while some reports suggest rubber bullets and live ammunition have been used.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on 3 January vowed not to yield after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to come to the aid of protesters on 2 January if Iranian forces killed peaceful protesters.

Speaking in a recorded appearance on television on Saturday, Khamenei said the Islamic Republic "will not yield to the enemy" and said rioters should be "put in their place."

Trump then warned Iran on 4 January of a strong response if security forces escalate violence against protesters in the Middle Eastern nation.

“We’re watching it very closely. If they start killing people like they have in the past, I think they’re going to get hit very hard by the United States,” Trump told reporters when asked about the unrest in Iran.

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham described the Iranian government on Fox News as a “Nazi regime” and ensured the people of Iran that “help is on the way.”

Earlier this week, he also went on Fox News wearing a “Make Iran Great Again” cap.

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