White House Calls on Iran’s Regime to End Use of Violence Against Protesters

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. EPA
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. EPA
TT

White House Calls on Iran’s Regime to End Use of Violence Against Protesters

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. EPA
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. EPA

The White House has said that the United States stands with the people of Iran, stressing they should have the right to freedom of expression, and calling on the Iranian regime to “end its use of violence against its own citizens.”

“We stand with all the citizens of Iran who are inspiring the world with their bravery, and we will continue to stand with them,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Tuesday.

“Women and men in Iran should have the right to freedom of expression and assembly. Women should be able to wear what they want, free from violence or harassment.”

“Iran must end its use of violence against its own citizens simply for exercising their fundamental freedoms, their fundamental rights,” Jean-Pierre told reporters.

She said the US will continue to take action to hold Iranian officials accountable and support the rights of Iranians to protest freely.

She added that Washington will “be imposing further costs on those perpetrators of violence against peaceful protesters.”

Demonstrators have been protesting for the past three weeks against Iran's government after the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old from Iranian Kurdistan, who was arrested on Sept. 13 in Tehran for "unsuitable attire" by the morality police and died in custody.



China’s Foreign Minister Warns Philippines over US Missile Deployment

 China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends the 14th EAST Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting in the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting at the National Convention Center, in Vientiane, Laos July 27, 2024. (Reuters)
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends the 14th EAST Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting in the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting at the National Convention Center, in Vientiane, Laos July 27, 2024. (Reuters)
TT

China’s Foreign Minister Warns Philippines over US Missile Deployment

 China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends the 14th EAST Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting in the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting at the National Convention Center, in Vientiane, Laos July 27, 2024. (Reuters)
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends the 14th EAST Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting in the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting at the National Convention Center, in Vientiane, Laos July 27, 2024. (Reuters)

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has warned the Philippines over the US intermediate-range missile deployment, saying such a move could fuel regional tensions and spark an arms race.

The United States deployed its Typhon missile system to the Philippines as part of joint military drills earlier this year. It was not fired during the exercises, a Philippine military official later said, without giving details on how long it would stay in the country.

China-Philippines relations are now at a crossroads and dialogue and consultation are the right way, Wang told the Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo on Friday during a meeting in Vientiane, the capital of Laos where top diplomats of world powers have gathered ahead of two summits.

Wang said relations between the countries are facing challenges because the Philippines has "repeatedly violated the consensus of both sides and its own commitments", according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement.

"If the Philippines introduces the US intermediate-range missile system, it will create tension and confrontation in the region and trigger an arms race, which is completely not in line with the interests and wishes of the Filipino people," Wang said.

The Philippines' military and its foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Wang's remarks.

China and the Philippines are locked in a confrontation in the South China Sea and their encounters have grown more tense as Beijing presses its claims to disputed shoals in waters within Manila's its exclusive economic zone.

Wang said China has recently reached a temporary arrangement with the Philippines on the transportation and replenishment of humanitarian supplies to Ren'ai Jiao in order to maintain the stability of the maritime situation, referring to the Second Thomas Shoal.

Philippine vessels on Saturday successfully completed their latest mission to the shoal unimpeded, its foreign ministry said in a statement.