Trump: ‘Thousands and thousands’ of protesters being killed in Iran

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday denounces Iran’s crackdown on anti-government protesters, after rights groups said the death toll has soared.

Protests erupted in Iran on November 15 after an announcement that gas prices were going up by as much as 200 percent with immediate effect.

“Iran is killing perhaps thousands and thousands of people right now as we speak,” Trump tells reporters in London ahead of a NATO summit.

“That’s why they cut off the internet. They cut off the internet so people can’t see what’s going on.

“And frankly, I don’t know how you get in there, I don’t know how you do your business but the press ought to get in there and see what’s going on.”

Trump adds: “The word is that thousands of people are being killed in Iran that are protesting.

“Not just small numbers, which are bad; big numbers, which are really bad — and really big numbers.”

Asked if there was more that the United States could do, he replies: “I’d rather not say right now.

“It’s a terrible thing and I think the world has to be watching.

“But many, many people are being killed in Iran right now for protesting. For the mere fact that they’re protesting.”

London-based human rights group Amnesty International said on Monday that at least 208 people were killed in the crackdown.

— AFP