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Iran's Guard Threatens US, Allies Over Protests

Associated Press

   DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - The head of Iran's Revolutionary Guard
   threatened the U.S. and its allies Monday as he addressed a
   pro-government demonstration attended by tens of thousands of people
   denouncing last week's violent protests over a fuel price hike.
   Gen. Hossein Salami, echoing other Iranian officials, accused the U.S.,
   Britain, Israel and Saudi Arabia of stoking the unrest. He said the
   rise in gasoline prices was a "mere pretext" for an attack on the
   nation.
   "If you cross our red line, we will destroy you," he said. "We will not
   leave any move unanswered." He said if Iran decides to respond, "the
   enemy will not have security anywhere," adding that "our patience has a
   limit."
   Amnesty International says more than 100 people were killed in the
   protests. Iran has not released a death toll and cut off internet for
   several days, making it difficult to ascertain the extent and severity
   of the demonstrations.
   At the pro-government rally, which state TV referred to as the "Rise of
   the people of Tehran against riots," protesters carried signs bearing
   traditional anti-U.S. slogans.
   But speakers also criticized President Hassan Rouhani's administration
   for the way the fuel price hike was implemented, even as they called
   for capital punishment for rioters and further restrictions on social
   media platforms.

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