"Stand with the people of Iran, not the government": Nasheed

Former President Mohamed Nasheed has stated that as a Muslim nation, the Maldives must stand with the people of Iran during their ongoing protests and that the focus should be on supporting the citizens rather than protecting the government. 

Amidst deteriorating economic conditions in Iran, large-scale anti-government protests have erupted, leading to a heavy-handed response from the Iranian authorities. Referring to the situation in a post on X today, Nasheed noted that the Iranian people have taken to the streets to escape decades of oppression and to seek relief from the soaring cost of living.

Nasheed emphasized that since the Iranian people are fellow Muslims, both the Muslim world and the international community should side with them instead of prioritizing the protection of the Iranian regime. 

The protests initially began with merchants on Sunday but have since expanded to various cities, with many civilians joining the movement. These protests have escalated into violent clashes between protesters and security forces, resulting in numerous fatalities.

The Iranian government has warned that any "illegal gatherings," acts of public disturbance, destruction of property, or disobedience toward law enforcement will be met with severe punishment. 

Meanwhile, the United States has issued a stark warning, stating that it will intervene and launch strikes against Iran if the government continues to attack peaceful protesters.