Pro-Iran demonstration in Pakistan condemns US hostility

Thousands of people in Pakistan took to the streets on January 30 to demonstrate their support for the Islamic Establishment and the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

The rally followed recent threatening statements by US President Donald Trump toward Iran, Mehr News Agency reports.

Participants gathered after Friday prayers to express solidarity with Iran and its leadership.

During the demonstration, protesters voiced their firm support for the Leader of the Islamic Revolution and chanted slogans denouncing the “hostile policies” of the United States and its president.

To recall, President Trump said he had told Iran it has to do "two things" to avoid military action, as the US builds up its forces in the Gulf.

"Number one, no nuclear. And number two, stop killing protesters," the US president said, adding that "they are killing them by the thousands".

"We have a lot of very big, very powerful ships sailing to Iran right now, and it would be great if we didn't have to use them."

His latest remarks follow weeks of pressure on Iran to negotiate a deal on its nuclear program.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said armed forces were ready "with their fingers on the trigger" to "immediately and powerfully respond" to any aggression.

Earlier this week, Trump wrote on Truth Social: "Hopefully Iran will quickly 'Come to the Table' and negotiate a fair and equitable deal - NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS."

He warned that a "massive Armada is heading to Iran", and it was "ready, willing, and able to rapidly fulfil its mission, with speed and violence, if necessary".

In response, Araghchi said: "Iran has always welcomed a mutually beneficial, fair and equitable NUCLEAR DEAL - on equal footing, and free from coercion, threats, and intimidation - which ensures Iran's rights to PEACEFUL nuclear technology, and guarantees NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS."

"Such weapons have no place in our security calculations and we have NEVER sought to acquire them," he added.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said that no negotiations with the US were currently under way, despite "exchanges of messages".

By Vafa Guliyeva