US President Donald Trump has accused Iran’s government of killing 75,000 protesters over the past eight months, as tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate. The claim, which could not be independently verified from the remarks reported, was made in a speech in which Trump sharply criticised both Tehran and NATO allies.
Trump said the Iranian authorities had brutally suppressed demonstrators demanding democratic rights and freedom. Responding to questions about why Iranians are not protesting, he said it was impossible for ordinary citizens to take to the streets when security forces armed with machine guns were firing indiscriminately. He further alleged that people who questioned the government’s actions or took part in demonstrations were being hanged publicly from cranes. He described the Iranian leadership’s authoritarian policies as a stain on humanity.
Turning to NATO, Trump said he had asked the alliance’s members for help during the current confrontation with Iran. He stated, however, that the United States did not actually need the assistance and had made the request to gauge how NATO countries would behave in a time of difficulty.
Trump said the United States spends billions of dollars on the defence and security of NATO members, yet received a refusal when it asked for what he called a small favour. He accused the allies of being eager to accept funding but quick to withdraw when asked to contribute, describing this as evidence of double standards.