Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi urged the United States and the international community to support the nationwide protests in Iran with political sanctions, and not economic measures that could hit the general population.
The protests, which began over economic hardships suffered by the young and working class, pose one of the most sustained challenges to the clerical rulers in almost a decade.
Ebadi, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003, has lived in exile in the U.K. since 2009 because of her criticism of Iran's leadership. In an interview with Reuters on Thursday, she said she supports the protests "100%," and urged the people of Iran to continue protesting peacefully in the streets and to engage in civil disobedience.
"People should stop paying electricity, water and gas bills. They should not pay their tax. They should withdraw their money from banks," she said.
At least 21 people have been killed so far in clashes with security forces during the protests. Iran's army chief declared on Thursday that police had already quelled the anti-government unrest but his troops were ready to intervene if needed.
"I call on my dear children in the police forces and the Revolutionary Guards to put down their guns and do not kill their own brothers and sisters. If the country's situation improves, you would also benefit from it," Ebadi said.
Reacting to Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammad Ali Jafari's statement on Wednesday that the protests were over, Ebadi said, "That's his opinion. People are still in the streets. Even if they go home, their anger would remain, and the protests would resurface months or years later."
A senior U.S. official said on Wednesday that the United States is aiming to collect "actionable information" that could enable it to pursue sanctions against Iranian individuals and organizations involved in the crackdown on protesters.
The move is part of an effort by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration to side swiftly with the anti-government protesters, who have rattled Iran's clerical leadership.
Trump tweeted on Wednesday that United States would throw its support behind Iranian protesters at the "appropriate time."
Ebadi said, "If Iranian government has the right to talk about human rights abuses in Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Syria, other countries, including America, have the right to talk about human rights abuses in Iran."
She said the economic sanctions and U.S. visa restrictions for Iranians implemented by former U.S. President Barack Obama had made life more difficult for the people, not the government.
"During the Obama presidency, I said they should impose political sanctions on Iran, not economic ones. For example, they should ban sales of arms or any tools that can be used to suppress people," Ebadi said.
She also called for constraints on Iran's dozens of radio and television stations, which she said were part of Iran's "wrongful" foreign policy and "spread hatred and lies" in different languages.
She asked world powers to provide young Iranians with "free and fast" satellite internet services that could not be censored by Iranian authorities.
It is unclear how the protests may affect Trump's thinking about the 2015 nuclear pact that eased economic pressure on Iran in exchange for limits on its nuclear program.
Trump must decide by mid-January whether to continue waiving U.S. sanctions on Iran's oil exports under the terms of the international deal.
If he reimposes sanctions on oil, the move could hurt Iran's leaders. But analysts said it could also send the wrong message about U.S. support for the Iranian people in the middle of the boldest challenge to the leadership in a decade.
