"Hearing that Iran is looking to execute a great and popular wrestling star, 27-year-old Navid Afkarai, whose sole act was an anti-government demonstration on the streets", Trump via Twitter on Thursday. "To the leaders of Iran, I would greatly appreciate if you spare this young man’s life, and not execute him. Thank you!"
Trump further noted that Afkarai and the other demonstrators were only reacting to deteriorating economic conditions in Iran.
"They were protesting the country’s worsening economic situation and inflation", Trump said.
Hearing that Iran is looking to execute a great and popular wrestling star, 27-year-old Navid Afkarai, whose sole act was an anti-government demonstration on the streets. They were protesting the “country’s worsening economic situation and inflation”...
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 3, 2020
In November, protests erupted in several of Iran's provinces, following the government’s decision to suddenly increase the price of gasoline, with some of the rallies turning violent.
President Hassan Rouhani claimed that the protests were organized by the United States and Israel to undermine Iran’s national security. Washington openly voiced support for demonstrators.
