Trump warns Iran: US watching for human rights violations in response to protests

President Trump early Sunday warned Iran that the United States is watching for human rights violations as anti-government protests flare across the country.

“Big protests in Iran. The people are finally getting wise as to how their money and wealth is being stolen and squandered on terrorism,” Trump said.

{mosads}“Looks like they will not take it any longer. The USA is watching very closely for human rights violations!”

Big protests in Iran. The people are finally getting wise as to how their money and wealth is being stolen and squandered on terrorism. Looks like they will not take it any longer. The USA is watching very closely for human rights violations!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2017

The warning comes after the first deaths were reported in western Iran on Saturday.

The president had issued a similar caution to Tehran on Friday.

“Many reports of peaceful protests by Iranian citizens fed up with regime’s corruption & its squandering of the nation’s wealth to fund terrorism abroad,” Trump said in a tweet.

“Iranian govt should respect their people’s rights, including right to express themselves. The world is watching! #IranProtests.”

The anti-government protests reportedly entered their third night on Saturday, as Iranians demonstrated against the government in Tehran.