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22:32 GMT
WASHINGTON, Dec 5 (KUNA) -- US President Donald Trump said Thursday if there is a threat from Iran, it will be met "very strongly."
"But we'll be announcing whatever we may be doing - may or may not be doing. We're already dealing with the UN, and dealing very well with the UN. They're very much involved with respect to Iran and other things," he told reporters at the White House.
On the crackdown on protesters in Iran, Trump said, "They're killing protesters -- they're killing a lot of people" and arresting thousands of their own citizens.
On a similar note, US Special Envoy to Iran Brian Hook, said, "We have seen reports of many hundreds more killed in and around Tehran. And as the truth is trickling out of Iran, it appears the regime could have murdered over a thousand Iranian citizens since the protests began."
"We cannot be certain because the regime blocks information. Among those murdered are at least a dozen children. Many thousands of Iranians have been wounded, and at least 7,000 protesters have been detained in Iran's prisons," Hook told reporters at the Department of State earlier today.
"Many of these protesters have been sent to two prisons, the Great Tehran Penitentiary and Qarchak Prison.
"Today Secretary (of State Mike) Pompeo has determined these entities meet the criteria for gross human rights violations set out in CAATSA, and the State Department is submitting to Congress the names of these entities.
"The United States calls for the immediate release of all protesters detained in prison, as well as all the political prisoners currently held by the regime," he noted.
"Now is the time for all nations to stand with the Iranian people, diplomatically isolate the regime, and sanction those officials who are responsible for murdering innocent Iranians," Hook added. (end)
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