Are western leaders guilty of hypocrisy over calls for free speech in Iran?
Western leaders condemn Iran’s protest crackdown, but many face accusations of suppressing protest rights at home.

Western leaders condemn Iran’s protest crackdown, but many face accusations of suppressing protest rights at home.










US President Donald Trump has said “help is on the way” for anti-government protesters in Iran.
The unprecedented convergence of internal and external pressures makes these protests distinct.
As protests continue, Iran and the US seem to hint at readiness for war.
![President Donald Trump speaks as Bill Ford, Executive Chairman of Ford, left, and Jim Farley, CEO of Ford, listen during a tour of the Ford River Rogue complex, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Dearborn, Mich. [Evan Vucci/AP Photo]](/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/AP26013667056741_cropped-1768332724.jpg?resize=730%2C410&quality=80)
US President Donald Trump said the death toll from protests in Iran is too high.
Donald Trump declares ‘help is on the way’ for Iranian protesters, again floats ‘very strong actions’ against Tehran.
US president threatens a 25 percent tariff on countries that do business with Iran as he piles pressure on Tehran.
Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood official says group rejects US designation, will ‘pursue all legal avenues to challenge’ it.
The nature of power in Tehran today is very different from what it was in the 1970s.
“I don’t think the prospects look particularly good for diplomacy to succeed.”