The protests, according to President Donald Trump and his Israeli allies, were caused by `anger over Iran's spending billions on wars in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon and helping the Palestinian movement Hamas.' Trump tweeted that Iranians were finally rising up against what he called their hated, brutal regime.

Talk about manufactured news. Most Iranians were elated and proud of their nation's role in thwarting US plans to occupy much of Syria and overthrow the government of President Bashar al-Assad. By contrast, the other side in this long proxy war – the US, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Britain – was smarting with defeat and seeking ways to exact revenge on the hateful trio, Syria, Iran and Russia.