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I think it's going to divide the rank of the protesters between those who now fear being in the streets will encourage a U.S. attack and are not willing to see that.

And those who might think that if they escalate and create more casualties than the U.S. would intervene.

President Trump threatens to attack Iran as protesters there take to the streets.

Yeah. Iran as protesters there take to the streets. It's Friday, January 2nd, and this is here and now anytime from NPR and WBOR.

I'm Chris Bentley.

Today on the show, a new year, sadly does not wipe away the problems of the old one.

In a few minutes, we'll hear from an American humanitarian group in Gaza that's being

kicked out by the government of Israel.

We think this is an attempt to delegitimize humanitarian organizations.

It is a dangerous precedent, and it will put, you know, two million people in Gaza at risk,

at further risk.

But first, protests in Iran have spread across the country and turned deadly. Local media and officials there

have reported several deaths as security forces crack down on demonstrations that started over the rising

cost of living, but which have come to include calls for political change. Iran's currency has been in freefall, with one dollar worth well over a million

rials, which is part of the reason why shopkeepers and students were among the first on the streets earlier this week.

The country's economy has long struggled under U.S. and U.N. sanctions. Last year, it took another blow after

the U.S. and Israel bombed Iran. For more on what's going on, Indira Lakshmanan spoke with

Vali Nasser of Johns Hopkins. So we know Iran's economy has suffered years of international isolation and Western sanctions.

Annual inflation reached 42% in December.

The currency lost half its value in the last year.

...