To begin with, their encouragement by social media provides the embattled Iranian regime with an excuse to blame the protests on foreign meddling (and with the historical intervention of the CIA and MI6, it wouldn't be totally far-fetched). But beyond that, it's rather tone-deaf for the leaders of these countries to cheerlead for these protests against poverty, corruption, religious authoritarianism and billions spent on foreign wars (in the case of the U.S.), while ignoring the same criticisms of their own governance at home.

As Netanyahu wishes "brave Iranians" success as they take to the streets, for example, it's hard not to think of the huge protests that swept Tel Aviv last month against his own alleged corruption, which involve Netanyahu and his wife reportedly receiving expensive gifts from wealthy business people and attempting to influence media coverage. Critics calling for his resignation are particularly outraged over these scandals in light of Israel's rising cost of living — one of the highest in the OECD — that led to wide-ranging protests in 2011 and 2012, as well as an ongoing frustration over the gap between the rich and poor.

And as Netanyahu scolds the Iranian regime from his supposed moral higher ground, images of 16-year-old anti-occupation protester Ahed Tamimi being detained by Israeli soldiers spring to mind, as well as the growing discontent among secular Israelis with the amount of political power and economic resources given to the nation's religious right.

Six months after Charlottesville, when the American president all but explicitly equated neo-Nazi violence with anti-racism resistance, he might want to tread more carefully when it comes to his condemnation of the Iranian regime's aggressive stance against protestors. Ditto for his excoriation of corruption, given the ongoing FBI investigation into his administration's involvement with Russian meddling in the U.S. election, as well as his own apparent attempts to obstruct justice.

He might also do well to note that Iranian President Hassan Rouhani came to power last summer promising more political freedom and to fix Iran's moribund economy — familiar slogans from Trump's own campaign. Meanwhile, Trump has helped cement his own nation's obscene gap between rich and poor with his recent tax reform package, which will aid his billionaire pals.

And as Iranian protesters call for an end to costly foreign wars, has Trump forgotten his own $15 billion increase of his nation's defence budget under the banner of "war funding" last May, helping to fund ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria?

In fact, Trump and Rouhani may have more in common than one might imagine. With most millennials in disapproval of Trump and the majority of Iranian protesters under 25, both leaders seem to be in the midst of a type of generational warfare.

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