Iran Protests Intensify as Khamenei Issues Stern Warning and Blames Foreign Powers
Tehran: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has sharply criticized ongoing nationwide protests, warning that the state will respond forcefully as unrest continues to challenge authorities across the country. In a televised address aired on Iranian state TV, Khamenei urged citizens to show “unity” against what he described as organized acts of violence driven by foreign enemies.
The supreme leader accused protesters of serving the interests of external powers, particularly the United States, claiming that the demonstrations were being manipulated to destabilize Iran. Without naming individuals, Iran’s Khamenei suggested that those involved were acting as “agents for foreigners” and said attacks on public property would not be tolerated.
He directly targeted former US President Donald Trump, accusing him of having “blood on his hands” and portraying the unrest as part of a broader foreign plot against Iran’s sovereignty.
Protests Sparked by Economic Crisis
The protests, which erupted on December 28, were initially triggered by worsening economic conditions. A sharp fall in the value of Iran’s currency, the rial, reportedly angered shopkeepers and workers in Tehran, before demonstrations spread to other cities.
Since the unrest began, dozens of protesters have reportedly been killed, along with at least four members of Iran’s security forces, highlighting the growing intensity of the crisis. Despite heavy security deployment, authorities have struggled to fully contain the demonstrations.
Mixed Messages from Iranian Leadership
While President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for calm and urged the government to acknowledge “legitimate public concerns,” hardline officials have taken a tougher stance. Several senior figures have warned that the state will show zero tolerance, insisting that the protests are being fueled by hostile foreign governments.
In a bid to curb the movement, authorities shut down internet services nationwide on Thursday. The blackout continued into Friday, with phone networks also disrupted and multiple international flights canceled. Officials did not provide a clear timeline for restoring services.
Videos Show Continued Unrest Despite Blackout
Despite restrictions, videos circulating online appear to show protesters gathering around fires, chanting anti-government slogans as debris littered streets in Tehran and other cities. Iranian state media later claimed that “terrorist elements” linked to the US and Israel were responsible for setting fires and provoking violence, while acknowledging unspecified casualties.
International Reaction and Trump’s Warning
Donald Trump responded by warning Tehran against using deadly force on demonstrators, saying Iran had been “strongly told” it would face serious consequences if protesters were harmed. However, Trump ruled out supporting exiled opposition figure Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last shah, signaling reluctance to back a political alternative should the government fall.
Pahlavi has publicly urged Iranians to continue protesting. According to analysts, his call has energized demonstrators. Holly Dagres of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy told the Associated Press that social media activity suggests Iranians are responding seriously to calls for sustained protests.
She added that the internet shutdown was likely intended to hide the scale of demonstrations from the world and may have given security forces greater freedom to act without scrutiny.
Khamenei Repeats Defiant Message
In his address, Khamenei dismissed protesters’ actions, saying they were “destroying their own streets to please the president of another country.” His speech concluded, reinforcing the regime’s defiant tone as Iran faces one of its most serious waves of unrest in recent years.
