Khamenei Accuses Protesters of Colluding with the U.S.

Protests in Iran: Khamenei Calls for Unity and Threatens Repression

The Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has called for "unity" in the face of "terrorist actions" amid widespread protests that have shaken the country. In a televised speech, Khamenei warned against the protests, which authorities consider a plot orchestrated by foreign enemies, particularly the United States, and reiterated the threat of using force to suppress dissent.

Khamenei accused protesters of acting on behalf of U.S. President Donald Trump, claiming that demonstrators are attacking public properties and warning that Tehran will not tolerate those acting as "mercenaries for foreigners." He further asserted that Trump has "blood on his hands" of Iranians.

Tehran is struggling to regain control over the situation, which has resulted in the deaths of dozens of protesters and at least four members of the security forces since the protests began on December 28. While President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for restraint and urged the state to listen to "genuine" grievances, other voices have warned that authorities will show no mercy, noting that the protests have received support from "foreign enemies."

The protests, sparked by economic difficulties, were initiated by merchants in Tehran dissatisfied with the sudden depreciation of the national currency, the rial. Authorities restricted internet access on Thursday in an apparent attempt to suppress the protest movement. Internet users were also cut off on Friday, and phone systems were affected, leading airlines to cancel flights in and out of the country.

However, videos shared by activists claim to show protesters chanting against the government around fires, with debris strewn across the streets of the capital, Tehran, and other areas.

In a rare communication regarding the protests, Iranian state media claimed on Friday that "terrorist agents" from the U.S. and Israel had incited fires and violence, adding that there had been "losses," though no further details were provided.

Trump reiterated on Thursday a threat that his country would not allow Tehran to kill protesters. "Iran has been informed very clearly... that if they do this, they will pay a tremendous price," he stated to a reporter.

However, the U.S. president ruled out a meeting with the self-proclaimed "Crown Prince" of Iran, Reza Pahlavi, suggesting that Washington is not prepared to support a successor to the Tehran government should it collapse. Pahlavi, the son of Iran's last Shah, who was overthrown in the 1979 Islamic Revolution, has called for further demonstrations. Pahlavi's call has "turned the tide" of protests, according to Holly Dagres, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, adding that social media posts show that Iranians were "seriously taking the call to protest to overthrow the Islamic Republic."

Khamenei stated in his speech that the protesters are "ruining their own streets to make the president of another country happy," referring to Trump. An audience could be heard chanting: "Death to America!"