Iran Protests Rage On as Khamenei Accuses US of Inciting Unrest

Iran Protests Rage On as Khamenei Accuses US of Inciting Unrest

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has dismissed ongoing anti-government protests in Iran as the work of “troublemakers” seeking to “please the US President Donald Trump,” as demonstrations entered their 13th day and international pressure mounted over the growing death toll.

In a televised address on Friday, Khamenei struck a defiant tone, insisting the Islamic Republic would not retreat in the face of unrest. “The Islamic Republic came to power through the blood of several hundred thousand honourable people and it will not back down,” the 86-year-old leader said, later vowing that authorities would not hesitate to confront what he described as “destructive elements.”

Iran has also written to the United Nations Security Council, accusing the United States of fuelling unrest and turning demonstrations into what it called “violent subversive acts and widespread vandalism.” Tehran’s UN ambassador said Washington was interfering in Iran’s internal affairs through “threats, incitement and deliberate encouragement of instability.”

The protests, which began on 28 December over the country’s worsening economic crisis and collapsing currency, have since expanded into the largest nationwide demonstrations in years, with some protesters calling for an end to clerical rule and others openly demanding the restoration of the monarchy.

Human rights groups report that at least 48 protesters and 14 security personnel have been killed, while the Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) puts the death toll at 51 protesters, including nine children. More than 2,277 people have been arrested, according to the US-based Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA). The BBC has verified the identities of 22 victims, though international media remain barred from reporting freely inside Iran.

READ ALSO:

• Ndiaye Strike Sends Senegal Into AFCON 2025 Semi-Finals as Mali Falter Again
• Nigerians vs Nigerians: The SARS We Never Ended
• Diaz Makes AFCON History as Morocco Defeat Cameroon to Reach Semi-Finals

Amid the unrest, Iran has imposed a near-total internet blackout, severely restricting information flow and disrupting daily life. Internet monitoring groups Cloudflare and NetBlocks said only limited connectivity returned on Friday. Residents report that cash machines are down and electronic payments are impossible in many areas.

At the White House, President Donald Trump warned that Iran was “in big trouble,” saying the US was closely monitoring events. “We will be hitting them very hard where it hurts,” Trump said, while stressing that any US involvement would not mean “boots on the ground.” He repeated an earlier warning that Tehran would face consequences if security forces continued killing protesters.

International concern has intensified. In a joint statement, the leaders of France, Germany and the United Kingdom condemned the killing of protesters and urged Iranian authorities to respect freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the organisation was deeply disturbed by the loss of life, emphasising that governments have a duty to protect peaceful demonstrators.

Inside Iran, security agencies hardened their rhetoric. The Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) and other bodies warned of “no leniency,” while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) intelligence unit said it would continue operations until what it called “the enemy’s plan” was completely defeated.

Exiled opposition figure Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s last shah, urged Trump to be ready to intervene to help Iranians, as protests spread to at least 67 locations verified by BBC Verify. Videos showed crowds in Zahedan chanting “death to the dictator,” while footage from Isfahan and Tehran captured fires, overturned cars and clashes.

Rights activists and Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi have warned that the internet shutdown could pave the way for intensified violence, raising fears of a possible massacre similar to the deadly 2022 protests following the death of Mahsa Amini, when more than 550 people were killed.

Iran Protests Rage On as Khamenei Accuses US of Inciting Unrest