Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called for “unity” on Friday and warned against unrest as authorities struggle to contain nationwide protests triggered by economic hardship.
In a televised address, Khamenei described the unrest as “terrorist actions” driven by foreign enemies, accusing protesters of acting as “mercenaries for foreigners” and saying they were attacking public property.
He also accused U.S. President Donald Trump of siding with what he described as “saboteurs” who were “ruining their own streets to make the president of another country happy” in a reference to U.S. President Donald Trump.
“The U.S. president made a baseless remark, saying that if the Islamic Republic were to take certain actions, he would side with rioters and destructive elements. He should instead focus on addressing problems in his own troubled country.”
"A handful of naive, ill-informed and unthinking people” accept Trump’s statements, “act according to his wishes,” and “set trash bins on fire to please him.”
Trump should “know that tyrants and arrogant rulers throughout history — Pharaoh, Nimrod, Reza Khan, and Mohammad Reza — were overthrown at the height of their arrogance, and he too will fall.”
The demonstrations, which began on Dec. 28 over a sharp fall in the rial currency, have spread into broader anti-government protests. Dozens of protesters and at least four members of the security forces have been killed, according to Iranian officials.
Authorities cut off internet access on Thursday, a blackout that continued on Friday, while flights in and out of the country were cancelled and phone networks disrupted.
Iranian state media alleged that “terrorist agents” linked to the United States and Israel had sparked violence, reporting unspecified “casualties.”
President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for restraint and urged officials to address “genuine” grievances, while other officials warned there would be no leniency.
Trump on Thursday renewed a warning to Tehran over its response to the protests.
Iran has “been told very strongly … that if they do that, they’re going to have to pay hell,” Trump said in an interview.
Khamenei’s address ended with the audience chanting: “Death to America!”
