Iran's Supreme Leader Resists Protests and Criticizes Trump

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, made a resolute declaration on Friday, chastising demonstrators as 'disruptive elements' and asserting that the nation would not yield. Despite a severe media blackout, anti-government protests continue to escalate.

Addressing a crowd that occasionally erupted with chants against the United States, Khamenei accused the protestors of being puppets of foreign powers, claiming they acted at the behest of President Trump. He described the demonstrators as working for outsiders.

Khamenei asserted that those involved in vandalizing property in Tehran aimed to gratify the U.S. President, alleging that Trump bore indirect responsibility for Iranian casualties.

In recent comments, President Trump suggested there would be serious consequences if the Iranian regime harmed protesters, emphasizing widespread dissatisfaction with Iran's governance.

Khamenei dismissed Trump's remarks as inciting unrest and predicted that Trump's influence would ultimately collapse. He criticized Trump’s inability to manage domestic challenges in his own country.

The protests initially sparked among traders affected by the local currency's depreciation. The unrest swiftly expanded throughout all provinces, fueled by anger over perceived governmental corruption and economic mismanagement.

At least 51 protestors have reportedly died since the surge of demonstrations began last December, as per a human rights organization based in Norway.

Khamenei’s fiery address came after an intense Thursday night of protests across major Iranian cities, possibly stimulated by exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi’s calls for mobilization against the regime.

Iranian state media broadcast images of urban destruction, including burnt vehicles and damage to public property, attributing this chaos to 'terrorists.'

A Tehran resident reported street slogans advocating for Pahlavi's return and condemning Khamenei, shortly before the internet was cut off, according to digital rights monitoring groups.

Amid heightened tensions, Iran perceives threats from both Israel and the United States. These challenges compound economic protests that have grown into a direct confrontation with Iran’s theocratic system.

The government’s restrictive measures on communications aim to stifle the growing protests, a strategy reminiscent of past crackdowns.

The internet shutdown, confirmed by observers, disrupted communication networks for over twelve hours, affecting flights from nearby countries.

Crown Prince Pahlavi, a controversial opposition figure, has long implored the U.S. for assistance in overthrowing the Iranian regime. Recently, he urged Iranians to intensify their protest efforts against the current government’s suppressive tactics.

These protests are the most significant since the nationwide outcry after the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022. However, they have not yet reached the scale of those earlier demonstrations.

A U.S.-based activist group has reported an increase in detentions as Iranian authorities strive to control public outcry.

Iran watches warily following a U.S. operation in Venezuela, drawing parallels to their own challenges with demonstrations and external threats pledged by Trump.

Initially, Iran's response to the unrest was a mix of harshness and attempts to address valid criticisms, potentially explaining the delay in full-scale suppression of the protests.

Yet, the stance may be hardening, noted when Iran’s Defense Council declared intentions to adopt stricter measures against demonstrators, a sentiment echoed by Khamenei.

Khamenei reaffirmed that the Islamic Republic has been established through great sacrifice and warned that it will not capitulate to those threatening its sovereignty.