Irans Supreme Leader criticizes protesters amid ongoing unrest in Tehran

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has addressed the ongoing protests in the country, urging “unity” among citizens amid reports of “terrorist actions”. In a televised address on Friday, Khamenei warned against the protests, which have been framed as a plot by foreign enemies. The Iranian authorities have accused protesters of acting on behalf of US President Donald Trump and his administration.

Khamenei reiterated that the government will take measures to suppress the unrest, stating that Tehran would not tolerate individuals acting as “mercenaries for foreigners”. He also made a personal attack on Trump, accusing him of having “hands stained with the blood” of Iranians. The Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, has called for restraint and urged the state to listen to genuine grievances.

The protests began on December 28 over economic hardship, sparked by a sharp decline in the rial currency. Authorities have cut off access to the internet and phone services, while airlines have cancelled flights in and out of the country. Despite these measures, videos shared by activists show protesters chanting against the government around bonfires.

Iranian state media has alleged that “terrorist agents” from the US and Israel were responsible for setting fires and sparking violence. Trump had previously warned that his country would not allow Tehran to kill protesters, stating that Iran would face severe consequences if it did so. However, the US president has ruled out meeting with Reza Pahlavi, a self-proclaimed “Crown Prince” of Iran, who has called for further demonstrations.

The Iranian government’s response to the protests has been met with criticism from some experts, who argue that the measures taken by authorities have likely provided cover for security forces to kill protesters. The situation remains volatile, with dozens of protesters and at least four members of the security forces killed since the demonstrations began.

Source: Al Jazeera