Iran’s Khamenei Blasts Critics as Tehran Struggles to Quell Protests

Updated by Erick Kikomeko at 1439 EAT on Friday 9 January 2026

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has urged national unity in response to what he described as “terrorist actions,” as mass protests continue to grip the country.

In a televised address on Friday, Khamenei condemned the protests, which the government has portrayed as part of a foreign-backed conspiracy, with the United States singled out as the main culprit. He reiterated warnings that authorities would take firm action to suppress the unrest, signaling an escalating crackdown on demonstrators.

The protests, which have persisted for weeks, have become one of the most significant challenges to the Iranian government in recent years.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has accused protesters of acting as “mercenaries for foreigners,” alleging they are driven by U.S. interests under the influence of former President Donald Trump. In a fiery address, Khamenei said rioters were attacking public property and warned that Tehran would not tolerate such actions. He also condemned Trump, claiming the former U.S. president’s hands were “stained with the blood” of Iranians.

The unrest, which began on December 28, has seen growing casualties, with at least 40 protesters and four members of the security forces reported dead. Tehran is struggling to regain control of the situation, as the protests continue to spread across the country.

While President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for restraint, urging the government to listen to “genuine” grievances, other officials have warned of a tough response, framing the protests as a plot supported by “foreign foes.”

Protests Sparked by Economic Hardship
The protests were initially sparked by economic frustrations, particularly among Tehran’s shopkeepers, who were angered by a steep devaluation of the rial currency. What started as protests against economic hardship quickly escalated into broader dissent against the government’s policies.

In a bid to curb the protests, authorities imposed a nationwide internet blackout on Thursday, which continued through Friday. Meanwhile, the phone network was disrupted, and several airlines canceled flights in and out of the country.

However, videos circulated by activists appeared to show protesters in Tehran and other cities chanting against the government around bonfires, with streets littered with debris.

Breaking its silence on the unrest on Friday, Iranian state media accused “terrorist agents” from the United States and Israel of setting fires and inciting violence. The report also mentioned “casualties” but did not provide further details.

Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated a warning on Thursday, saying the United States would not allow Tehran to harm protesters. “Iran has been told very strongly… that if they do that, they’re going to have to pay hell,” he told an interviewer.

The U.S. president has ruled out meeting with Iran’s self-proclaimed “Crown Prince” Reza Pahlavi, signaling that Washington is not prepared to back a potential successor to the Tehran government if it collapses, Al Jazeera reports.

Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last shah, who was overthrown during the 1979 Islamic Revolution, has called for further demonstrations.

“This call turned the tide of the protests,” Holly Dagres, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, told The Associated Press. She noted that social media posts indicate Iranians “were taking the call seriously to protest in order to oust the Islamic republic.”

Dagres added, “This is exactly why the internet was shut down: to prevent the world from seeing the protests. Unfortunately, it also likely provided cover for security forces to kill protesters.”
In his televised address, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused demonstrators of “ruining their own streets to make the president of another country happy,” referencing Trump.

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