Iran Khamenei Lashes Out as Tehran Battles Growing Protests

Iran Khamenei Lashes Out as Protests Deepen and Pressure Mounts on Tehran

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has issued a stern warning as nationwide protests continue to shake the country, accusing demonstrators of acting on behalf of foreign enemies and vowing a firm crackdown.

The latest address, broadcast on state television, comes at a time when Tehran is struggling to regain control amid economic unrest, public anger, and growing international attention. Once again, Iran Khamenei Lashes a harsh response, framing the unrest as a security threat rather than a domestic crisis.

Call for “Unity” Amid Unrest

In his nationally televised speech on Friday, Khamenei urged Iranians to show “unity” in the face of what he described as “terrorist actions.” He warned that authorities would not tolerate unrest and repeated claims that the protests were orchestrated by foreign powers, particularly the United States and Israel.

As Iran Khamenei Lashes protesters with accusations of betrayal, the leadership continues to portray the demonstrations as an external conspiracy rather than a grassroots movement.

Khamenei alleged that those taking to the streets were acting as “mercenaries for foreigners,” saying they were damaging public property to please hostile governments. Without naming specific incidents, he insisted that the state would respond decisively to restore order.

Human rights groups, however, warn that the true toll may be higher.

While President Masoud Pezeshkian has urged restraint and called on the state to listen to “genuine” public grievances, hardline voices have taken a different approach. As Iran Khamenei Lashes out, the emphasis from the top appears to be on force and deterrence rather than dialogue.

Internet Shutdown and Media Restrictions

In an apparent effort to suppress the protest movement, authorities cut off internet access nationwide on Thursday. The blackout continued into Friday, severely limiting communication.

Activists say the shutdown was designed to prevent images and videos of protests from spreading. Still, some footage managed to surface, showing demonstrators chanting anti-government slogans near bonfires as debris littered streets in Tehran and other cities. Even as Iran Khamenei Lashes protesters on state TV, scenes of unrest continue to circulate online.

State Media Blames “Terrorist Agents”

Breaking its silence on the scale of the unrest, Iranian state media claimed that “terrorist agents” linked to the United States and Israel were behind acts of violence and arson. The reports mentioned “casualties” but offered no further details.

In an interview, Trump said Iran had been “told very strongly” that severe consequences would follow if security forces continued to kill demonstrators.

Khamenei responded indirectly, accusing Trump of having hands “stained with the blood” of Iranians. As Iran Khamenei Lashes Washington with strong rhetoric, the exchange highlights the broader geopolitical tension surrounding the protests.

However, Trump also ruled out meeting with Reza Pahlavi, the self-proclaimed “Crown Prince” and son of Iran’s last shah, signaling that the US is not ready to back an alternative leadership should the Islamic Republic collapse.

Reza Pahlavi’s Call for Protests

Despite Washington’s caution, Reza Pahlavi has called for continued demonstrations. Analysts say his statements have resonated with some protesters. Holly Dagres, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, told the Associated Press that Pahlavi’s call “turned the tide” of the protests.

She noted that social media posts indicated many Iranians were taking the appeal seriously, seeing it as encouragement to challenge the Islamic Republic.

In his speech, Khamenei claimed demonstrators were destroying their own neighborhoods to satisfy foreign leaders, a remark that drew loud chants of “Death to America!” from the audience present during the broadcast. On the other is a leadership that continues to frame dissent as an existential threat. With each speech, Iran Khamenei Lashes harder, doubling down on a security-first approach.