Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that “rioters must be put in their place” after a week of protests shaking the country.
Khamenei, who is 86, made his first comments on Saturday as violence related to the protests over Iran’s struggling economy has resulted in at least 10 deaths.
The protests continue, especially after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened Iran on Friday. He stated that if Tehran “violently kills peaceful protesters,” the U.S. “will come to their rescue.” It is unclear if or how Trump will intervene, especially after a major U.S. military attack on Venezuela and the supposed capture of President Nicolas Maduro. His comments led to immediate anger from Iranian officials.
Iran’s UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani wrote to the UN Secretary-General and the President of the UN Security Council, asking them to condemn Trump’s “unlawful threats” against Iran. Ali Larijani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, said that U.S. interference “causes chaos in the entire region and harms U.S. interests.”
These protests are the largest in Iran since 2022, when the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody led to nationwide protests. However, these protests so far have not been as widespread or intense as those that followed Amini’s death, which happened after she was detained for not wearing her hijab as authorities required.
Foreign Powers Were Pushing the Protests – Khamenei
In a speech in Tehran, Khamenei spoke about the protests in Iran over the collapsing rial. He tried to draw a line between the protesting Iranians, who are concerned about the economy, and what he called “rioters.”
“We need to talk to protesters; officials must engage with them,” Khamenei said. “But there’s no point in talking to rioters. They need to be dealt with.”
He repeated a claim often made by Iranian officials, saying foreign powers like Israel and the U.S. are encouraging the protests, but he provided no proof. He also blamed “the enemy” for the drop in the rial.
“A group incited or hired by the enemy is encouraging shopkeepers and tradesmen to chant slogans against Islam, Iran, and the Islamic Republic,” he said. “This is what really matters.”
Khamenei also stated that the U.S. “must and will leave” the region.
“With the determination of the nations in the region, America must and will exit this area,” he declared.
Economic Downturn
Iran’s civilian government, led by reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian, has been trying to convey its willingness to negotiate with protesters. However, Pezeshkian has acknowledged the limitations on his ability to act, as Iran’s rial has rapidly depreciated, which initially sparked the protests.
The recent protests are driven by economic issues. Demonstrators are expressing their dissatisfaction with the government and have clashed in several cities. These clashes have led to multiple deaths and many arrests, according to Iranian authorities.
Since the war with Israel in June, during which the U.S. bombed nuclear sites in Iran, Tehran has struggled to stabilize its economy.
Recently, Iran announced that it is no longer enriching uranium at any of its sites, signaling to the West its openness to potential negotiations regarding its nuclear program in an effort to ease sanctions.
However, these talks have yet to materialize, as former President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have threatened Tehran over both its nuclear and missile programs.
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