Unrest dominated Iran’s political landscape Friday as Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei accused President Donald Trump of fueling nationwide protests that have turned deadly. Iran Unrest has spread rapidly since late December, with the regime responding through force even as President Trump warned that attacks on civilians would prompt U.S. action.
Speaking to a crowd chanting “Death to America,” Khamenei blamed the destruction on the United States. “Last night in Tehran, a bunch of vandals came and destroyed buildings that belonged to them to please the U.S. president,” he said. Khamenei claimed Trump’s hands were “stained with the blood of thousands of Iranians” and described protesters as acting “as mercenaries for foreigners.”
Khamenei accused demonstrators of destroying their own cities to gain favor with Washington and argued that Trump’s warnings emboldened what he called “elements hostile to the nation.” He insisted the Islamic Republic was “established with the blood of several hundred thousand honorable people, and it will not back down” despite growing unrest.
The protests began after the Iranian rial sharply declined, triggering public anger that quickly expanded nationwide. Human rights groups report that the regime has killed at least 38 people, including eight children, with estimates reaching as high as 57 deaths. Iranian security forces continue aggressive operations to suppress demonstrations across multiple cities.
President Trump reinforced his warnings Friday, stating the United States would “hit Iran very, very hard where it hurts” if the regime continued killing civilians. “Iran is in big trouble. It looks to me that the people are taking over certain cities that nobody thought were really possible just a few weeks ago,” Trump told reporters. “We’re watching the situation very carefully.”
Trump added, “I’ve made the statement very strongly that if they start killing people like they have in the past, we will get involved,” noting, “That doesn’t mean boots on the ground, but it means hitting them very, very hard where it hurts.”
