Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei has blamed foreign influence for the ongoing unrest in the country, accusing some protesters of acting to “please” US President Donald Trump as nationwide demonstrations continue to grip Iran.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday accused some protesters of acting to “please” US President Donald Trump, slamming Potus to focus on America’s own problems as he addressed the nation amid widespread unrest.
Protests spread across Iran
Iran has been gripped by protests in recent weeks, spreading from Tehran to smaller towns and rural areas. The demonstrations, driven by economic hardship, political discontent and social grievances, have seen clashes with security forces, leading to arrests and casualties. It is the country’s largest wave of unrest in three years.
First address since unrest began
Amid the turmoil, Khamenei delivered his first public address since the demonstrations began. He called for national unity, denounced what he described as foreign interference, and directly addressed the United States.
In his speech, Khamenei sharply criticised Trump, calling him “arrogant” and alleging that his hands were “stained with the blood” of Iranians. He also claimed that the US president would be “overthrown”.
‘Mercenaries for foreigners’
Khamenei accused some protesters of acting in the interests of foreign powers, saying they were “ruining their own streets to make the president of another country happy”. He warned that Iran would not tolerate people acting as “mercenaries for foreigners”, specifically accusing them of serving Trump’s agenda.
Internet blackout imposed
As protests intensified, Iranian authorities imposed a near-total internet blackout on Friday, effectively cutting the country off from the outside world. Phone calls failed to connect, flights were cancelled, and Iranian news websites updated only intermittently.
Violence and casualties reported
The demonstrations, which began last month over soaring inflation, have now spread to every province. Human rights groups have reported dozens of deaths during the unrest.
State television aired images showing buses, cars and motorbikes on fire, as well as blazes at metro stations and banks. It blamed the violence on the People’s Mujahedin Organisation, also known as the MKO, an opposition group that split after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
A state television reporter at Shariati Street in the Caspian Sea port city of Rasht described the scene as a “war zone”, saying shops in the area had been destroyed.
Opposition calls for more protests
Iran’s fragmented opposition groups abroad called for further demonstrations. Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the late shah, urged Iranians to take to the streets, saying in a social media post, “The eyes of the world are upon you.”
Trump rules out backing exiled royal
Trump, who bombed Iran last summer and last week suggested the US could support protesters, said on Friday that he would not meet Pahlavi and was “not sure that it would be appropriate” to back him.
International concern grows
While Iran has suppressed larger waves of unrest in the past, the current crisis comes amid worsening economic conditions and renewed international pressure after global sanctions over its nuclear programme were reimposed in September.
A French diplomatic source on Friday urged Iran to show maximum restraint in dealing with the protesters.
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