Iran's Supreme Leader has issued a defiant statement, vowing he 'will not yield to the enemy' and declaring that 'rioters must be put in their place' following a week of significant protests across the Islamic Republic.
Khamenei's Defiant Stance and Rising Violence
In his first public remarks since the unrest began, the 86-year-old Ayatollah Ali Khamenei sought to draw a distinction between legitimate protesters and those he branded as rioters. The demonstrations, sparked by Iran's severe economic crisis, have led to the deaths of at least 10 people. State television aired his comments, where he claimed, 'We talk to protesters, the officials must talk to them. But there is no benefit to talking to rioters. Rioters must be put in their place.'
His words are widely seen as authorising Iran's security forces to aggressively suppress the demonstrations. The protests, which have spread to over 100 locations in 22 of Iran's 31 provinces, represent the largest wave of dissent since the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests.
International Tensions and Trump's Intervention
The situation has been further inflamed by international involvement. Former US President Donald Trump warned Iran on Friday that if it 'violently kills peaceful protesters' the United States 'will come to their rescue.' This provoked an immediate and angry response from Iranian officials, who threatened to target American troops in the Middle East.
Trump's comments gained additional weight after he announced on Saturday that the US military had captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a key ally of Tehran. While the exact nature of any potential US intervention remains unclear, the rhetoric has significantly heightened regional tensions.
A History of Crackdowns and the Current Unrest
Iran has a history of violently quelling public dissent. The paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which answers solely to Khamenei, includes the Basij volunteer force. This group has been instrumental in past crackdowns, including the 2009 Green Movement and the 2022 demonstrations over Mahsa Amini's death, which resulted in over 500 fatalities.
The current protests, while rooted in economic hardship such as the collapse of the rial, have also featured chants against the country's theocracy. The unrest comes months after a June war with Israel, which included US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, further destabilising Iran's economy.
Recent violence has escalated, with two notable deaths reported. In the holy city of Qom, a man was killed by a grenade explosion, with security forces alleging he was carrying the device. Separately, in the town of Harsin, a member of the Basij was killed in a reported gun and knife attack.
As hardliners push for a stronger response, the stage is set for a potentially severe confrontation between the Iranian state and its citizens, with the shadow of international conflict looming large.
