Iran's supreme leader has issued a stark warning to protesters, accusing them of acting as agents for US President Donald Trump, as authorities imposed a nationwide internet blackout to quell spreading unrest.
Khamenei's Accusation and Crackdown Warning
In a televised address on Friday, 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei labelled demonstrators as "vandals and rioters" who were "ruining their own streets to make the president of another country happy." He warned that Tehran would not tolerate citizens acting as "mercenaries for foreigners." His speech was met with chants of "Death to America" from the assembled audience, a direct counter to the "Death to the dictator" slogans heard on protest streets.
Following this address, Iran's judiciary chief, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, stated that those involved in the protests would face "maximum" and "decisive" punishment without any leniency from the courts. This sets the stage for a severe governmental response.
Nationwide Blackout and Spreading Unrest
The country was largely severed from global communication networks on Friday after officials enacted a comprehensive internet shutdown. The blackout, which monitoring group NetBlocks confirmed began late on Thursday, also affected international phone calls. Analysts suggest the move was designed to prevent the world from witnessing the scale of the protests and to hinder coordination among demonstrators.
The protests, which initially erupted in Tehran last month following a sharp devaluation of the rial currency, have now expanded to all 31 of Iran's provinces. Footage circulating on social media before the blackout showed burning vehicles and large crowds filling the streets of the capital on Thursday night. State media, in a rare acknowledgement, reported that the unrest had seen attacks on private cars, public transport, and fire engines, resulting in casualties.
International Context and Casualty Figures
The demonstrations represent the most significant domestic challenge to Iran's leadership in years. They were further galvanised by a call from exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi for a mass show of defiance. In response, President Donald Trump, who ordered airstrikes against Iran last summer, has warned the Iranian government that the US could intervene on the protesters' behalf, though he later stated backing the crown prince would not be appropriate.
According to the US-based Human Rights Activist News Agency, the toll from the unrest is significant:
- 34 protesters reported killed.
- 4 security personnel reported killed.
- Approximately 2,200 arrests made.
The disruption has extended to travel, with nearly 20 flights between Dubai and Iranian cities cancelled on Friday. As the internet remains offline and the threat of a harsh crackdown looms, the situation in Iran continues to develop under a veil of enforced silence.
