During a recent address marking a religious holiday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged authorities to take decisive action against what he termed “seditionists,” following a wave of protests that have drawn attention to the country’s ongoing economic struggles. Khamenei specifically called for measures that he said would “break the back of the seditionists,” asserting that the nation must confront both domestic criminals and “international criminals.”
The protests, which erupted as a result of widespread discontent over economic hardship, have become the largest demonstrations against the Islamic republic in over three years. Rights groups have reported that the government’s crackdown has resulted in thousands of casualties amid a stark internet blackout, significantly impeding communication and the dissemination of information.
Khamenei’s remarks included a direct accusation against U.S. President Donald Trump, whom he blamed for perpetrating a conspiracy aimed at destabilizing Iran. He criticized Trump for his comments threatening military action if any protesters were harmed, stating that the U.S. president is “guilty for the casualties, damages and accusations he has leveled against the Iranian nation.” Khamenei emphasized that the U.S. aims to re-establish control over Iran, pursuing objectives of military, political, and economic domination over the country.
The Iranian leadership has consistently characterized the recent unrest not as a legitimate expression of public dissatisfaction, but rather as “riots” and operations coordinated by foreign adversaries, particularly the United States. Khamenei’s rhetoric continues to solidify the official narrative that external forces are behind the unrest and that Iran must staunchly defend its sovereignty against perceived threats from abroad.
