Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has advised Donald Trump to concentrate on managing his own country following the US President’s warning to take severe action against Tehran if it engages in violence against protestors.
Khamenei asserted on state TV that Iran would stand firm against citizens protesting against the government. He accused Trump of having the blood of over a thousand Iranians on his hands and forecasted the eventual downfall of the “arrogant” US leader.
According to Khamenei, protestors are damaging their own communities to please a foreign president, referring to Trump. Washington did not immediately respond, but Trump reiterated his threat to retaliate against Iran if protestors are harmed.
Despite Iran’s government disconnecting the nation from the internet and international calls, online videos shared by activists showed demonstrators rallying against the regime by bonfires amidst debris in Tehran and other locations into the early hours of Friday.
State media in Iran alleged that “terrorist agents” from the US and Israel were responsible for instigating fires and violence. Reports mentioned casualties without providing further details.
The true extent of the protests remains unclear due to the communication blackout, marking a significant escalation in demonstrations that initially began over Iran’s struggling economy and have evolved into a major challenge to the government in recent years.
The protests, escalating since December 28, are fueled by economic distress exacerbated by a 12-day conflict initiated by Israel in June, where the US targeted Iranian nuclear facilities.
Economic woes worsened after the UN reimposed sanctions on Iran in September over its nuclear program, causing the Iranian rial to plummet, now trading at over 1.4 million to $1.
Trump reiterated his warning of severe consequences for Iran if it harms protestors who have been rallying against the government over the past fortnight.
“I have informed them that if they resort to violence, as they often do during protests… we will respond forcefully,” Trump stated in an interview with conservative radio personality Hugh Hewitt.
The US pledge to intervene has gained significance following the detention of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a close ally of Tehran, by American forces.
Human Rights Activists News Agency based in the US reported over 390 protests across all Iranian provinces, with at least 42 fatalities and over 2,270 arrests.
Gauging the protest scale has been challenging as Iranian state media has provided minimal details. Online videos offer brief snippets of demonstrators and sounds of unrest in the streets.
