Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei addressed the nation today amid protests rocking the country due to the dire economic situation.
In his speech, which was broadcast on Iranian state television, Khamenei strongly condemned the violence in the streets, calling the demonstrators “rioters” working in the interests of the United States of America and sent a direct message to US President Donald Trump.
Reacting to recent threats from the White House, Khamenei stated that there are individuals inside Iran whose goal is destruction and to please the US president.
“Last night in Tehran and other places, vandals destroyed the property of their own country. They demolished a building or a wall just to please the president of America, because he declared that he would take their side,” Khamenei said, adding that Trump should focus on the chaos in his own country instead of meddling in Iran’s affairs.
The Iranian Supreme Leader spoke particularly harshly about Trump’s role in the suffering of Iranians, referring to past conflicts and assassinations.
“His hands are stained with the blood of more than a thousand Iranians. He admitted that he issued orders during the war. And now he claims to support the Iranian people? Only a handful of inexperienced and thoughtless people can believe that,” Khamenei said.
In a historical parallel, Khamenei warned that “all tyrants fell when they were at the height of their power,” comparing American leadership to pharaohs and deposed Iranian shahs, predicting a similar fate.
The speech comes in response to sharp threats from Donald Trump, who has warned Tehran that it will face military intervention if violence against demonstrators continues.
“If they start killing people … we’re going to hit them very hard. They’ve been told they’re going to pay a hell of a price,” Trump said.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi immediately reacted to these threats, saying that Iran is not looking for war, but is ready for all scenarios.
“Once the Americans accept that negotiation is different from dictation, the talks can begin,” Araghchi said.
Arrests and charges for fraudulent operations
While the war of words is intensifying, the situation on the ground in Iran remains tense. Iran’s security and judicial authorities said they had broken up several “armed terrorist cells” and arrested foreign-linked operatives.
In the western city of Borujerd, prosecutor Goodarz Amraei confirmed the arrest of people who allegedly orchestrated attacks on religious buildings and public property. Police say the suspects are “foreigners with criminal records” who entered the city to incite violence.
Also, the police information center of Lorestan announced that the security forces neutralized a four-member armed team that, according to their statements, was preparing a “false-flag” operation (killing civilians in order to blame the death on the state and further destabilize the region. Weapons and equipment for making explosives were confiscated.
In the end, Khamenei called on the Iranian youth for unity and said that “the Islamic Republic will not back down before those who destroy.”, Klix.ba writes.
