As protests and unrest persist across Iran, Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivered a defiant message attack rioters as “vandals” and accusing them of serving Washington’s interests while insisting that Tehran would not back down.
Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei made the statement on Friday amid days of riots in various cities across the country. His comments coincided with the biggest protests yet of nearly two weeks of rallies across Iran, as authorities cut internet access.
Pointing to the damage incurred to the public property last night by a “bunch of vandals”, Ayatollah Khamenei said that they have done that “to make the American president happy.”
The vandals were encouraged by “baseless” remarks from Washington promising support if Iran acted in a certain way, noted the Leader.
Referring directly to U.S. President Donald Trump, Khamenei dismissed his repeated claims of standing with the Iranian people. “If he can, he should run his own country,” the Leader said, pointing to unrest and crises inside the United States.
Ayatollah Khamenei also pointed to the direct responsibility of Trump for killing hundreds of Iranians during the 12-day US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran in June 2025.
“He himself said, ‘I gave the order,’” the Leader noted, adding that the admission amounted to a confession that the US president’s “hands are stained with the blood of Iranians.”
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Stressing the state’s red lines, the Leader said the Islamic Republic, which he noted was established through the sacrifice of “hundreds of thousands of honourable people,” would not tolerate destruction or foreign servitude.
“The Islamic Republic will not back down against vandals. It will not tolerate mercenaries of foreigners,” he said, adding that anyone who works for foreign powers is “rejected” both by the nation and the Islamic system.
Ayatollah Khamenei likened the U.S. president to past tyrants, saying figures such as Pharaoh, Nimrod and Iran’s former dictators were toppled “at the height of their arrogance.” “This one will be toppled as well,” he said.
The remarks came as Iranian officials reiterated that while peaceful protests over economic grievances are legitimate and will be addressed, violence and sabotage will not be tolerated.
Death toll disputes
The death toll from the anti-regime protests in Iran has risen to 65, according to the Iran Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) who reported the figures on Saturday.
The report published on the website of the U.S.-based group said demonstrations have lasted 13 straight days.
It also claimed that protests took place in 512 locations in 180 cities in all 31 provinces, resulting in the deaths of 50 protestors, 14 law enforcement and security officials, and one government-affiliated civilian.
Demonstrations also left dozens injured and 2,311 detained. The injuries were allegedly largely caused by pellet shots and plastic bullets, according to the report.
However, Iranian authorities have not issued a statement about those killed or injured to date and have rejected claims about the scale of the riots published in Western media platforms.
President Trump reiterated his threats against Iran on Thursday, warning retribution against Iran should the Islamic Republic target protesters who have been taking to the streets in large numbers to demonstrate.
“I have let them know that if they start killing people, which they tend to do during their riots… we’re going to hit them very hard,” Trump said in an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.
“I’m not sure I can necessarily hold somebody responsible for that, but… they’ve been told very strongly — even more strongly than I’m speaking to you right now — that if they do that, they’re going to have to pay hell,” the president said.
Trump first issued a similar threat a week earlier, when he warned that if Iran “violently kills peaceful protesters,” then the U.S. would “come to their rescue.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday said that the “brave” Iranian people have the support of Washington.
“The United States supports the brave people of Iran,” Rubio said on X.
Threat of regime change
The Iran state has faced numerous waves of anti-regime demonstrations in the past which Tehran has routinely condemned as foreign-backed efforts to destabilise the country.
The most famous was an attempted colour revolution in 2009, known as the Green Movement protests.
Huge crowds wearing green colours massed in the streets calling for major political reforms and more social “freedoms.” However, what started as a genuine movement quickly turned violent and demands from some protests changed towards total regime change – a demand which received widespread support from western governments.
The protests were eventually calmed following a crackdown and arrests. The leaders of the movement were investigated and placed under house arrest.
These latest riots may not pose a significant threat to the establishment in Iran by themselves but following the U.S. attack on Venezuela, experts believe that the Iran protests may receive direct military support this time around.
Iran has warned against any attempt by the U.S. to interfere. The country’s security chief, Ali Larijani, who warned on his X account that any U.S. interference in Iran’s internal matters would lead to the destabilisation of the entire region.
“The Iranian people know the American idea of ‘rescue’ all too well — from Iraq and Afghanistan to Gaza. Any interventionist hand approaching Iran’s security under false pretexts will be cut off before arrival, with a regret-inducing response. Iran’s national security is a red line, not a playground for reckless tweets.”
