In a new escalation of the official Iranian position towards the internal unrest, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, confirmed that Tehran will not back down or show any flexibility in confronting what he described as “saboteurs” and “rioters,” as the protests that the country has been witnessing for two weeks continue and expand.
Khamenei's remarks came in his second speech since the latest wave of protests began. State television broadcast his address, which carried strongly worded messages for both domestic and international audiences. The Iranian Supreme Leader directly accused US President Donald Trump, saying his hands were "stained with the blood of more than a thousand Iranians," an implicit reference to the events and military tensions in the region last June, in which Tehran accuses Israel and the United States of playing a pivotal role.
Escalating rhetoric against Washington
Khamenei did not merely criticize American policies; he went further, personally attacking the US president and describing him as “arrogant.” The Iranian leader predicted Trump’s downfall, drawing a parallel with the fall of the monarchies that ruled Iran for centuries before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. This comparison between the current US administration and the former Iranian monarchy reflects an attempt to bolster the regime’s revolutionary legitimacy in the face of external and internal pressures.
Historical and political context
These statements come at a time when Iran is facing complex economic and political challenges. Since the United States withdrew from the nuclear agreement and reimposed sanctions as part of its “maximum pressure” campaign, the Iranian economy has suffered from high inflation and a depreciating currency, fueling recurring popular protests. Observers believe that the Iranian leadership’s resort to the rhetoric of “foreign conspiracy” is a traditional tactic aimed at unifying the domestic front against a common enemy and diverting attention from the protesters’ economic and political demands.
Regional and international dimensions
Khamenei’s statements carry implications that extend beyond domestic affairs, underscoring the regime’s continued confrontation with Iran and its regional allies. The references to “war” and bloodshed reflect the depth of the geopolitical crisis in the Middle East, where Tehran sees itself as constantly defending its regional influence. Analysts suggest that the regime’s insistence on not backing down in the face of protesters sends a message to the outside world that Western pressure will not change the regime’s behavior or lead to its collapse, but may instead push it toward further intransigence.
