US President Donald Trump has claimed Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is seeking a way to flee the country as it is rocked by mass anti-regime protests. The President issued a stark warning that the United States would strike Iran "very hard" if security forces targeted unarmed demonstrators.
Nationwide Protests and a Stark US Warning
The unrest, which has spread to over 100 cities and towns, has led to significant casualties and arrests. Human rights groups and local media report at least 40 protesters and several police officers have been killed, with arrests surpassing 2,200. In response to the escalating situation, Iranian authorities imposed nationwide internet blackouts on Thursday and Friday, severing the population's connection to the outside world.
In an interview with Fox News's Sean Hannity, President Trump stated he had "put Iran on notice." He emphasised the scale of the demonstrations, saying, "Nobody’s ever seen anything like what’s happening right now." The President warned explicitly that any violent action against the protesters would trigger a severe US response. "I’ve warned them that if they do anything bad to these people, we’re going to hit them very hard," he declared.
Khamenei Blames Foreign 'Saboteurs'
In his first public address since the protests began, Ayatollah Khamenei defiantly blamed the United States and Israel for orchestrating the unrest. He labelled the demonstrators as "saboteurs" and "terrorist agents" working for foreign powers. "The Islamic Republic will not tolerate mercenaries working for foreign powers," Khamenei asserted, claiming protesters were "ruining their own streets to make the president of another country happy."
The Supreme Leader, who has held power since 1989, vowed the regime would not back down, invoking the legacy of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Footage emerging from Iran despite the communications shutdown showed scenes of significant turmoil, with buildings and shops set ablaze and vehicles overturned.
Economic Crisis Fuels Widespread Discontent
The immediate protests were sparked a fortnight ago by a call from Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the late Shah. However, the groundwork for the unrest was laid by a deepening economic crisis. Inflation has soared to 40%, exacerbated by UN sanctions re-imposed in September. The Iranian rial has collapsed, now trading at approximately 1.4 million to one US dollar.
This economic desperation, combined with the aftermath of a 12-day conflict with Israel in June which saw US forces bomb Iranian nuclear facilities, has created a tinderbox of public frustration. Initial protests emerged in December among Tehran merchants angry about rising costs before exploding into nationwide calls for regime change.
The international community has expressed deep concern. The UN rights chief, Volker Turk, stated he was "deeply disturbed by reports of violence." Meanwhile, the EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, condemned the "disproportionate and heavy-handed response" and internet shutdown, calling any violence against peaceful protesters "unacceptable." In a contrasting move, Iran's judiciary has promised "decisive, maximal, and without legal leniency" punishment for those deemed rioters.
