Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday took an uncompromising position against anti-government demonstrators, declaring that authorities must firmly confront those he described as “seditionists,” while accusing United States President Donald Trump of being responsible for deaths linked to the unrest.
Iran has been engulfed in weeks of nationwide protests triggered by worsening economic hardship, marking the most significant wave of dissent against the clerical government in more than three years. However, the demonstrations have largely subsided following a heavy-handed security crackdown that human rights organisations say resulted in thousands of fatalities and a prolonged internet blackout.
State officials insist that what they term “riots” are now under control, with government-aligned media reporting mass arrests and warning that those detained will face swift punishment.
Addressing supporters during a televised religious ceremony commemorating the Prophet Mohammed’s ascension, Khamenei said the nation must “break the back of the seditionists,” stressing that Iran would not hesitate to deal harshly with internal opponents.
“We do not seek war, but we will not show leniency to domestic criminals,” he stated, adding that foreign adversaries were even more culpable.
Iranian authorities have consistently accused Washington of masterminding what they describe as a “terrorist operation” that allegedly exploited peaceful economic protests to destabilise the country.
Khamenei singled out Trump for criticism, saying the US leader bore responsibility for the violence and suffering recorded during the unrest. He characterised the situation as part of an “American conspiracy” aimed at restoring political, military, and economic dominance over Iran.
Although the US has appeared to soften its stance in recent days, Trump had previously warned Tehran against harming protesters and indicated that military options remained on the table.
International alarm has grown over the reported scale of casualties, but independent verification remains difficult due to continued internet restrictions. Monitoring group Netblocks said connectivity had improved slightly after more than 200 hours of disruption, though access remained heavily limited.
Rights groups argue that the blackout was designed to conceal the full extent of the crackdown. Norway-based Iran Human Rights estimates that at least 3,428 protesters were killed, cautioning that the actual figure could be significantly higher. Other assessments suggest the toll may exceed 5,000 and could be as high as 20,000.
The opposition outlet Iran International, citing government and security sources, has claimed that at least 12,000 people died during the protests.
