“We hold the US president responsible for the casualties, destruction, and defamation inflicted upon the Iranian people,” Khamenei stated, as reported by Iranian state media.
The protests began on December 28 due to economic struggles but quickly escalated into widespread calls for the end of clerical rule in Iran.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to intervene, even going as far as warning of “very strong action” if Iran carried out executions of protesters.
However, in a recent social media post, Trump thanked the leaders of Tehran for reportedly canceling mass executions, despite Iran denying any plans for such actions.
Responding indirectly to Trump, Khamenei stated, “We will not lead our country into war, but we will ensure that both domestic and international wrongdoers face consequences,” according to state media.
IRAN’S WORST UNREST IN YEARS
The Supreme Leader of Iran mentioned that “several thousand deaths” occurred during the nationwide protests, marking the most significant unrest in the country in recent years. He accused the US and Israel, Iran’s long-standing foes, of orchestrating the violence.
He claimed, “Those associated with Israel and the US caused extensive harm and claimed several thousand lives,” adding that they ignited fires, vandalized public property, and incited chaos. Khamenei described their actions as criminal and slanderous.
According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), they have confirmed 3090 fatalities, including 2885 protesters, and over 22,000 arrests.
Last week, Iran’s prosecutor general announced that detainees would face severe penalties. The detained individuals included those who supported rioters and terrorists attacking security forces and public assets, as well as mercenaries who armed themselves and spread fear among citizens.
He stated, “All perpetrators are considered mohareb,” quoting Mohammad Movahedi Azad, emphasizing that investigations would be conducted with no leniency, mercy, or tolerance.
Mohareb, a term in Islamic law meaning to wage war against God, is punishable by death under Iranian legislation.
INTERNET SERVICES PARTIALLY RESTORED
Reuters has been unable to independently verify the casualty figures or the details of the disturbances reported by Iranian media and rights organizations. The crackdown appears to have largely quelled the protests, as per accounts from residents and state media.
Accessing information has been hindered by internet blackouts, which were briefly lifted for a few hours early on Saturday but were later reinstated, as per the internet monitoring group NetBlocks.
NetBlocks reported, “Internet connectivity remains minimal in #Iran despite a brief temporary increase in access earlier today.” They expressed uncertainty regarding the regime’s intentions to restore service promptly or at all.
A resident of Karaj, located west of Tehran, noted that the internet was briefly restored at 4 am on Saturday. Karaj witnessed severe violence during the protests, with the resident mentioning Thursday as the peak of unrest in the area.
Several Iranians abroad shared on social media that they were able to communicate with users in Iran during the brief period of restored internet access.
ARRESTS FOLLOW INTELLIGENCE OPERATIONS, AS PER MEDIA REPORTS
State media reported the apprehension of numerous “rioters and terrorists” nationwide, including individuals linked to overseas opposition groups advocating for the overthrow of the Islamic Republic.
The arrests included several individuals described as “ringleaders,” such as a woman named Nazanin Baradaran, who was captured following intricate intelligence efforts.
Reports indicated that Baradaran operated under the alias Raha Parham on behalf of Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah, and played a significant role in organizing the unrest. Reuters could not independently verify her identity or the report.
Pahlavi, a prominent opposition figure, has positioned himself as a potential leader in the event of regime collapse and has expressed intentions to restore diplomatic relations between Iran and Israel if assuming a leadership role.
Israeli officials have shown support for Pahlavi, with Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu disclosing in an interview with Israel’s Army Radio that Israel had operatives in Iran to undermine its capabilities, though he denied direct involvement in toppling the regime.
