Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, delivered a blistering speech on Saturday as waves of anti-regime protests erupted across the country. Demonstrations that began a week earlier over political repression and economic collapse have now grown into a broad national uprising.
Khamenei, age 86, broke his silence after days of strikes and street unrest. In a televised address, he claimed, “A number of agitated people, enemy mercenaries, had positioned themselves behind bazaar merchants and chanted slogans against Islam, against Iran and against the Islamic Republic.”
He insisted that dissent had clear boundaries, adding, “Protest is legitimate, but protest is different from rioting.” He then declared, “officials should speak with protesters. Speaking with a rioter is pointless. Rioters must be put in their place.”
Trump’s Warning Fuels Global Attention
Khamenei’s remarks followed a sharply worded message from former President Trump, who expressed direct support for the demonstrators.
“If Iran shots [sic] and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Activists say that despite the warnings, Iranian security forces have continued to use lethal force in several cities.
Reports of Killings and Widespread Crackdowns
Information provided to the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), an opposition organization seeking to dismantle Tehran’s ruling structure, indicates that armed units again opened fire on protesters.
In Malekshahi, located in Ilam province, young demonstrators gathered in the streets. According to the NCRI, regime forces shot peaceful activists, causing multiple deaths and injuries. As of Saturday, at least ten people had been killed nationwide.
The Human Rights Activists News Agency in the United States reported unrest in more than 100 locations across 22 of Iran’s 31 provinces. The NCRI added that thirty protesters in Malekshahi were critically wounded after being shot.
The group also described violent confrontations in Kazerun, where demonstrators filled Shohada Square and security forces responded with live ammunition. In Shiraz, young anti-regime protesters blocked roads in the Golshan district by burning tires to slow advancing forces.
Universities Become Flashpoints
Students have emerged as a core driving force behind the unrest. At Shahrood University of Technology, crowds chanted, “Students will die but not accept humiliation.” In Tehran, students housed in Allameh University’s Hemmat dormitory shouted, “Death to the dictator.”
Their voices echoed across platforms, fueling calls for a national push against the country’s ruling structure.
Opposition Figures Issue Stark Challenges
Maryam Rajavi, the leader of the NCRI, delivered a fierce response to Khamenei. She argued that the people of Iran have turned decisively against him, stating, “Khamenei is right; 80 million Iranians are his enemy. They have only one message for him: pack up his rule and remove his scourge from the Iranian people. Better still if he comes to his senses and leaves of his own accord. Khamenei must know that threats, bluster, and repression cannot stop the uprising. A nation who has taken to the streets will not stand down until democracy and popular sovereignty are achieved.”
Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s last Shah, said on X that Khamenei surfaced publicly out of fear. He wrote, “Ali Khamenei, fearing the growing waves of this national uprising, has emerged from his hiding place to threaten the people of Iran. Khamenei: We, the people of Iran, will pull you down from your teetering perch like Zahhak the despot and will free our beloved Iran from you and your regime.”
In another message, he urged security forces to abandon the government.
“To the military and law enforcement forces: do not tie your fate to the sinking ship of the Islamic Republic. Join the people and separate yourselves from this corrupt system. Your weapons are for defending the nation, not suppressing it. Those who fire bullets at the people should be certain that they will be identified and punished. Fellow countrymen: do not abandon the streets; increase your presence. The world sees your resistance and bravery and supports you.”
A Nation On Edge
As unrest intensifies, the government faces a challenge not seen in years. Protests stretch across urban centers, university campuses, and rural towns. The movement’s size and resilience have forced Tehran’s leadership to confront a groundswell of anger that shows little sign of fading.
Whether the regime tightens its grip or the opposition gains further momentum may shape Iran’s political future for years to come.
