Iran Supreme Leader Signals Crackdown as Protests Grow, Trump Warns/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned of a harsh crackdown on protesters, accusing them of acting for U.S. President Donald Trump. As protests intensified and internet access was cut, calls for regime change echoed across the country. The death toll reached at least 62, with over 2,300 detained.
Iran Crackdown Warning Quick Looks
- Khamenei accuses protesters of aiding U.S. President Donald Trump
- State TV airs chants of “Death to America” from regime supporters
- Iranian officials label demonstrators as “terrorists”
- Judiciary vows harsh, maximum punishment with no leniency
- Internet and phone service cut across Iran to suppress movement
- At least 62 killed and more than 2,300 arrested so far
- Exiled Crown Prince Pahlavi calls for continued demonstrations
- Protesters chant anti-regime slogans and praise the late shah
- Trump renews threat of intervention if protesters are killed
- State media confirms casualties and property destruction
- EU and Germany condemn violence against demonstrators
- Pahlavi urges U.S. support amid growing unrest
Iran Supreme Leader Signals Crackdown as Protests Grow, Trump Warns
Deep Look
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei signaled a decisive crackdown Friday against anti-government protesters, intensifying tensions as mass demonstrations against the regime swept across the country. With chants of “Death to America” broadcast by Iranian state TV and protesters labeled “terrorists,” Tehran has taken a confrontational stance amid growing unrest and international scrutiny.
Khamenei lashed out at U.S. President Donald Trump, saying demonstrators were “ruining their own streets… to please the president of the United States,” referencing Trump’s earlier pledge to support peaceful protesters. “He should pay attention to the state of his own country instead,” the 86-year-old leader said to supporters in Tehran.
Judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei declared that punishment for those involved in protests would be “decisive, maximum and without any legal leniency,” underscoring the regime’s intent to intensify suppression.
These warnings come as the death toll rises to at least 62, and more than 2,300 people have been arrested, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA). Activists reported that security forces opened fire on crowds, while bonfires lit up Tehran’s streets overnight.
Despite an ongoing internet blackout and the cutoff of international phone access, activists circulated videos online showing demonstrations continuing across multiple cities. Protesters chanted against the government, with slogans like “Death to the dictator” and “This is the last battle! Pahlavi will return!” heard in many areas.
The protest movement, which erupted on December 28 over soaring inflation and currency collapse, has transformed into one of the most significant challenges to Iran’s Islamic Republic in years. Initially sparked by economic grievances, demonstrations have escalated into widespread calls for regime change.
Thursday night saw a major turning point, as neighborhoods across Tehran erupted in protest following a call by exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi for mass demonstrations at 8 p.m. Video footage captured thousands on the streets just before communication lines were cut. Pahlavi, who has re-emerged as a symbolic figure, has called on Iranians to continue nightly protests.
Pahlavi appealed directly to President Trump, asking him to prepare to intervene. “Khamenei wants to use this blackout to murder these young heroes,” he said in a statement, adding, “You have proven and I know you are a man of peace and a man of your word.”
While it remains unclear how much influence Pahlavi commands within Iran, his calls appear to have galvanized demonstrators. Holly Dagres, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, stated that Pahlavi’s appeal marked a turning point.
“It became clear that Iranians were taking the call seriously,” she said. “This is exactly why the internet was shut down: to prevent the world from seeing the protests.”
Iranian state television acknowledged the protests for the first time Friday morning, describing them as violent. Reports claimed that public and private property had been set on fire, including buses, fire trucks, motorcycles, and metro stations. The state broadcaster also confirmed casualties, including six people killed in Hamedan and two security personnel in Qom.
Protests have now spread across numerous provinces, including Zahedan in the restive Sistan and Baluchestan region. European Union officials and the German government condemned Iran’s use of violence against civilians and urged restraint.
As Iran faces rising internal instability, U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned Tehran against violent retaliation. In a televised interview with Hugh Hewitt, Trump reiterated his warning: “If they do that, they’re going to have to pay hell.”
Pressed on whether he would meet with Pahlavi, Trump was cautious. “I’m not sure that it would be appropriate at this point,” he said, though he added, “We see who emerges.”
In another interview aired on Fox News, Trump speculated on Khamenei’s position. “He’s looking to go someplace,” he said. “It’s getting very bad.”
So far, the Iranian government has yet to initiate a full-scale military response to the protests, but the signals from Khamenei and the judiciary suggest such a move could be imminent.
The internet blackout continues to shield Iran from international oversight while giving the regime space to carry out intensified crackdowns. As the death toll rises and protests grow in strength and scale, Iran stands on the edge of another potentially violent chapter in its post-revolutionary history.
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