Iran’s Supreme Leader Says Protesters Are ‘Ruining Their Own Streets’ To Please Trump

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran signaled Friday that its security forces would intervene protesters, As the death toll rises to at least 62, it is in direct defiance of US President Donald Trump’s promise to support those protesting peacefully.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei led supporters to chant “Death to America!” While he shouted, he rejected Trump, saying that his hands were “stained with the blood of Iranians”. In the footage broadcast by Iranian state television. State media then repeatedly referred to the demonstrators as “terrorists,” setting the stage for a violent crackdown like those that followed. Other protests around the country In recent years.

Protesters were destroying their own streets to please the US president, 86-year-old Khamenei told the crowd at his home in Tehran. “Because he said he would come to their aid. Instead, he needs to pay attention to the situation in his own country.”

Iran’s judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei also said the punishment for protesters would be “strict, maximum and without any legal leniency.”

Despite Trump’s reiteration of his promise to attack Iran if protesters were killed, there was no immediate response from Washington; This threat has become even more important after the USA. military raid He captured Venezuelan Nicolás Maduro.

Despite Iran’s theocracy cutting off the country from the internet and international phone calls, short online videos shared by activists showed protesters chanting anti-Iranian government slogans around bonfires around debris that littered streets in the capital Tehran and other areas by Friday morning.

Iranian state media claimed that “terrorist agents” of the United States and Israel started the fires and led to violence. The statement also stated that there were “dead people” without providing further details.

The full extent of the demonstrations could not immediately be determined due to a communications blackout; But it represented another escalation in protests over Iran’s ailing economy that have become the most significant challenge to the government in several years. The protests have increasingly intensified since December 28.

The protests also represented the first test of whether Iranian public opinion would be affected by this situation. Crown Prince Reza Pahlaviwho’s? Terminally ill father flees Iran Just before the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution. Pahlavi, who called for a protest on Thursday night, similarly called for a demonstration at 20:00 on Friday.

Demonstrations included cries in support of the Shah; This is something that could have led to the death penalty in the past, but now underscores the anger fueling protests over Iran’s ailing economy.

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said that at least 62 people have died and more than 2,300 people have been detained in the violence during the demonstrations so far.

“What changed the course of the protests was former Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi’s call for Iranians to take to the streets at 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday,” said Holly Dagres, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. “Based on social media posts, it has become clear that Iranians took seriously and followed through on the call to protest to overthrow the Islamic Republic.”

“The internet was shut down for this very reason: to prevent the world from seeing the protests. Unfortunately, it also probably provided cover for security forces to kill protesters.”

Eyewitnesses said that when the clock hit 20:00 on Thursday, slogans were shouted in neighborhoods all over Tehran. Chants of “Death to the dictator!” slogans were included. and “Death to the Islamic Republic!” Others said: “This is the last war! Pahlavi will return!” He praised the Shah by shouting. Thousands could be seen on the streets before all communications with Iran were cut off.

Pahlavi said, “Iranians demanded their freedom tonight. In response, the regime in Iran cut off all communication lines.” “It has shut down the internet. It has cut off landlines. It may even try to jam satellite signals.”

He called on European leaders to join Trump in vowing to “hold the regime to account.”

“I call on the Iranian people to use all available technical, financial and diplomatic resources to restore communication with the Iranian people so that their voice and will can be heard and seen,” he said. “Do not allow the voices of my brave citizens to be silenced.”

Pahlavi had said that he would present other plans depending on the response to his call. His Israel and its support came under criticism In the past, especially after Israel’s 12-day war against Iran in June. Demonstrators shouted in support of the Shah at some demonstrations, but it is unclear whether this was in support of Pahlavi or a desire to return to the times before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The internet blackout also appears to have taken Iran’s state-run and semi-official news agencies offline. The statement made by state television at 08:00 on Friday morning represented the first official statement about the demonstrations.

State television claimed that the protests were violent and caused casualties, but did not give nationwide figures. It was stated that during the protests, “public places such as people’s private cars, motorcycles, subways, fire trucks and buses were set on fire.” State television later reported that six people were killed in overnight violence in Hamedan, about 280 kilometers (175 miles) southwest of Tehran, and two security force members were killed in Qom, 125 kilometers (75 miles) south of the capital.

The European Union and Germany condemned violence targeting demonstrators after new protests were reported in Zahedan in Iran’s restive southwestern Sistan and Baluchistan province.

Iran faces protests across the country In recent years. Like sanctions have been tightened and Iran struggled after that 12 days warThe rial currency collapsed in December, falling from $1.4 million to $1. Protests began soon after, with demonstrators chanting slogans against the Iranian theocracy.

It remains unclear why Iranian authorities did not intervene more harshly against the demonstrators. Trump warned Last week he said America would “come to their rescue” if Tehran “violently kills peaceful protesters.”

Trump reiterated his promise in an interview with talk show host Hugh Hewitt that aired Thursday.

“Iran has been told very strongly, even more strongly than I am talking to you right now, that if they do this, they will have to pay hell,” Trump said.

When asked whether he would meet with Pahlavi, he objected.

“I’m not sure it would be appropriate to do that as president at this point,” Trump said. “I think we should just let everyone get out there and see who comes out.”

Speaking in an interview with Sean Hannity that aired on Fox News Thursday night, Trump went so far as to suggest that Khamenei might want to leave Iran.

“He wants to go somewhere,” Trump said. “It’s getting very bad.”