Iran’s Khamenei signals tougher crack down on antigovernment protests

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called for “unity” in the face of “terrorist actions” as mass protests continue to rock the country.

In an address broadcast on Iranian state TV on Friday, Khamenei warned against the protests, which the authorities have framed as a plot by foreign enemies, primarily the United States, and reiterated a threat that authorities will crack down on the unrest.
Khamenei accused the protesters of acting on behalf of US President Donald Trump, saying rioters were attacking public property and warning that ‍Tehran would not tolerate people acting as “mercenaries for foreigners”. He accused Trump of having hands “stained with the blood” of Iranians.

At least 62 people have been killed, including 14 security personnel and 48 protesters, since demonstrations began on December 28, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), an overseas-based Iranian rights group.

While President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for restraint and for the state to listen to “genuine” grievances, other voices have warned that the authorities will show no leniency, noting that the protests have received support from “foreign foes”.

Reporting from Tehran, Al Jazeera’s Tohid Asahi said “many citizens in Tehran” had received messages from police asking them to avoid going to “locations where violence erupts”.

“This is the latest that we heard from the police, and officials are saying that the government is going … to be very strict, very decisive when it comes to acting against rioters,” he said.