Khamenei Blames Foreign Interference for Protests as Iran Faces Its Worst Unrest in Years

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has accused former US President Donald Trump and foreign powers of provoking weeks of unrest across the country, as Iran continues to grapple with one of its most serious internal crises in recent years. His remarks came amid partial restoration of internet services and reports of thousands of arrests following widespread demonstrations that began late last month.

Addressing a gathering in Tehran on Saturday, Khamenei alleged that external actors were responsible for inciting violence and instability during the protests, which initially erupted on December 28 over economic hardship and rising living costs. The demonstrations later expanded into broader expressions of dissatisfaction with the country’s political system.

Khamenei said the Iranian state holds the US leadership responsible for the loss of life and damage caused during the unrest. Without naming individuals directly in his speech, he accused foreign governments of encouraging disorder and attempting to undermine Iran’s sovereignty through what he described as coordinated interference.

Protests and Casualties

Human rights organisations based outside Iran have claimed that the protests have resulted in a high number of casualties and detentions. One such group has reported that more than 3,000 people may have lost their lives since the unrest began, with tens of thousands taken into custody. Iranian authorities have not released comprehensive official figures and have disputed external estimates.

Independent verification of the reported numbers has been difficult, largely due to extended internet shutdowns and restrictions on information flow. For several days, large parts of the country experienced near-total connectivity blackouts, limiting access to news, messaging platforms, and social media.

In his remarks, Khamenei acknowledged that the unrest had led to “several thousand deaths” nationwide, describing the situation as deeply serious. He alleged that hostile foreign intelligence agencies, including those linked to the United States and Israel, had played a role in encouraging violence, arson, and attacks on public infrastructure. Both countries have consistently denied directing unrest inside Iran.

Government Response and Arrests

Iranian authorities have said that security operations over the past week have largely brought the situation under control. State media has reported the arrest of thousands of individuals described as having participated in violent acts or in organising protests. Officials have stated that those detained include people accused of damaging public property, attacking security personnel, or coordinating activities with groups abroad.

The country’s prosecutor general recently said that investigations would proceed firmly against those accused of serious offences. He used strong legal language drawn from Iran’s judicial framework to describe some of the charges, indicating that cases would be handled without leniency. Such statements have drawn concern from international observers, who have called for due process and restraint.

Iranian media has also reported the arrest of several alleged organisers, including individuals accused of maintaining links with opposition figures living overseas. These claims have not been independently verified, and those named in reports have not been publicly presented before a court.

Partial Restoration of Internet Services

After nearly nine days of severe internet restrictions, authorities began restoring connectivity in parts of the country on Saturday. Residents in several cities reported that mobile data and messaging services were intermittently accessible in the early morning hours. Monitoring groups that track global internet access confirmed a slight increase in connectivity, though overall usage remained far below normal levels.

A resident of Karaj, a city west of Tehran that witnessed intense unrest, said basic internet access returned briefly in the early hours of the day. Similar accounts were shared by Iranians living abroad, who reported being able to contact family members inside the country after days of silence.

State-run news agencies also said that SMS services had been reactivated in some regions, a move seen as an early step toward easing communication restrictions. However, full access to social media platforms and independent news sites remains limited.

International Reactions

The protests have drawn close attention from governments and rights groups worldwide. Donald Trump, who has repeatedly issued strong statements about Iran in recent weeks, has warned of consequences if Iranian authorities were to take extreme action against demonstrators. In a recent social media post, he suggested that Iranian leaders had stepped back from carrying out mass punishments, a claim Tehran dismissed as baseless.

In apparent response, Khamenei said Iran would not be drawn into a broader conflict but would also not allow what he called “criminal acts” to go unaddressed. He emphasised that the country’s leadership views the unrest as part of a wider campaign to destabilise Iran rather than a purely domestic issue.

A Nation at a Crossroads

The recent wave of protests is widely seen as the most serious challenge to Iran’s leadership in several years. While authorities say calm has largely returned to many areas, the underlying economic pressures and social tensions that sparked the demonstrations remain unresolved.

As limited internet services resume and the scale of arrests becomes clearer, attention is likely to turn to how the government balances security measures with public demands for relief and accountability. For now, Iran remains in a delicate phase, with its leadership blaming foreign interference and critics warning that lasting stability will require addressing deeper domestic concerns.