Khamenei Warns Trump Amid Intensifying Protests in Iran
In a recent escalation of tensions between Iran and the United States, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei urged President Donald Trump to concentrate on issues within America, while asserting that national unity is essential for the Iranian people to triumph over their adversaries.
In a passionate address, Khamenei declared that Iran would not compromise on its principles and would not yield to "agents acting on behalf of foreign interests," labeling the "rioters" as individuals attempting to curry favor with Trump.
This statement followed Trump's remarks that the U.S. could deliver a "severe blow" to the Iranian leadership if deemed necessary, during an interview with "Fox News," where he mentioned Washington's willingness to support peaceful protesters in Iran.
Meanwhile, Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani warned that any American intervention in Iran's internal affairs would lead to instability in the Middle East and jeopardize U.S. interests in the region.
Locally, Iranian state television reported unprecedented nighttime protests, confirming casualties from violent acts attributed to "terrorist agents" linked to the U.S. and Israel, which resulted in fires and damage to vehicles and public property, including the metro, fire trucks, and buses.
Despite internet outages and disruptions to international phone services, protesters took to the streets in Tehran and other cities, chanting slogans against the government, while images of debris and flames circulated on social media.
On a different note, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called for restraint in handling the protests, emphasizing the need to avoid violence and to engage in dialogue to address the people's grievances.
