Khamenei Urges Trump to Address Domestic Issues Amid Rising Protests in Iran
In a significant escalation of tensions between Iran and the United States, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei urged U.S. President Donald Trump to concentrate on domestic issues, while asserting to the Iranian populace that unity is essential for overcoming adversaries.
During a passionate address, Khamenei reiterated that Iran would not compromise its principles and would resist "agents serving foreign interests," labeling those causing unrest as individuals attempting to appease Trump.
This statement followed President Trump's warning that the U.S. might deliver a "strong blow" to Iranian leadership if necessary, and his indication in an interview with "Fox News" that Washington is prepared to support peaceful demonstrators in Iran.
Meanwhile, Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, cautioned that any American interference in Iran's internal matters would destabilize the Middle East and jeopardize U.S. interests in the region.
In local news, Iranian state television reported on nighttime protests for the first time, citing casualties from violence attributed to "terrorist agents" linked to the U.S. and Israel, who allegedly set fires and damaged vehicles and public infrastructure, including metro stations, fire trucks, and buses.
Protesters have taken to the streets in Tehran and other cities, despite internet outages and disruptions to international phone services, chanting anti-government slogans, while images of destruction and fires circulated on social media.
Additionally, Iranian President Masoud Bezhakian called for restraint in handling the protests, stressing the importance of avoiding violence and engaging in dialogue to address the people's concerns.
