Khamenei told the U.S. leader to focus on problems in his own country. Iran “will not back down” in face of “saboteurs,” he said, adding that the “arrogant” U.S. leader will be “overthrown.”…reports Asian Lite News
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei urged people in Iran to preserve unity and said some protesters try to please the United States.
Khamenei made the remarks in a televised address to the nation as the country faces growing protests.
Protesters are “ruining their own streets to make the president of another country happy,” the supreme leader said, referring to U.S. President Donald Trump.
Khamenei told the U.S. leader to focus on problems in his own country.
Iran “will not back down” in face of “saboteurs,” he said, adding that the “arrogant” U.S. leader will be “overthrown.”
The ongoing protests, triggered by the sharp fall in the rial and economic hardships in several Iranian cities since late last month, show no sign of abating, with some deadly clashes reported between the police and what the government described as “rioters.”
Since Thursday, Iran has been undergoing a widespread internet blackout, with local communications and media also facing significant disruptions.
Multiple flights of various countries, including Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates, have canceled their services to and from Iran.
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Iran Arm warn protesters
Iran’s army chief warned that the country will respond if hostile rhetoric by its “enemies” continues, according to the official IRNA news agency.
Chief Commander of the Iranian Army Amir Hatami said Iran considers the escalation of hostile language against the Iranian nation a threat and will not allow it to go unanswered.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said that Iran’s internal affairs concern only its own people, noting that the government and the people are engaging in dialogue.
Hatami stressed that the Iranian armed forces are in a state of full readiness, warning that any miscalculation by the “enemies” would trigger a response more decisive than Iran’s actions during the 12-day war in June.
Commenting on recent unrest, he said protests are a natural phenomenon in any country, but the rapid transformation of demonstrations into riots is “unusual” and “undoubtedly planned by the enemies.”
Hatami also described Western sanctions on Iran as “cruel,” accusing Iran’s adversaries of deliberately creating economic hardship to harm the Iranian people.
Meanwhile, the Iranian military pledged on Saturday to defend national interests, protect strategic infrastructure and public property amid ongoing protests, and urged Iranians to unite to “thwart the enemy’s plots,” according to state broadcaster IRIB.
In a statement, the military accused Israel and “hostile terrorist organizations” of “attempting to undermine order and peace in cities and disrupt public security through another conspiracy,” and of “trying to incite another rebellion in the name of supporting the Iranian people.” It called on the public to remain vigilant and unite to “defeat the enemy’s plots,” saying Iran is “in the middle of a war.”
The statement said the army, together with other armed forces, “under the command” of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, would monitor enemy movements and resolutely defend national interests while protecting strategic infrastructure and public property.
Separately, Iran’s Fars News Agency reported that Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said Israel should be held responsible for the current situation in Iran.
The spokesperson for Iran’s Constitutional Council attributed the protests in the country to foreign interference.
“Foreign interference has turned peaceful livelihood protests of people directed at livelihood demands into riots and unrest,” Hadi Tahan Nazif told a press conference on Saturday, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.
On the same day, the governor of Baharestan told Tasnim that 100 people accused of disrupting public order and leading riots had been arrested in the city. He said they used firearms and cold weapons to attack civilians and security forces.
