Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has responded to recent threats from former U.S. President Donald Trump by urging him to “mind U.S. affairs” and asserting that Iran will not back down in the face of unrest or external pressure.
Speaking on state television, Khamenei accused foreign-backed forces of trying to destabilize the country amid a wave of domestic protests.
“Trump should know that the world’s tyrants—like Pharaoh, Reza Shah, and Mohammad Reza—fell at the peak of their arrogance. The same fate awaits him,” he said, referring to past authoritarian leaders.
He stated that the Islamic Republic will not retreat in the face of riots. “Everyone must understand that this Republic was founded with the blood of hundreds of thousands of honorable people. We will not yield to vandals,” he declared.
Commenting on the current protests, Khamenei accused demonstrators of trying to appease Trump. “They just want to make him happy. If he knew how to govern, he’d manage his own country properly,” he added, citing America's internal issues.
Referring to deadly clashes in June, Khamenei claimed over 1,000 Iranians were killed during a 12-day conflict. He said Trump had publicly taken responsibility for those strikes: “He said, ‘I ordered and led the attack.’ That’s a confession; his hands are stained with Iranian blood.”
Khamenei also issued a call for unity: “Dear youth, maintain your readiness and unity. A united people can defeat any enemy.”
Protests erupted across Iran in late December over the rapid devaluation of the national currency. Triggered by sharp exchange rate fluctuations and resulting price surges, demonstrations spread through Tehran and other cities. Videos of the protests circulated widely on social media.
The head of Iran’s Central Bank, Mohammad Farzin, resigned amid the crisis and was replaced on December 31 by Abdolnaser Hemmati. Several cities saw clashes between protesters and police, with reports of fatalities on both sides.
Iran is currently experiencing high inflation. The rial has plummeted in value, with the U.S. dollar trading as high as 1.4 million rials on the black market—compared to about 50,000 rials before the U.S. withdrew from the nuclear deal in May 2018.
