Tehran has erupted in anti-government protests, with demonstrators setting parts of the city ablaze. The unrest has led to significant unrest across Iran, drawing the ire of the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In a recent televised address, Khamenei attributed the protests to foreign interference, particularly blaming President Donald Trump for what he termed a “foreign-driven uprising.”
As protests intensified on January 9, 2026, authorities responded by shutting down internet and phone services throughout much of Iran. Videos circulating on social media showed buildings and vehicles engulfed in flames, reflecting the chaos on the streets of Tehran and other cities. Khamenei condemned the protesters as “vandals” and asserted that the Islamic Republic would not retreat in the face of what he described as U.S.-inspired chaos.
“The Islamic Republic came to power through the blood of hundreds of thousands of honourable people. It will not back down in the face of vandals,” Khamenei stated, according to Reuters. This declaration came as the protests, which initially began in December due to Iran’s struggling economy and rampant inflation, escalated following calls from exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi for Iranians to take to the streets.
The protests were fueled by economic hardship, with inflation soaring past 40% and the Iranian currency losing nearly half its value against the dollar. Merchants and shopkeepers were among the first to voice their dissent, but the movement gained momentum after Pahlavi’s appeal, prompting large crowds to chant “Death to the Dictator” during demonstrations.
In a show of solidarity, President Trump commented on the situation via Truth Social, suggesting that Iran’s second-largest city was “under protesters’ control.” He emphasized that the United States stands with the Iranian people in their pursuit of “basic dignity and freedom.” This sentiment was echoed by U.N. Ambassador Mike Waltz, who noted, “We are watching.”
Tensions reached a boiling point following Trump’s earlier threats of military action if Iran resorted to violently suppressing protesters. In a post on January 2, Trump warned, “We are locked and loaded and ready to go.” Khamenei responded by questioning Trump’s capability, stating, “If he’s so capable, he should manage his own country.”
Pahlavi, in a call for further protests, urged Trump to pay attention to the situation in Iran. He described the scenes of protesters facing live ammunition and a communications blackout, asserting that Khamenei feared the collapse of his regime. “You have proven and I know you are a man of peace and a man of your word,” Pahlavi wrote, appealing for intervention to support the Iranian people.
Human rights organizations have reported a rising death toll, with over 40 people reported dead and more than 2,000 individuals detained by security forces. The judiciary chief, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, warned that consequences for those involved in the protests would be “decisive, maximal, and without any legal leniency,” as reported by ABC News.
As the situation continues to unfold, both the Iranian government and the protesters remain at a critical impasse, with the potential for further escalation looming in the days ahead.
