Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, delivered a defiant message on Friday, stating the Islamic Republic will not retreat in the face of escalating domestic protests and threats of intervention from United States President Donald Trump. His speech came as fresh protests were called for, following the largest demonstrations to sweep through Tehran in years just a day earlier.
Defiance in the Face of Unrest
The protests, which began in late December fueled by public anger over Iran's plunging currency and soaring inflation, have evolved. They are now increasingly featuring explicit calls for a change in the country's leadership. On Thursday, crowds in Tehran chanted anti-government slogans, with some expressing support for Reza Pahlavi, the exiled heir to the monarchy that was overthrown by the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Addressing a gathering of his supporters in the holy city of Qom, Khamenei, who has ruled Iran since 1989, made it clear he has no intention of ceding power. "Everyone should know that the Islamic Republic will not retreat," he declared. He attributed the unrest in the capital to "vandals" who he claimed were eager "to please the President of the United States."
Trump's Threats and a Warning from History
The Supreme Leader's remarks were a direct response to growing pressure. Late on Thursday, President Trump, in an interview with Fox News, suggested the Iranian regime could be on the verge of collapse and repeated his threat to intervene if the government used deadly force against protesters. "The enthusiasm to overturn that regime is incredible," Trump stated.
This threat has gained new urgency for Tehran following the recent U.S. military operation in Caracas aimed at capturing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, which raised questions about how far the American president is willing to go. In his speech, Khamenei told Trump to focus on domestic problems in the U.S. He drew historical parallels, stating that arrogant rulers throughout history "were overthrown at the height of their pride," citing the last Shah of Iran as an example. He predicted that Trump "will also be overthrown."
Widespread Arrests and a Disconnected Leadership
The government's response to the protests has been twofold: acknowledging economic grievances while deploying security forces to suppress the demonstrations. According to the latest tally from the group Human Rights Activists in Iran, more than 2,000 people have been arrested and at least 36 killed in unrest that has now spread to 92 cities across the nation.
Analysts suggest Khamenei's hardline rhetoric is unlikely to quell the discontent. Mustapha Pakzad, a geopolitical analyst focused on Iran, noted that the speech will probably have little effect on a population struggling daily with severe economic hardship and survival. The gap between the leadership's defiant posture and the people's pressing realities appears to be widening as calls for change grow louder on the streets of Iran.
