Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has accused actors linked to the United States and Israel of being responsible for the killing of “several thousands” of people during weeks of antigovernment protests across the country.
“Those linked to Israel and US caused massive damages and killed several thousands” during the protests that shook Iran for more than two weeks, Khamenei said on Saturday.
He alleged direct involvement by the two countries in the violence and described US President Donald Trump as a “criminal”. “The latest anti-Iran sedition was different in that the US president personally became involved,” Iranian state media quoted him as saying.
Iranian authorities have increasingly blamed foreign powers for the unrest, accusing long-time geopolitical rivals, particularly Israel and the United States, of fuelling instability and directing operations inside the country.
Khamenei warned that while Iran would avoid escalating tensions beyond its borders, those it considers responsible would face consequences. “We will not drag the country into war, but we will not let domestic or international criminals go unpunished,” he said.
Reporting from Tehran via satellite, Al Jazeera correspondent Resul Serdar Atas said Khamenei’s remarks largely echoed Iran’s long-held position but also introduced a new claim about the scale of casualties.
Khamenei alleged a deeper level of US involvement than in previous unrest. “He said that in previous protests there was a low level of intervention of the Americans, but this time the president of the United States was a central figure in this international plot against Iran,” Atas added.
What stood out, however, was the size of the alleged death toll. “One thing that is new in his speech is that for the first time he is actually giving a sense of the numbers of people killed,” Atas said. “He is saying that the violent protesters have killed thousands of people.”
There is still no confirmed death toll, though US-based rights group HRANA says a further 3,000 have been killed in the protests. Until now, Iranian officials had publicly acknowledged hundreds of deaths, including members of the security forces.
Khamenei’s statement marks the first time Iran’s top authority has spoken of casualties in the thousands.
Atas noted that the claim partly aligns with assessments by some international human rights organisations. “They have been saying that the death toll is much higher than what is being publicly announced by the officials,” he said.
Iranian officials also say around 3,000 people have been arrested in connection with the protests.
Khamenei further accused protesters of widespread destruction, “including burning more than 250 mosque and medical facilities”, Atas said.
According to Iran’s official account, demonstrations initially began peacefully over rising prices and economic hardship on December 28 in several cities.
“The government was acknowledging their demands and the hardships that they are facing,” Atas said, adding that authorities now argue the protests were later “hijacked by the violent protests who were receiving orders from the outside powers”.
Iranian officials claim those involved were “equipped, financed, and trained” by foreign actors, with Khamenei placing Trump “in the centre of this plot”.
The semiofficial Fars News Agency reported on Saturday that authorities had restored the short messaging service (SMS) nationwide as part of a phased plan following eight days of near-total internet disruption.
-20260116064009.webp)
-20260115111729.webp)
-20260115063121.webp)
-20260112173104.webp)
-20260111213906.webp)
