Khamenei and Street Anger: ‘Mercenary’ Protesters, Crackdown Continues

The Leader of the Islamic Republic, in response to widespread protests and popular calls, once again chose the language of threats and insults and rejected any retreat in the face of protesters.

Ali Khamenei, on Friday, December 19, 2024, in his second official response to nationwide protests, attacked protesters with harsh rhetoric and said the government will not back down from what he calls “vandalism.”

In part of his remarks, he said: “Last night in Tehran, a bunch of vandals came and destroyed buildings belonging to themselves so that it would please the President of America.”

Without referring to the economic and political demands of the protesters, Khamenei blamed them as agents of foreigners and added: “These are harmful people. America said if your government does such a thing, I will support you; meaning the support of harmful people.” He emphasized in a threatening tone that the Islamic Republic system, formed at a heavy human cost, will not retreat in the face of protests: “This Islamic Republic was created with the blood of hundreds of thousands of honorable people and will not back down in the face of vandals.”

He also reacted to recent positions taken by Donald Trump, President of the United States, and added: “Now he says I am a supporter of the Iranian people and a bunch of careless and thoughtless people believe him. If he can manage his own country; there are important problems in his own country.”

Khamenei called Donald Trump one of the “arrogant ones of the world” and compared him to historical figures who, according to him, were ultimately overthrown: “These are like Pharaoh and Nimrod and Reza Khan and Mohammad Reza Shah, they will be overthrown at the height of their arrogance.”

In another part of his remarks, he accused the President of the United States of having a direct role in the killing of Iranians and said: “His hands are stained with the blood of more than a thousand Iranians. In the 12-day war, apart from commanders and scientists and dignitaries, people were also killed. He himself announced I gave the order.”

These statements were made at a time when popular protests following economic and political crises and following Prince Reza Pahlavi’s call for widespread gatherings have entered a new phase. While some sections of Iranian society view these protests as a sign of deep discontent with the entire ruling structure, Ali Khamenei continues to insist on the narrative of “foreign enemies” and “mercenary agents.”

The tone of Khamenei’s remarks is not only an indication of a willingness to dialogue or reform, but is indicative of insistence on continuing the policy of suppression against one of the most widespread waves of protest in recent years.