Khamenei and the anger from the streets, the "labor" protesters, the repression continues

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

On Friday, January 19, 2021, in his second official response to the nationwide protests, Ali Khamenei attacked the protesters with harsh language, saying the government would not back down in the face of what he called "subversion."

In part of his speech, he said: "Last night, a bunch of vandals came to Tehran and destroyed a building belonging to them in order to please the American president."

Without referring to the protesters' economic and political demands, Khamenei considered them to be agents of foreigners and added: "These are harmful people. America has said that if your government does so, I will take your side; that is, the side of harmful people." He emphasized in a threatening tone that the Islamic Republic system was formed at a heavy human cost and will not back down in the face of protests: "This Islamic Republic was created with the blood of several hundred thousand honorable people and will not back down in the face of saboteurs."

He also reacted to the recent positions of US President Donald Trump, adding: "Now he says I am a supporter of the Iranian nation, and a handful of careless and thoughtless people believe him. If he can run his own country, there are important problems in his own country."

Khamenei called Donald Trump one of the "arrogants of the world" and compared him to historical figures who, he said, were ultimately overthrown: "They will be overthrown at the height of their arrogance, like Pharaoh and Nimrod and Reza Khan and Mohammad Reza Shah."

In another part of his speech, he accused the US president of having a direct role in the killing of Iranians, saying: "His hands are stained with the blood of more than a thousand Iranians. In the 12-day war, in addition to commanders, scientists, and elders, people were also killed. He himself announced that I gave the order."

These statements were made at a time when popular protests have entered a new phase following economic and political crises and Prince Reza Pahlavi's call for mass rallies. While parts of Iranian society see these protests as a sign of deep dissatisfaction 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 not a sign of a desire for dialogue or reform, but also indicates an insistence on continuing the policy of repression in the face of one of the most widespread waves of protests in recent years.