Ayatollah Khamenei calls on Iranian authorities to suppress the protests and accuses Trump of the victims of these protests, stating that the USA aims to subordinate Iran.

The supreme Iranian leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, called on authorities on Saturday to suppress the protests, stating that they must "break the backs of the rebels." He attributed the casualties during the demonstrations to U.S. President Donald Trump, accusing him of involvement in the social unrest.

The protests began on December 28, initially against the cost of living, but quickly transformed into an anti-regime movement. Khamenei stated that he does not intend to lead the country to war, but will act against "national and international criminals." He also accused the U.S. of a plot aimed at subjugating Iran, emphasizing that the American objective is to bring the country back under military, political, and economic domination.