TEHRAN — Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday blamed the United States and Israel for violence that accompanied recent nationwide protests, claiming foreign-backed actors were responsible for “thousands” of deaths and widespread destruction.
Speaking through state media, Khamenei said the latest wave of unrest was different from previous protests because of what he described as direct involvement by the US government. He singled out President Donald Trump, calling him a “criminal” and accusing Washington and Tel Aviv of orchestrating chaos inside Iran.
The supreme leader alleged that individuals linked to the US and Israel caused “massive damage” and killed several thousand people during more than two weeks of demonstrations. Iranian officials have repeatedly maintained that external powers, rather than domestic grievances, were the primary drivers of the unrest.
Khamenei warned that while Tehran does not seek war or regional escalation, those it holds 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.
His remarks reflect Tehran’s increasingly hardline position as protests tied to economic pressures and political dissatisfaction continue to surface across different parts of the country.
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