Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday told US President Donald Trump to focus on problems in his own country, amid rising unrest in Iran. The remarks came after Trump said the United States was watching the situation in Iran “very closely” and warned of a strong response if authorities started killing protesters.
Read More: Iran supreme leader says will not yield as protests simmer and US threatens
Khamenei accused protesters of acting on behalf of Trump, calling them“mercenaries for foreigners” and warning that Tehran would not tolerate attacks on public properties. He added that Trump’s hands were “stained with the blood of more than a thousand Iranians” and predicted the “arrogant” US leader would be “overthrown” like Iran’s pre-1979 imperial dynasty.
⚡️BREAKING
Iran’s Supreme Leader just now:
‘Iran will not tolerate foreign collaborators
There are some rioters who want to please the American president by damaging public property
Trump must focus on his own country, accidents are happening there
Iran is steadfast and… pic.twitter.com/dd9nvq6JNT
— Iran Observer (@IranObserver0) January 9, 2026
The protests, now in their second week, were triggered by economic grievances, including the rising cost of living. Videos from across the country showed demonstrators chanting slogans such as “death to the dictator” and setting fire to official buildings.
Internet monitoring group NetBlocks reported that authorities had imposed a near-total connectivity blackout late Thursday, which continued for over 12 hours on Friday. The blackout appeared aimed at limiting the spread of information and suppressing nationwide demonstrations.
According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 34 protesters and four security personnel have been killed, and 2,200 people arrested since the unrest began. Analysts say the scale of the protests reflects deepening public dissatisfaction with the Iranian government.
Read More: Khamenei warns US: Iran won’t back down
Authorities have attempted a dual strategy, allowing peaceful protests and dialogue while using tear gas and force to control violent confrontations. The situation continues to unfold as international attention remains focused on the rapidly deteriorating conditions across Iran.