Iran's supreme leader has publicly accused protesters of ruining their own streets to please US President Donald Trump, as authorities imposed a severe nationwide internet blackout to quell unrest. Tens of thousands have gathered in Tehran and across the country's 31 provinces, marking the most significant challenge to the government in years.
Leadership Condemns Protesters as 'Mercenaries'
In a brief address aired on state television on Friday 9 January 2026, the 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei signalled a government crackdown. He stated that protesters were "ruining their own streets to make the president of another country happy", directly referring to Donald Trump. Khamenei warned that Tehran would not tolerate people acting as "mercenaries for foreigners".
His speech was met with an audience chanting "Death to America", a clear echo of the "Death to the dictator" slogans heard during the protests. The official report, buried low in the state TV news bulletin, acknowledged the unrest for the first time, detailing that private cars, motorcycles, metro stations, fire trucks, and buses had been set ablaze, resulting in casualties.
Nationwide Blackout and Escalating Violence
The protests, which began in Tehran last month following a sharp slide in the value of the rial currency, have now spread nationwide. In response, authorities have enacted a near-total communications shutdown. According to the monitoring group NetBlocks, the internet blackout began late on Thursday and extended through Friday, also affecting international phone calls.
Analyst Holly Dagres of the Washington Institute suggested the shutdown was intended "to prevent the world from seeing the protests" and likely provided cover for security forces. Figures from the US-based Human Rights Activist News Agency indicate at least 34 protesters and four security personnel have been killed, with around 2,200 arrests made.
International Calls and Reactions
The large-scale demonstrations on Thursday night were partly spurred by a call from Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran's last monarch. He urged Iranians to "take to the streets" and warned the Islamic Republic that the world and President Trump were watching. Following the protests, Pahlavi noted the regime had cut all communication lines.
President Trump, who bombed Iran last summer and previously hinted at supporting the protesters, stated on Friday he would not meet with Pahlavi and was "not sure that it would be appropriate" to back him. The unrest has caused significant disruption, with nearly 20 flights between Dubai and Iranian cities cancelled on Friday. Iranian state media continues to blame "terrorist agents" from the US and Israel for instigating the violence.
