In a fiery address on Saturday (Jan 17), Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei declared that the country has “once again” defeated US- and Israel-backed sedition, saying unrest incited by Washington and Tel Aviv has been “extinguished.” 🔥
Khamenei called US President Donald Trump a “criminal” who publicly encouraged rioters by pledging military support, accusing him of being responsible for killings and destruction during recent protests.
He stressed that while Iran doesn’t seek war, it “will not refrain from punishing those responsible for the unrest, both inside the country and abroad.” This comes as domestic protests, which began in late December over economic grievances, have largely subsided.
According to the semi-official Tasnim news agency, around 3,000 people have been detained amid the crackdown on what authorities labeled “vandals.” Short message services were restored on Saturday, and schools are set to reopen on Sunday after a one-week closure.
Across the region, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem voiced strong support for Iran, calling it a “stronghold of resistance” and accusing the US of seeking global domination. Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the Group of Seven’s remarks on the unrest as “meddlesome interference.”
With streets calmer for now, Khamenei’s vow to track down those behind the riots could add new twists to US-Iran relations. Let’s see what happens next! ✌️
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
