Iran protests: Iranians will not bow to foreign mercenaries, says Supreme Leader amid US intervention threat

Amid ongoing anti-government protests and the growing threat of intervention by the United States, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday said that Tehran would not bow to “foreign mercenaries.”

In a series of statements posted on X, Khamenei said, “Let everyone know that the Islamic Republic of Iran, established through the sacrifice of hundreds of thousands of honourable people, will not back down in the face of those who sow destruction.”

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Responding to US President Donald Trump’s remarks that the United States “stands ready to help” as Iran is “looking at FREEDOM,” Khamenei said, “The US president declared that if the Iranian government did this or that, he would side with the rioters. The rioters have placed their hopes in him. If he is so competent, let him run his own country.”

The Iranian Supreme Leader accused Trump of having “Iranian blood on his hands.”

“During the 12-day war, over a thousand Iranian citizens were martyred. The President of the United States said he ordered it. He thus admitted that Iranian blood was on his hands. And now he says he stands with the Iranian nation!” Khamenei remarked.

Iran anti-government protests: Internet blackout, ‘death penalty’ threats and US intervention warning – everything you need to know

He further stated that Iran is better equipped and armed today than it was before the Islamic Revolution. “Neither our spiritual strength nor our material and conventional weapons are comparable to what we had before,” he said.

“The Iranian people will not tolerate mercenaries of foreign powers,” he declared.

His remarks came hours after Trump threatened that the US would launch attacks on Iran if the country’s regime killed protesters. On Saturday, he reaffirmed Washington’s readiness to “help” anti-government protesters in Iran.

“Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!” Trump said in a social media post.

Massive anti-government protests have rocked Iran since December 28. What began as demonstrations by traders against the falling Iranian currency and rising prices has swelled into a mass uprising against the Khamenei regime.

According to some human rights groups, at least 72 people have been killed and more than 2,300 detained since the demonstrations began. The protests have reportedly spread to 512 locations across 180 cities in all 31 provinces of the country as of Saturday.