Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused counter-revolutionary forces of orchestrating violent unrest in Tehran and warned U.S. President Donald Trump to stay out of Iran’s affairs, following a night of disturbances that led to widespread property damage in the capital.
In a statement addressing the events, Khamenei said that gatherings took place across several areas of Tehran after what he described as a coordinated plot to incite riots. According to the supreme leader, the gatherings involved groups ranging from dozens to hundreds of people and quickly turned violent, resulting in the destruction of both private and public property, as well as damage to public facilities.
Khamenei said the Iranian people “fully reject” those responsible, whom he described as agents and collaborators acting against national interests. He claimed that some of those involved were engaged solely in sabotage, motivated by a desire to please the American president and provoke U.S. intervention in Iran.
Addressing Trump directly, Khamenei said the U.S. president should focus on governing his own country rather than interfering in Iran. He rejected any suggestion that Trump could present himself as a protector of the Iranian people, dismissing such claims as arrogant and illegitimate.
The supreme leader went on to draw historical parallels, warning that powerful rulers who acted with arrogance were often overthrown at the height of their authority. He cited figures such as Pharaoh, Nimrod, Reza Khan and Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Iran’s last shah, and said Trump would meet a similar fate.
Khamenei concluded by stressing national unity, saying the Iranian people would stand together against what he described as foreign-backed plots. He expressed confidence that a united Iran would ultimately defeat its enemies and overcome attempts to destabilize the country.
