Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that U.S. President Donald Trump would ultimately be ousted from power. Speaking on state television on Friday, Khamenei accused foreign-backed forces of trying to destabilize Iran and compared Trump to past dictators who fell from power. He said Iran would not retreat in the face of unrest and urged the nation’s youth to remain united and prepared to confront enemies.

The warning came as protests over rising living costs intensified across Iran, with reports of government buildings being set on fire. Internet monitoring group NetBlocks reported that Iranian authorities shut down nationwide internet access late Thursday, keeping the country offline for about 12 hours to suppress demonstrations. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said at least 34 protesters and four security personnel had been killed, and around 2,200 people arrested during the unrest.

The developments highlight escalating tensions between Iran’s leadership and protesters, as well as renewed friction with the United States over accusations of foreign interference.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that those acting as mercenaries for foreign powers and causing harm to people and property will not be tolerated. In a speech broadcast on state television, he accused foreign forces of trying to destabilize Iran and alleged that some rioters were seeking to please U.S. President Donald Trump. Khamenei said Trump would eventually fall, comparing him to past arrogant rulers, and asserted that Iran would not retreat in the face of unrest.

He further claimed that the U.S. president’s hands were stained with the blood of thousands of Iranians and urged his supporters to remain united and prepared, emphasizing that a united nation can defeat any enemy. His remarks came as anti-government protests, which began on December 28, spread across Iran.

The demonstrations started when merchants at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar closed their shops to protest rising living costs, later drawing participation from various social groups across the country.

Mobile phone services across Iran have been severely disrupted following the country’s recent internet shutdown. According to Turkey-based TRT World, many regions have been without mobile network access since Friday, January 9. International media reports indicate that the mobile service disruptions began soon after the internet was cut off, though the Iranian government has not issued any official statement on the matter.

The disruptions come amid widespread anti-government protests that began on December 28 over rising living costs. The demonstrations started when traders at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar closed their shops in protest and were later joined by people from various professions. The protests, ongoing for 12 days, intensified on Thursday night as thousands took to the streets in Tehran and other cities.

Human rights organizations report that at least 38 people have been killed during the unrest. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that if the Iranian government continues killing protesters, the United States may intervene directly with strong military action.

Iran’s Chief Justice Gholam Hossein Mohseni has accused anti-government protesters of acting in the interests of the United States and Israel. His remarks came as demonstrations spread across several Iranian cities, including Tehran, Borujerd, Arsanjan, and Gilan-e-Gharb, following weeks of economic crisis and currency devaluation. Mohseni warned that those creating or supporting unrest would not be forgiven.

According to an Al Jazeera report cited in the article, the Iranian government has decided to provide limited assistance of about seven dollars per family per month to ease the pressure of rising food prices. The protests began last month at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar over inflation and the falling value of the national currency, later spreading nationwide. Human rights groups report at least 36 deaths and around 2,000 arrests so far.

Iran’s military chief Major General Amir Hatami stated that any aggressor would face a strong response, while Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Iran would never bow to US threats.

A police officer was killed in Iran near Tehran during ongoing protests, according to a report by Fars News on Thursday. The incident occurred in Malard County, west of the capital, as the officer, identified as Shahin Dehghan, was attempting to control the demonstrations. The report stated that efforts are underway to identify those responsible. The killing took place on the twelfth day of nationwide protests.

The protests began on December 28 when Tehran’s merchants demonstrated against the sharp decline of the Iranian currency and rising prices. The movement quickly spread to other cities across the country. According to AFP, demonstrations have now reached 25 of Iran’s 31 provinces, resulting in the deaths of dozens of people, including several members of the security forces.

Authorities are continuing their investigation into the officer’s death as unrest persists in multiple regions of Iran.

Protests over economic hardship and rising prices have spread across Iran, beginning on December 28 in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar and expanding to 22 of the country’s 31 provinces. The demonstrations, initially led by business owners, have turned violent and evolved into a broader political crisis. In response, the Iranian government has intensified its crackdown on protesters.

Amid the unrest, US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham warned that former President Donald Trump would kill Iran’s supreme leader if the government continues its repression. Speaking to Fox News, Graham said the Iranian regime was killing its own people under the pretext of improving living conditions and described the situation as a major turning point in Middle Eastern history. He added that help was coming for the Iranian people.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei acknowledged that protesters’ demands were legitimate but declared that riots would not be tolerated. Government talks with business representatives in Tehran have failed to yield results, while Iranian officials strongly condemned Trump’s earlier remarks about US intervention if deadly force was used against demonstrators.

Iran has warned that it may launch preemptive attacks if there are clear signs of enemy aggression. The warning came from Iran’s newly formed Defense Council in a statement broadcast by state media. The council said that crossing Iran’s ‘red lines’ of security, independence, and territorial integrity would not be tolerated. It added that any hostile acts against Iran would be met with a firm response, for which the instigators would bear full responsibility.

The statement further declared that any violation of national interests, interference in internal affairs, or attempts to destabilize Iran would be answered decisively. The council emphasized that Iran would no longer limit itself to retaliating after being attacked but would take proactive measures to safeguard its security. Although the statement did not name any specific country, it comes amid heightened tensions involving the United States and Israel.

The Defense Council was established last June following a 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel under the directive of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Protests in Iran over rising living costs entered their 11th day on Wednesday, spreading across much of the country. Demonstrations were reported in multiple provinces, including violent clashes in Lordegan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, where armed protesters opened fire, killing two security officers and injuring at least 30 others. President Masoud Pezeshkian called for patience and instructed security forces not to suppress peaceful demonstrators.

According to Iran’s Fars News Agency, around 300 shopkeepers in Lordegan closed their stores and gathered near Khardunpara and Shironi Bridge, chanting slogans before tensions escalated. Protesters reportedly threw stones at security personnel and vandalized government buildings, including the governor’s office. Separate incidents occurred in Bojnord, where a shop was set on fire, and in Tehran’s Shemiran district and Aligudarz, where large crowds chanted anti-government slogans. AFP reported that protests have spread to 25 of Iran’s 31 provinces.

The Norway-based group Iran Human Rights claimed that at least 27 protesters have been killed since the movement began on December 28 with a shopkeepers’ strike in Tehran.

Iran’s army chief, General Amir Hatami, issued a warning on Wednesday that the country will not quietly accept threats from foreign powers. His statement came after the United States and Israel expressed support for anti-government protests in Iran and made strong remarks against Tehran. According to Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency, Hatami said the Islamic Republic views the escalation of hostile rhetoric against the Iranian nation as a threat and will not tolerate its continuation without response.

In recent days, US President Donald Trump warned that Washington could intervene in Iran if protesters were killed, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly voiced support for the demonstrations. Tehran’s reaction, delivered through its military leadership, signals a firm stance amid ongoing political unrest and growing international pressure.

The statement reflects Iran’s intent to resist external interference as tensions rise over domestic protests and foreign criticism, underscoring a potentially volatile phase in its relations with the US and Israel.

Iran has executed a man named Ali Ardestani after convicting him of spying for Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad. The execution was carried out following approval from the country’s Supreme Court and completion of legal procedures, according to Mizan, the media outlet of Iran’s judiciary, which reported the event on Wednesday.

Mizan stated that Ardestani had provided sensitive national information to Mossad. The report noted that Iran has executed several individuals over the years for alleged links to Israel’s intelligence network. The number of such executions has risen notably this year, particularly after Israeli and U.S. forces attacked Iranian nuclear facilities in June, leading to direct confrontations between the two nations.

Observers view Iran’s latest execution as a reflection of the continuing hostility and security tensions between Iran and Israel, two long-time regional adversaries.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Iran of a strong response if more protesters are killed during ongoing demonstrations over rising living costs. At least 20 people have died in the unrest, which has intensified across Iran. Speaking aboard Air Force One on Sunday night, Trump said the United States is closely monitoring the situation and would deliver a harsh blow if Iranian authorities resume killing civilians, according to a report by Al Jazeera.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry responded Monday, accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and hardline U.S. officials of encouraging terrorism and violence through their remarks on Iran’s internal affairs. The ministry’s statement added that what it called the “Zionist entity” is waiting for any opportunity to undermine Iran’s national unity.

The warning to Iran came shortly after a U.S. special forces raid in Venezuela that led to the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife on charges of cocaine importation and illegal weapons possession. Both are being held at a detention center in Brooklyn, New York.

Protests in Iran over rising living costs have entered their eighth day, spreading to at least 222 locations across 78 cities. According to reports from the Anadolu news agency, at least 20 people have been killed and 51 injured, while around 1,000 individuals have been arrested. Demonstrations have been reported in 26 provinces and 17 universities, despite the deployment of additional security forces and attempts to suppress gatherings.

The Press Association, founded by Iranian human rights activists, stated that among the dead are students, workers, and civilians aged between 16 and 45, including one member of the security forces. Most casualties reportedly resulted from gunfire by security personnel. The highest number of arrests occurred in cities such as Yazd, Isfahan, Kermanshah, Shiraz, and Behbahan, with many detainees transferred to local prisons.

The protests began on December 28 in response to surging inflation, declining purchasing power, market instability, and widespread unemployment, reflecting deep public frustration over worsening economic conditions.

Anti-government protests in Iran have entered their second week, with at least 12 people, including security personnel, reported dead since the unrest began on December 28 in Tehran following a shopkeepers’ strike. Human rights groups and local media said fresh deadly clashes erupted between protesters and security forces across Tehran, Shiraz, and western provinces. Demonstrators reportedly chanted slogans against the country’s religious leadership.

The protests are described as the largest since the 2022–2023 movement sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody. Although the current unrest remains concentrated in Kurdish and Lur-populated western regions, it poses a new challenge to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has ruled since 1989. The situation is further complicated by recent conflict with Israel that damaged nuclear facilities and killed key security officials. In response to economic pressure, the government announced a monthly cash allowance of about seven dollars per citizen for four months.

U.S. President Donald Trump warned that if more protesters are killed, the United States would respond “very harshly.” Human rights groups reported multiple deaths and injuries in western Iran, while Iranian media confirmed casualties among both protesters and security forces.

Mass protests have erupted across Iran over economic hardship and rising prices, beginning on December 28 in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar and spreading to 22 of the country’s 31 provinces. The demonstrations, now in their second week, have turned violent, with at least ten people reported dead nationwide. Amid the unrest, former U.S. President Donald Trump warned on his Truth Social platform that the United States would intervene if Iranian authorities attacked peaceful protesters, saying Washington was fully prepared to act.

Tehran sharply condemned Trump’s remarks, calling them reckless and a violation of international law. Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi said the Iranian people would reject any foreign interference, while the Foreign Ministry warned of a “swift, decisive and comprehensive” response to any U.S. intervention. The statement accused Washington of hypocrisy and cited past U.S. actions against Iran, including the 1953 coup and the 1988 downing of an Iranian civilian airliner. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also vowed to defend the country’s sovereignty.

Iran’s envoy to the United Nations urged Secretary-General António Guterres to denounce Trump’s “illegal threats,” asserting Iran’s right to self-defense and holding the U.S. responsible for any escalation.

Iran has sent a formal letter to the United Nations Secretary-General and the President of the UN Security Council condemning what it called the “illegal threats” made by U.S. President Donald Trump. The letter, delivered on Friday by Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, followed Trump’s warning of possible intervention if Iran used violence to suppress protests. According to Al Jazeera, the Iranian envoy urged UN officials to strongly denounce Trump’s “reckless and provocative statements,” describing them as serious violations of the UN Charter and international law.

In the letter, Iran stated that any attempt to incite or justify internal unrest as a pretext for external pressure or military intervention would constitute a grave breach of the country’s sovereignty, political independence, and territorial integrity. The letter affirmed Iran’s right to defend its sovereignty and held the United States fully responsible for any consequences or escalation arising from Trump’s threats.

The correspondence came amid widespread protests in Iran over rising living costs, during which six people have reportedly been killed in clashes with security forces.