Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, declared that Iran had once again triumphed over the United States and Israel, extinguishing what he called sedition incited by Washington and Tel Aviv. During a religious holiday address, Khamenei accused the US of orchestrating the unrest to engulf Iran, labeling President Donald Trump a “criminal” for his involvement in recent riots. Despite stating Iran’s reluctance for war, Khamenei emphasized that those responsible for domestic and foreign unrest would face consequences.
Following weeks of nationwide protests that initially stemmed from economic grievances and escalated into violence, Iran reported a decrease in domestic demonstrations. Iranian authorities attributed the violent turn to “vandals” hijacking peaceful protests, leading to the detainment of approximately 3,000 individuals by security forces. As tensions eased, Iran resumed its short message service and announced the reopening of schools after a one-week closure.
In a show of solidarity, Lebanon’s Hezbollah expressed unwavering support for Iran, with Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem hailing Iran as a “stronghold of resistance” and accusing the US of pursuing global dominance. Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the Group of Seven nations for what it deemed as intrusive comments on Iran’s internal affairs, urging them to refrain from interference.
