Iran's supreme leader says authorities 'must break the back of seditionists' after protests

IRAN’S SUPREME LEADER has said authorities “must break the back of the seditionists” after a crackdown on mass protests against the country’s clerical leadership.

In a speech broadcast by state television today, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the protests had left “several thousand” people dead – the first indication from an Iranian leader of the extent of the casualties from the wave of protests that began on 28 December.

The country was rocked by the demonstrations, which were sparked by anger over economic hardship that exploded into the biggest protests against the Islamic republic in more than three years.

But demonstrations have subsided after the crackdown that has left thousands dead under an internet blackout that lasted more than a week.

Authorities have said demonstrations they condemn as “riots” are under control, with state-aligned media reporting thousands of arrests and officials vowing swift punishment for those detained.

“By God’s grace, the Iranian nation must break the back of the seditionists just as it broke the back of the sedition,” Khamenei told supporters during an address marking a religious holiday commemorating the Prophet Muhammad’s ascension to heaven.

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“We do not intend to lead the country to war, but we will not spare domestic criminals,” he added, saying that “international criminals” were “worse” and would also not be spared punishment.

Iranian authorities have blamed the US for fuelling a “terrorist operation” that they say hijacked peaceful protests over the economy.

Trump, who backed and joined Israel’s 12-day war against Iran in June, had repeatedly threatened new military action against Tehran if protesters were executed.

‘American conspiracy’

Khamenei today lashed out at Trump, accusing him of being “guilty for the casualties, damages and accusations he has levelled against the Iranian nation”.

“This was an American conspiracy,” he said, adding that “America’s goal is to swallow Iran… the goal is to put Iran back under military, political and economic domination”.

He also described the protesters as “foot soldiers” of the US and said they had destroyed mosques and educational centres. “Through hurting people, they killed several thousand of them,” he said.

While Washington has appeared to have stepped back, Trump has said he has not ruled out military options and made clear he was keeping a close eye on whether any protesters were executed.

Alarm has mounted over the reported death toll during the crackdown, as verifying cases remains difficult under severe internet restrictions.

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Monitor Netblocks said that internet connectivity in Iran rose “very” sightly, more than 200 hours into the nationwide internet shutdown.

Rights groups have warned that the blackout has been aimed at concealing the extent of the violence during the crackdown.

Norway-based rights group Iran Human Rights (IHR) says 3,428 protesters have been verified to have been killed by security forces, but warns the actual toll could be several times higher.

Other estimates place the death toll at more than 5,000 – and possibly as high as 20,000, IHR said.

The opposition Iran International channel based outside the country has said at least 12,000 people were killed during the protests, citing senior government and security sources.

© AFP 2026