Mass protests continued to grip Iran on Friday, marking the biggest wave of anti-government demonstrations in two weeks. As unrest spread across provinces, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivered a televised address, sharply attacking US President Donald Trump and vowing that the Iranian state would not back down.
In his speech, Khamenei called Trump “arrogant” and claimed his “hands are stained with the blood of Iranians”. He went further to say that the US President would be “overthrown”, urging him instead to focus on domestic problems in the United States. Khamenei accused protesters of vandalism and alleged that they were acting to please foreign powers, particularly Washington.
Violence intensified in several regions. In Khorasan Razavi province, protesters attacked a police station in Chenaran, leading to five deaths, according to provincial officials. Buses were also set on fire in Mashhad amid the unrest. Authorities warned that Iran would not tolerate “mercenaries for foreigners” and announced legal action against individuals and social media figures accused of promoting anti-Iranian calls.
The protests escalated after a call by exiled former crown prince Reza Pahlavi, who urged Iranians to take to the streets. Pahlavi later said he was “proud of each and every one” who protested, claiming that crowds forced security forces to retreat in some areas.
International travel disruptions reflected the growing instability. Several Dubai–Iran flights were cancelled on Friday, while Turkish Airlines and Pegasus either cancelled or turned back flights from Iranian airspace. France called on Iranian authorities to exercise maximum restraint in dealing with protesters.
Iranian state television blamed the unrest on “terrorist agents” from the US and Israel, while Trump, responding to the developments, said it would not be appropriate for him to meet Reza Pahlavi at this stage.
According to reports, at least 34 protesters have been killed and more than 2,200 detained since demonstrations began, as tensions between the Iranian government, opposition figures, and foreign powers continue to rise.