Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivered a defiant message on Friday, January 9, 2026, stating the Islamic Republic "will not back down" in the face of escalating nationwide protests. This statement came after the largest demonstrations in years rocked major cities, presenting a significant challenge to the clerical establishment.
Protests Escalate with Slogans and Fires
The protests, which began around January 3, reached a new peak on the evening of Thursday, January 8. Crowds marched through major urban centers, including Tehran, Tabriz, Mashhad, and Kermanshah. Demonstrators were heard chanting "death to the dictator"—a direct reference to the 86-year-old Khamenei, who has held power since 1989. In a show of intense dissent, protesters set fire to official buildings, including the entrance to a state television branch in the central city of Isfahan.
Government Crackdown and Communication Blackout
In a move to quell the unrest, authorities imposed a severe internet blackout. According to the internet monitor Netblocks, Iran experienced a total connectivity blackout starting late Thursday, lasting for over 12 hours into Friday. This tactic, widely seen as an attempt to suppress the spread of information and organize protests, underscores the severity of the situation from the government's perspective.
In his first public comments on the nearly two-week-long movement, Khamenei struck a hardline tone. Broadcasting on state TV, he labeled the demonstrators as "vandals" and "saboteurs." He framed the domestic unrest within a narrative of foreign interference, specifically targeting the United States.
Khamenei's Defiance and U.S. Response
Addressing supporters who chanted "death to America," Khamenei accused U.S. President Donald Trump of having "hands stained with the blood" of Iranians, alluding to U.S. support for Israel. He predicted Trump would be overthrown, much like Iran's pre-revolution monarchy. His speech emphasized that the Islamic Republic, founded on sacrifice, would not yield.
The protests, sparked primarily by anger over the rising cost of living, have evolved into one of the most substantial public challenges to Iran's theocratic rule in its over 45-year history. Videos verified by AFP show massive crowds on Tehran's Ayatollah Kashani Boulevard and significant gatherings in other regions, with some protesters openly calling for an end to the current system.
From Washington, President Trump commented on the situation late Thursday, stating that the "enthusiasm to overturn that regime is incredible." He issued a warning to Iranian authorities, stating that if they responded with lethal force against protesters, the U.S. was prepared to "hit them very hard." This exchange of rhetoric highlights the international dimension of the ongoing crisis within Iran.
