Newlywed groom killed in Hamedan protests, sources say

“A number of agitated people, enemy mercenaries, had positioned themselves behind bazaar merchants and chanted slogans against Islam, against Iran and against the Islamic Republic,” Ali Khamenei said, according to state media.

“Protest is legitimate, but protest is different from rioting,” Khamenei added. “Officials should speak with protesters. Speaking with a rioter is pointless. Rioters must be put in their place,” he said.

The comments marked Khamenei’s first public response to the latest wave of demonstrations, which have intensified amid economic strain and currency volatility.

Khamenei’s language echoed his stance during earlier nationwide protests, including the 2022 “Woman, Life, Freedom” uprising and demonstrations in November 2019, when security forces used lethal force to suppress unrest.

At least eight protesters have been killed so far after being shot by security forces during the current unrest, according to human rights groups. Independent organizations, including Iran Human Rights Organization, previously documented 551 deaths – among them 68 children – during the 2022 protests.

Currency crisis blamed on ‘the enemy’

Khamenei also attributed the protests to economic grievances while assigning responsibility for the currency crisis to foreign adversaries. “These gatherings were mainly by bazaar merchants,” he said, adding that sharp and unstable exchange-rate swings were “not natural” and were “the work of the enemy.”

He accused unnamed actors of exploiting merchants’ complaints to cause “damage and insecurity,” saying such actions were “unacceptable.”

The remarks came as protesters in several cities have chanted for the overthrow of the Islamic Republic and mainly voiced support for the exiled prince Reza Pahlavi.

Confrontation with ‘the enemy’

Khamenei closed by insisting the Islamic Republic would not retreat. “The enemy will not sit quietly and uses every opportunity,” he said, adding that authorities “were and will be present in the field.”

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  Protesters back in Tehran streets following Trump’s message on sixth day

On Friday, US President Donald Trump warned that if Iranian authorities shoot peaceful protesters, the United States would act to help the people.

"If Iran shots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go," Trump wrote in a message published on his Truth Social account.

Iranian officials responded with warnings toward the United States and Israel.

The German Foreign Office said it is closely reviewing reports of violent treatment of protesters by security forces in Iran and voiced deep concern over any serious human rights violations.

Berlin expects the Islamic Republic to uphold its international human rights obligations, refrain from using violence against protesters, and respect citizens’ fundamental rights, a spokesperson told Iran International.

Iran’s supreme leader on Saturday urged authorities to confront and suppress ongoing demonstrations across the country.

“Protest is legitimate, but protest is different from rioting. We talk to protesters, but there is no use in talking to rioters. Rioters must be put in their place,” Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said.

Some individuals had been incited from abroad, he said, accusing what he described as enemy-linked groups of positioning themselves behind merchants to chant slogans against the Islamic Republic.

“That some people, under various titles and names, come with the aim of destruction and creating insecurity, positioning themselves behind faithful, healthy and revolutionary merchants and exploiting their protests to cause unrest, is unacceptable.”

“We will not back down in the face of the enemy. Relying on God and with confidence in the support of the people, we will bring the enemy to its knees,” he added.

The Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations addressed Iran’s military, police and security forces in a statement, urging them not to turn against protesters.

“You come from the heart of this society. Standing against the people is standing against your own future and that of your children,” the council said. “Refrain from staining your hands with the blood of the people and be certain that history will not forget these moments.”

At least eight protesters have been killed during six days of demonstrations in Iran.

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian blamed nationwide protests on foreign actors, saying people were being incited from abroad to create insecurity, Iranian media reported on Saturday.

Authorities should not allow “enemies” to achieve their aims, Pezeshkian said at a meeting with the minister and senior officials at the Agriculture Ministry, adding that a task force should be formed to quickly address the problems of the merchants and bussinesses.