Sayyed Khamenei: Iran will not tolerate collaborators

The Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Sayyed Ali Khamenei, has condemned recent violent acts that resulted in widespread destruction in public property, warning against unrest driven by foreign agendas and calling on Iranians to preserve national unity.

Reaffirming Iran’s political and ideological steadfastness, Sayyed Khamenei said, “Everyone knows that Iran will not retreat one bit from its principles,” stressing that pressure, threats, or unrest would not force Tehran to abandon its core positions.

He added that “the Iranian people reject subservience and agents,” stressing that acts of violence are detached from the will of the broader population.

Addressing the violence directly, Iran’s leader stated that “a number of rioters are trying to please the US president by destroying public property,” accusing them of acting in line with external interests rather than domestic concerns.

In a pointed message to Washington, Sayyed Khamenei told US President Donald Trump to focus on the problems facing his own country instead of interfering in Iran’s internal affairs.

‘A horrific downfall’
Sayyed Khamenei also sharply criticized Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s ousted Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who plays a central role in instigating unrest and openly coordinating with the American and Israeli governments to undermine Iran’s stability, though he did not name him.

“This man who claims to be the father of the Iranian people will suffer a horrific downfall,” Sayyed Khamenei stated, underscoring that political deception and foreign-backed narratives would ultimately fail.

He concluded by emphasizing that “a united people will bring down the enemies,” urging Iranians to safeguard unity as the primary defense against external pressure and internal destabilization.

Tehran witnesses riots
Overnight, Iran witnessed riots in Tehran and several other cities, accompanied by incidents of vandalism and violence targeting both public and private property, according to Iranian state television. The riots come amid legitimate protests over deteriorating living conditions.

Iranian state media reported that multiple vehicles, including private cars and motorcycles, were set on fire, while public infrastructure, including metro stations, buses, and fire trucks, were also damaged during the disturbances.

The gatherings were “organized by terrorist elements supported by the United States and the Zionist entity,” and affiliated with monarchist and opposition groups, according to state media.

In some cities, Iranian authorities said that these elements engaged in acts of sabotage that resulted in both fatalities and injuries. The agency emphasized that public and private property had been deliberately damaged as part of an effort to incite chaos.
2 IRGC members killed confronting separatists west Iran
Earlier on Thursday, two members of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) were killed in confrontations with “separatist groups” in Kermanshah province, in western Iran, Tasnim News Agency reported.

The police chief of Lorestan province announced the arrest of seven individuals accused of inciting unrest, adding that firearms were seized in their possession. Tasnim said Iraq-based “separatist groups” have become involved operationally and on the ground in the ongoing unrest in Iran.

Two people were killed and at least 30 others injured after armed rioters opened fire on Iranian law enforcement officers in the city of Lordegan, located in Iran’s Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, Iranian media reported on Wednesday.

According to Fars News Agency, several rioters carrying firearms shot at police during the height of ongoing demonstrations. The report said that multiple administrative buildings were also damaged during the unrest.

Trump threatens Tehran amid protests
Amid the protests, Trump issued increasingly aggressive threats to Tehran. The US president publicly threatened intervention should Iranian authorities use lethal force in riots, writing that Washington is “locked and loaded” and “ready to go” to “rescue” what he described as peaceful protesters if they are killed by Iran’s security forces.

Trump’s statements, shared on Truth Social, framed his administration as closely monitoring the unrest and signaled that any policing of riots would prompt a direct US response. Iranian officials have condemned the remarks as reckless interference in Iran’s internal affairs. Tehran’s leadership has warned that foreign intervention would destabilize the region and jeopardize American interests, describing such moves as crossing a “red line” that could provoke serious consequences.

The backdrop to these exchanges includes protests triggered by economic grievances such as rising living costs, currency collapse, and fears of broader political repression, which have spread to numerous cities nationwide. While specific claims about planned US military action have not been confirmed, Trump’s rhetoric marks a sharp escalation in pressure on the Iranian government during one of the country’s most significant protest movements in recent years.