Iran's Khamenei Addresses Nationwide Anti-Regime Protests Amid Escalating Unrest
At least 10 people have been killed amid widespread anti-regime protests across Iran, spanning more than 100 locations in 22 of the country's 31 provinces. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei delivered his first public speech in seven days, acknowledging that protests are legitimate but labeling some participants as rioters and mercenaries. He urged officials to engage protesters while working to quell those deemed as rioters.
Security forces opened fire on protesters in multiple cities. The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) reported that 30 protesters were shot in Malekshahi, located in Ilam province, and are currently in critical condition. In Kazerun's Shohada Square, security forces fired live ammunition, while in Shiraz's Golshan district, demonstrators set tires on fire.
University students have also joined the protests, with participants from Shahrood University of Technology and Allameh University Hemmat dormitory in Tehran chanting anti-regime slogans. NCRI leader Maryam Rajavi declared that all 80 million Iranians are enemies of the regime and called for its removal, advocating for the establishment of democracy and popular sovereignty.
Reza Pahlavi urged Iranians on social media platform X to join the people in severing ties with the regime, signaling the potential for its toppling. Former President Donald Trump expressed solidarity with the protesters via social media, implying that the United States would intervene if the protests were violently suppressed.
