TEHRAN JAN 11: President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the United States and Israel of orchestrating riots to destabilize Iran, urging citizens to reject “rioters and terrorists” while pledging to address public grievances. Speaking on state television, he balanced acknowledgment of economic frustrations with a firm stance against violence that could destroy society, as protests entered their third week.
Rights groups reported at least 192 protester deaths since late December, with over 2,600 arrests amid clashes in Tehran and Mashhad involving burning vehicles and gunfire. A 60-hour internet shutdown has hindered information flow, fueling fears of a broader massacre, while parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned US and Israeli targets would be legitimate if attacked.
Sparked by the rial’s collapse to over 1.4 million per USD due to sanctions and mismanagement, the unrest has evolved into a sustained threat to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s rule. President Trump voiced support for demonstrators, declaring US readiness to help, as exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi called for reclaiming public spaces with pre-1979 symbols.
