Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that Iran “will not yield to the enemy” in response to US President Donald Trump’s remarks to come to the aid of Iran’s protests if they were fired upon. Khamenei also acknowledged the economic grievances driving the demonstrations while also warning against the “rioters.”In response to Trump, Khamenei said, “God willing and by divine grace, we will bring the enemy to its knees.” This comes after Trump on Friday, in a post on Truth Social, said, “If Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue.”In a speech marking the Shiite holiday, Khamenei recognized the economic demands of the protesters, saying, “The president and high-ranking officials are working to resolve.” “The shopkeepers have protested against this situation, and that is completely fair,” he added.However, he also drew a sharp distinction between peaceful protest and unrest, warning that “rioters must be put in their place.”Protests erupted last Sunday over rising prices and economic stagnation in the sanctions-hit country and have since become violent, spreading to more than two dozen cities. According to an AFP tally based on local media, at least 25 cities have seen protest gatherings of varying sizes, though coverage remains limited and many social media videos cannot be independently verified.Official figures say at least eight people have been killed in the unrest so far, including members of the security forces. The first deaths were reported on Thursday following clashes between demonstrators and authorities.On Saturday, the Mehr news agency, quoting the Revolutionary Guards, reported that Ali Azizi, a member of the Basij paramilitary force, was killed in the western city of Harsin “after being stabbed and shot during a gathering of armed rioters.”Separately, Tasnim news agency reported that a man was killed in the holy city of Qom when a grenade he was attempting to use exploded “in his hands.”While the demonstrations began over economic hardships, they have increasingly taken on political overtones, with some protesters chanting slogans against the ruling establishment.
