Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has slammed anti-government protesters, accusing them of acting to “please” United States President Donald Trump, as demonstrations continued for a 13th day.
Khamenei, who holds ultimate authority in the country, dismissed the demonstrators as “a bunch of vandals” after they took to the streets following the collapse of the Iranian currency.
The protests, which began in Tehran on 28 December, have since spread to other cities.
Speaking to supporters on Friday, Khamenei dismissed demonstrators as a “bunch of vandals” seeking to “please” US President Donald Trump.
In a video address broadcast on national TV, Khamenei said:
“A bunch of vandals came out in Tehran and other places and destroyed buildings belonging to their own country just to please the president of the US.
“That’s because he made the absurd claim that he supports you rioters and people who are harmful to the country. If he’s capable, he should run his own country.”
The Iranian leader, who has been in power since 1989, added that Trump’s hands “are stained with blood of more than a thousand Iranian martyred during the 12-day war [with Israel]”.
“A group of inexperienced and careless people believe him and act according to his wishes. They set fire to rubbish bins to please him,” he added.
“Let everyone know that the Islamic Republic came to power through the blood of several hundred thousand honourable people and it will not back down in the face of those who deny this,” he insisted.(BBC)
