Iran’s supreme leader on Friday lashed out at anti-government protesters, saying they were “vandals” acting on behalf of U.S. President Donald Trump by destroying public properties.
In a broadcast on national television, reported by Reuters, Ali Khamenei warned Tehran would not tolerate “mercenaries for foreigners.”
“The Islamic Republic came to power through the blood of hundreds of thousands of honourable people. It will not back down in the face of vandals,” Khamenei said.
His comments came as the country of 92 million found itself largely cut off from the world on Friday, with authorities seeking to quell the sprawling protests by blacking out the internet.
The demonstrations, which began in Tehran’s bazaar on Dec. 28, have been fueled by growing frustrations over a long-running economic crisis, particularly the government’s handling of a sharp fall in the nation’s currency and soaring prices.
