Khamenei warns America and praises pro-government rallies in Iran
In a new escalation of the official Iranian stance on current events, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei praised what he described as the "massive crowds" that turned out for government-sponsored demonstrations, considering them a strongly worded warning to the United States and Tehran's enemies. These statements come at a time of sharp polarization in the country between the official narrative and the anti-government protest movement.
Khamenei's messages to the West and domestic audiences
Iranian state television broadcast a statement from Khamenei in which he asserted that the Iranian people had demonstrated their strength and resolve in the face of what he called "the enemies' plots." The Supreme Leader stated, "This was a warning to American politicians to put an end to their deception and not to rely on treacherous mercenaries," a clear reference to the protesters whom Tehran accuses of receiving foreign support. Khamenei emphasized that these pro-government rallies had thwarted foreign conspiracies intended to be carried out through internal agents, affirming that the Islamic Republic would not back down an inch in the face of pressure.
Political context and diplomatic tension
These developments come within a recurring historical context of tension between Tehran and the West, with Iranian authorities consistently accusing external powers, particularly the United States and Israel, of orchestrating any internal unrest, viewing it as part of a “soft war” aimed at destabilizing the Islamic regime. Observers note that mobilizing for pro-government rallies is a traditional tactic employed by Tehran to project an image of popular support and legitimacy in the face of mounting international criticism regarding its human rights record.
Diplomatic crisis with Europe
On the diplomatic front, the crisis took an international turn after the Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned the ambassadors and chargés d'affaires of four major European countries: Germany, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom. This summons was intended to express Tehran's strong protest and regret over what it considered these countries' unjustified support for the anti-government demonstrators.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that the political and media support provided by these countries to the protesters constitutes “blatant interference in internal security affairs.” In a notable move to bolster its position, Iranian Foreign Ministry officials presented European diplomats with videos and photographs which they claimed documented organized acts of violence and vandalism perpetrated by the demonstrators, asserting that the events transcended the concept of peaceful protest and amounted to riots threatening national security.
Repercussions of the international situation
Tehran demanded that ambassadors convey these images and messages directly to their respective foreign ministers, urging them to retract official statements issued in support of the protests. This diplomatic tension reflects the deep rift between Iran and the European Union, which could cast a dark shadow over other outstanding issues, including nuclear negotiations and economic relations. The international community views the suppression of the protests as a violation of fundamental rights, while Tehran considers it a legitimate defense of sovereignty and stability.
