On Friday, January 9, 2026, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei addressed the nation, calling for unity as widespread protests grip the country.
In a televised speech, Khamenei warned that some demonstrators were 'ruining their own streets to make the president of another country happy,' directly targeting U.S. President Donald Trump 🗣️.
He urged Iranians to stand together against what he called 'saboteurs' and insisted that Iran 'will not back down' in the face of foreign pressure. He also predicted that the 'arrogant' U.S. leader would be 'overthrown.'
The protests began in late December 2025, sparked by a sharp fall in the rial and growing economic hardships. Clashes between police and protesters have sometimes turned deadly, and local media report a heavy security presence in several cities 🛑.
Since Thursday, the government has imposed a widespread internet blackout, disrupting communications and social media. At the same time, airlines from Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates have canceled flights to and from Iran, adding to the country's isolation ✈️.
Whether the unrest will ease or escalate remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Iran's young people are watching closely as the nation navigates this tense moment.
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Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei urges unity, slams U.S. in address
cgtn.com
