Iranian Supreme Leader blames U.S., Israel for protests across country


Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blamed the U.S. and Israel for ongoing protests in his country, breaking weeks of silence on Monday to comment on the greatest public opposition to his regime in years.
Protests across Iran broke out following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody after allegedly going out in public without a headscarf. While the Iranian police have denied responsibility, Amini's father told BBC News that he blamed them for her death.
Khamenei's comments came during a speech in which he said the unrest in the country "was planned," according to Axios. While Khamenei did express his sympathy for Amini's death, he added, "These riots and insecurities were designed by America and the Zionist regime, and their employees."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Their main problem is with a strong and independent Iran and the progress of the country," the supreme leader claimed. "They made the streets unsafe, burned Qurans, removed hijab from veiled women's heads, set fire to mosques and people's cars."
"If it wasn't for this young girl, [the U.S. and Israel] would have created another excuse to create insecurity and riots in the country," he said.
Khamenei went on to defend the actions of the Iranian police against the protesters, who have been seen cracking down on dissenters, often violently. Sources at the Sharif University of Technology told The Associated Press that police had even trapped students on campus while deploying tear gas.
At least 83 protesters have already been killed, according to Reuters.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.
-
The last words and final moments of 40 presidents
The Explainer Some are eloquent quotes worthy of the holders of the highest office in the nation, and others... aren't
-
Senate advances GOP bill that costs more, cuts more
Speed Read The bill would make giant cuts to Medicaid and food stamps, leaving 11.8 million fewer people with health coverage
-
Trump's strikes on Iran: a 'spectacular success'?
In Depth Military humiliations 'expose the brittleness' of Tehran's ageing regime, but risk reinforcing its commitment to its nuclear program
-
Canadian man dies in ICE custody
Speed Read A Canadian citizen with permanent US residency died at a federal detention center in Miami
-
GOP races to revise megabill after Senate rulings
Speed Read A Senate parliamentarian ruled that several changes to Medicaid included in Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" were not permissible
-
Supreme Court lets states ax Planned Parenthood funds
Speed Read The court ruled that Planned Parenthood cannot sue South Carolina over the state's effort to deny it funding
-
Trump plans Iran talks, insists nuke threat gone
Speed Read 'The war is done' and 'we destroyed the nuclear,' said President Trump
-
Trump embraces NATO after budget vow, charm offensive
Speed Read The president reversed course on his longstanding skepticism of the trans-Atlantic military alliance