On Tuesday, Iran’s supreme leader accused the country’s enemies of fomenting unrest, as anti-government demonstrations continued for a sixth day and spread to the northwestern city of Tabriz. At least 20 people have been killed in the clashes so far—the largest protests in Iran since 2009. This is Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei: “The enemy is poised for an opportunity, a breach to penetrate through. Look at the incidents in the past few days! All those who are against the Islamic Republic of Iran, those with cash, politics, weapons and intelligence apparatus, join hands so they may be able to create troubles for Iran, for the Islamic Republic.”
The protests are largely targeting Iran’s high unemployment, housing costs and wealth inequality. They’re focused on both hardline clerics and reformers. Newly surfaced video from a New Year’s Day protest in Tehran shows protesters chanting, “Down with the clerical regime.”