Iranian President slams U.S., Israel as protests continue
INTERNATIONAL – USA
12 JANUARY 2026
- In his first remarks after three nights of intensified protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said “rioters” should not be allowed to disrupt society.
- Protests in Iran initially sparked by anger over the rising cost of living have lasted two weeks now.
- The President’s statement came as warnings grew that authorities were committing a “massacre” to quell the demonstrations.
- Mr. Pezeshkian said “protesting is the people’s right”, but echoed authorities in drawing a line between outcry over Iran’s dire economy and “rioters”.
- Large crowds have gathered across the country in recent days, chanting anti-government slogans despite an Internet blackout that rights groups say is being used to obscure a deadly crackdown by security forces.
- Mr. Pezeshkian accused the United States and Israel of “trying to escalate this unrest with regard to the economic discussion and solutions we are working on”.
- Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf warned that the United States military and Israel would be “legitimate targets” if the U.S. strikes the Islamic Republic over the ongoing protests roiling the country, as threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump.
