January 3, 2026 | Tehran / Dubai — Dalena Reporters
DUBAI — Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, delivered a forceful message of defiance on Saturday, January 3, 2026, affirming that the Islamic Republic will “not yield to the enemy” amid rising domestic protests and mounting pressure from the United States. Khamenei’s address, broadcast nationally, came as demonstrators across the country demand economic relief and political change, and as U.S. President **Donald Trump warned of possible intervention on behalf of Iranian protesters.
The unrest ignited late last month by soaring inflation, the collapse of the Iranian rial, and deepening hardship under international sanctions has spread to dozens of cities and towns. Rights groups report that at least ten people have been killed and scores arrested in clashes with security forces, highlighting the severity of the largest street protests Iran has faced since the 2022 nationwide uprising over human rights abuses.
In his televised address, Khamenei struck a dual tone: acknowledging some economic grievances, particularly those of market traders, while sharply condemning demonstrators he labelled “rioters.” He emphasised that while legitimate protests over economic distress would be met with dialogue, hard-liners and violent actors should be “put in their place,” signalling a readiness for stronger internal security measures.
The Supreme Leader’s remarks implicitly rejected U.S. entreaties and threats. Trump, speaking earlier in the week, stated that the United States was “locked and loaded and ready to go” if Iran responded with excessive force against peaceful demonstrators. The specifics of any potential U.S. action were not elaborated, but the rhetoric marked an escalation in Washington’s posture toward Tehran amid global concerns about human rights and regional stability.
Regional and international analysts note that the protests reflect a confluence of long-standing economic frustrations and political disenchantment. Iran’s sanctions-crippled economy has exacerbated hardships, with shortages of water, electricity, and essential goods fuelling public anger. Although not as large as the 2022 uprising following the death of Mahsa Amini, the current demonstrations pose a significant challenge to the Iranian leadership’s efforts to maintain order.
Khamenei’s hardline posture underscores Tehran’s rejection of perceived external interference, even as domestic discontent grows. His comments followed reports that rights groups have documented significant rises in arrests and that state media acknowledged a small number of deaths in protests figures likely to understate the full scale of unrest.
Global reactions to the unrest and rhetoric from Washington have been mixed, with some U.S. allies urging restraint and adherence to international law while others condemned threats of military action. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, for example, emphasised that the United Kingdom was not involved in U.S. operations and stressed the importance of upholding international norms in responding to the crisis.
As Iran navigates this deepening internal crisis, observers warn that the leadership’s refusal to yield, combined with mounting economic pressures and external diplomatic threats, could prolong instability with implications that extend beyond Iran’s borders into the broader Middle East and international diplomatic relations.