Amid nationwide protests in Iran, US President Donald Trump threatened military intervention, after which Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei seems to be in a defiant mood. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, while addressing a conference of foreign ambassadors in Tehran on Monday (January 12, 2026), said that the Islamic Republic of Iran does not want war, but is fully prepared for war. He said that Iran is ready for talks with America.

Iran ready for talks: Abbas Araghchi

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday (11 December 2025) that the leadership of Iran wants to talk with his administration. Trump has repeatedly threatened military intervention if Tehran kills protesters. Hundreds of people have been killed in the protests that started two weeks ago against rising inflation in the country. Abbas Araghchi said, ‘We are also ready for talks, but these talks should be fair, in which everyone has equal rights and is based on mutual respect.’

Trump looking for an excuse to intervene in Iran: Araghchi

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that the situation has come under complete control after the crackdown on nationwide protests. He said that the protests in his country turned violent so that Trump could get an excuse to intervene. Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Bagai said that the channel of communication is open between our Foreign Minister and the special envoy of the President of the United States.

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in his address to the nation that Trump will also fall. He said, ‘Trump should keep in mind that dictators like Pharaoh, Nimrud, Raza Shah and Mohammad Raza dictator were toppled at the peak of their arrogance. He (Trump) will also fall.

Government supporters demonstrated strength in Iran

After nationwide protests, thousands of supporters of the government in Iran took to the streets and demonstrated their strength. The Speaker of Iran’s Parliament warned that if America attacks Iran over these demonstrations, the US Army and Israel will be its target. Even after more than 84 hours, internet service is still closed in Iran and people are not able to contact each other even on the phone.

The movement that started against inflation in Iran is now challenging the power of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This movement is becoming more violent every day, which has spread to 111 cities and towns in 31 provinces of the country. According to human rights activists, the death toll in this protest has increased to at least 62 and about 2,300 arrests have been made. After the protests against him, the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei came forward and criticized the protesters.

Khamenei vowed not to back down

Khamenei accused the protesters of destroying their own streets to please the president of another country. On Friday, authorities shut down internet services to curb the unrest, while videos showed buildings and vehicles being set on fire in anti-government protests on the streets of several cities, Reuters reported. In a televised address, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed no retreat, and accused protesters of working on behalf of the expatriate opposition group and the United States.

Slogans of Azadi-Azadi on the streets of Iran

Iran’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi had called for demonstrations on Thursday (8 January 2026) and Friday (9 January 2026) at 8 pm local time. Protests gained momentum in Iran on the night of January 8, due to which the Iranian government led by President Masoud Pezeshkian shut down internet and international telephone call services in the country. The heads of the country’s judiciary and security forces warned of strict action amid people’s slogans of ‘Azadi-Azadi’. Some human rights groups reported police firing on protesters in the south.

Trump will also fall: Khamenei

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in his address to the nation that Trump will also fall. He said, Trump should keep in mind that dictators like Pharaoh, Nimrud, Raza Shah and Mohammad Raza dictator were toppled at the peak of their arrogance. He (Trump) will also fall. He said, ‘Everyone should be made to understand that we came to power after lakhs of sacrifices. We will not bow down to mercenaries.

Reza Pahlavi asked for help from Iran

Reza Pahlavi has sought help from US President Donald Trump amid protests in Iran. Posting on social media platform X, he said, ‘Saw millions of brave Iranians facing bullets in the streets. Today they are not only facing bullets, but the communication system is completely at a standstill. No internet, no landline. Mr. President, please be prepared to intervene to help the people of Iran.

‘Khamenei is doing cruelty to the people on the streets’

Reza Pahlavi said, ‘Ali Khamenei is afraid of the end of his criminal rule at the hands of the people and that is why he is brutalizing the people on the streets. He wants to use this communication system to assassinate these young heroes. I have called on the people to take to the streets to fight for their freedom and overwhelm the security forces by overwhelming them. He did the same last night. Your threat to this criminal regime has stopped even the goons of the regime, but time is very short. People will take to the streets again in an hour. I am requesting your help.

The movement that started against inflation in Iran has now turned into a demonstration challenging the power of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The protesters are raising slogans of handing over the power of the country to Iran’s opposition leader and exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi. Iran’s state TV gave information about the protests for the first time and claimed that ‘terrorist agents’ of America and Israel spoiled the atmosphere. Addressing the nation, Khamenei said that some rioters wanted to please US President Donald Trump.

Will not tolerate mercenaries: Khamenei
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei asked protesters to focus on their country’s problems. He warned that Tehran would not tolerate people working as mercenaries for foreigners. He accused the protesters of ‘causing havoc in their own country to please a foreign leader, especially US President Donald Trump.’ According to the report of news agency Associated Press, when Khamenei was saying these things, the crowd raised slogans of Down with America.

Trump’s hands are stained with the blood of thousands of Iranians: Khamenei

Khamenei said, ‘Everyone should be made to understand that we came to power after millions of sacrifices and are not going to bow down so easily. There are many problems within the United States. If he knew how to run a country, he would have run his own country. During this, Khamenei also mentioned the American attack on Iran’s nuclear plants in June 2025. He said, ‘American President Trump’s hands are stained with the blood of thousands of Iranians. Youth of Iran, maintain unity and readiness. A united nation can win over any enemy.

Raza Pahlavi called for demonstration

Reza Pahlavi told the people of Iran in a social media post, ‘The eyes of the whole world are on you. Take to the streets. Iran’s state television showed fires in metro stations and banks and burning buses and cars. Television accused the People’s Mujahideen Organization (MKO), an opposition group that broke away after the 1979 Islamic revolution, of being behind the unrest.

Internet and telephone lines were cut in the country on Thursday (8 January 2026) night after protesters joined protests in Tehran and other parts of the country on the call of Iran’s exiled Prince. Internet company ‘Cloudflare’ and another company ‘Netblox’ reported the loss of internet connectivity and both claimed the interference of the Iranian government for this.

Protests in Iran have spread to 111 cities and towns in all 31 provinces. According to reports, at least 34 protesters and 4 security personnel have been killed so far. 2,200 protesters have been arrested.