DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran signaled on Friday that it is preparing to forcibly suppress nationwide protests, directly challenging U.S. President Donald Trump’s pledge to support peaceful demonstrators. The warning came as the reported death toll climbed to at least 50 people.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei sharply dismissed Trump’s statements, accusing him of having hands “stained with the blood of Iranians.” Speaking to supporters at his compound in Tehran, chants of “Death to America!” rang out, according to footage aired on Iranian state television.
State media later repeatedly described demonstrators as “terrorists,” a narrative that observers say sets the stage for a violent crackdown similar to those that followed previous nationwide protests.
“They are ruining their own streets in order to please the president of the United States,” Khamenei said. “Because he said he would come to their aid. He should pay attention to the state of his own country instead.”
Separately, Iran’s judiciary chief, Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, warned that punishment for protesters would be “decisive, maximum and without any legal leniency.”
There was no immediate response from Washington. However, Trump has repeatedly warned that the United States would strike Iran if peaceful protesters are killed — a threat that has taken on added weight following a recent U.S. military raid that captured Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro.
Despite Iran cutting off the country from the internet and international phone calls, activists continued to circulate short videos online. The footage purportedly shows protesters chanting against the government around bonfires, with debris scattered across streets in Tehran and other cities.
Iranian state media alleged that the violence and arson were carried out by “terrorist agents” of the United States and Israel. It acknowledged that there were “casualties,” but provided no details.
The full scale of the demonstrations remains unclear due to the communications blackout. Nevertheless, the unrest marks a significant escalation of protests that began over Iran’s worsening economic conditions and have since evolved into the most serious challenge to the government in several years. The protests have intensified steadily since December 28.
The demonstrations have also become the first real test of the influence of Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last shah, who fled the country just before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Pahlavi called for protests on Thursday night and again urged people to take to the streets at 8 p.m. on Friday.
Protesters have chanted slogans in support of the shah — expressions that in the past could have carried the death penalty. These chants underscore the depth of anger driving protests that initially erupted over Iran’s collapsing economy.
According to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 50 people have been killed in protest-related violence, and more than 2,270 others have been detained.
“What turned the tide of the protests was former Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi’s calls for Iranians to take to the streets at 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday,” said Holly Dagres, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. She noted that social media posts showed Iranians responding seriously to his call to challenge the Islamic Republic.
“This is exactly why the internet was shut down — to prevent the world from seeing the protests,” Dagres said. “Unfortunately, it also likely provided cover for security forces to kill protesters.”
When the clock struck 8 p.m. on Thursday, neighborhoods across Tehran erupted in chants of “Death to the dictator!” and “Death to the Islamic Republic!” Others praised the shah, shouting, “This is the last battle! Pahlavi will return!” Thousands were reportedly on the streets before all communications were cut.
“Iranians demanded their freedom tonight. In response, the regime in Iran has cut all lines of communication,” Pahlavi said. He added that the government shut down the internet, cut landlines, and may have attempted to jam satellite signals.
Pahlavi also called on European leaders to join Trump in pledging to hold Iran’s leadership accountable. He urged them to use all technical, financial, and diplomatic resources available to restore communication so the voices of Iranians could be heard.
His past support for and from Israel has drawn criticism, particularly following the 12-day war Israel waged against Iran in June. While demonstrators have voiced support for the shah, it remains unclear whether this reflects backing for Pahlavi himself or a broader desire to return to the pre-1979 era.
The internet shutdown also appears to have taken Iran’s state-run and semi-official news agencies offline. State television’s acknowledgment of the protests on Friday morning marked the first official confirmation from authorities.
State TV claimed the protests were violent and caused casualties, reporting that private cars, motorcycles, metro stations, fire trucks, and buses were set ablaze. Later, it said six people were killed overnight in the city of Hamedan, about 280 kilometers (175 miles) southwest of Tehran.
The European Union and Germany condemned the violence against demonstrators.
Iran has faced repeated waves of nationwide protests in recent years. As sanctions tightened and the country struggled in the aftermath of the 12-day war, the Iranian rial collapsed in December to around 1.4 million to the U.S. dollar, triggering fresh unrest.
It remains unclear why Iranian authorities have not yet moved to suppress the protests more forcefully. Trump warned last week that if Tehran “violently kills peaceful protesters,” the United States “will come to their rescue.”
In an interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt, Trump reiterated that warning, saying Iran had been told “very strongly” that it would face severe consequences. He declined to say whether he would meet with Pahlavi.
Speaking separately to Fox News host Sean Hannity, Trump went further, suggesting that the 86-year-old supreme leader may be preparing to flee the country.
“He’s looking to go someplace,” Trump said. “It’s getting very bad.”