Iran's leader says rioters 'must be put in their place' as protest death toll rises to at least 10
PBS••nation
Key Points:
- Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned the ongoing protests, labeling demonstrators as "rioters" who must be suppressed, signaling a likely harsh crackdown by security forces amid at least 10 deaths linked to the unrest.
- The protests, driven by economic hardship and widespread discontent, are the largest since 2022 but have not yet reached the scale of those triggered by Mahsa Amini's death; Khamenei blamed foreign enemies like the U.S. and Israel for inciting unrest without providing evidence.
- U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran against violently suppressing peaceful protesters and threatened intervention, prompting Iranian officials to threaten U.S. troops in response; this comes amid heightened tensions following the U.S. capture
