Defiant Khamenei vows Iran won’t bow to ‘saboteurs’ after 12 days of protests culminate in massive demonstration in Tehran

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei sounded a defiant note in a speech on Friday morning, after 12 days of growing protests across the country culminated in a large demonstration in the capital Tehran and numerous smaller protests across the country, following a call to action by Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi.

“Last night in Tehran, a bunch of vandals and rioters came and destroyed a building that belonged to the state, to the people themselves, just to please the heart of the president of the United States,” Khamenei said in a speech broadcast on state TV.

“Iranians must maintain their unity... Iran will not tolerate mercenaries working in the interests of foreigners,” he said, vowing the regime would not back down to “saboteurs.”

Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei: “Last night in Tehran, a bunch of rioters destroyed a public building just to please the President of the United States. Iranians must maintain their unity. Let everyone know that the Islamic Republic came to power with the blood of hundreds of… pic.twitter.com/RXWbaSZ7tb
— Ariel Oseran أريئل أوسيران (@ariel_oseran) January 9, 2026

Despite the defiant tone of the Supreme Leader, explicit threats from the regime and a broad shutdown of the internet along with phone lines across the country on Thursday evening, tens of thousands of Iranians followed Pahlavi’s call to mark the largest night of protests so far.

Over a dozen witnesses told The New York Times (NYT) via telephone that large and diverse crowds marched in Tehran and in Khamenei’s hometown, Mashhad, as well as Bushehr, Shiraz and Isfahan.

Israeli Iran expert Tamar Eilam Gindin told Kan News that residents of the northwestern city of Tabriz, who are mainly members of the nation's Azeri community, joined the protests for the first time on Thursday after previously only participating in work strikes.

Surreal scenes in Tehran, #Iran tonight. Police equipment is in flames. And the Iranian people want to take their country back. pic.twitter.com/QDRGWCk2AI
— Jason Brodsky (@JasonMBrodsky) January 8, 2026

Witnesses told the NYT that crowds once again were chanting “Death to Khamenei,” as well as “Freedom.” Over the past few days, videos showed the crowds shouting “Javid Shah” (Long Live the Shah) and other slogans, indicating that Pahlavi is the most popular opposition leader in the country.

Due to the internet shutdown, video footage and reports about Thursday’s protest have been slow to emerge, including the possible death toll resulting from the nighttime crackdown.

The NYT verified footage showing people fleeing amid the sound of gunshots in Karaj, near Tehran.

Security forces fired tear gas at protesters on Thursday night on Nabard Street in the Pirouzi neighborhood of Tehran, according to videos received by Iran International.pic.twitter.com/LO27GJIRb4
— Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) January 9, 2026

The NYT also verified several videos showing government buildings on fire across the country, which Khamenei referred to in his speech. According to the report, demonstrators set fire to cars, buildings and items in the street, marking a further escalation of violence and, possibly, a new phase of violent confrontations with regime forces.

Unconfirmed reports from several cities in recent days suggest that security forces have been overwhelmed by protesters and were forced to retreat.

On Thursday, the largest oil trade union in Kangan, a port city on the Persian Gulf, said its members declared strikes at two refineries after a number of workers were shot and critically wounded by security forces in recent days.

A building of the Islamic Republic's state broadcaster (IRIB) in Isfahan, central Iran, was set on fire on Thursday evening, according to videos circulating on social media. pic.twitter.com/xQKuY8woN8
— Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) January 8, 2026

Despite the mounting death toll, which now stands at least at 45 but is likely higher, the regime’s crackdown so far is still less intense than in past uprisings. During the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests, some 550 people were killed and tens of thousands arrested.

According to Gindin, the regime lacks the forces that were previously provided by its proxy militias across the region, like Hezbollah and Syrian groups, after they were crippled by Israeli military operations in past years.

However, she noted that the footage showed forces from Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces – which have not been targeted by Israeli strikes – taking part in the crackdown.

On Thursday, Amnesty International reported that it had documented at least 28 protesters killed in recent days, while other human rights groups, including Washington-based HRANA, Iran Human Rights (IHR) based in Norway and the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, agreed that the number of civilians killed stands at a minimum of 40 and includes several children.

Confirming the slow escalation of the crackdown, IHR said that Wednesday had been the bloodiest day so far, with 13 protesters confirmed killed. Hundreds more have been wounded, and approximately 2,000 people have been arrested.

به تک‌تک شما که پنج‌شنبه‌شب (١٨ دی)، خیابان‌های سرتاسر ایران را تسخیر کردید، افتخار می‌کنم. دیدید که جمعیت انبوه، باعث عقب‌نشینی نیروهای سرکوب می‌شود. آنهایی که تردید داشتید، جمعه‌شب (١٩ دی-ساعت ٨) به دیگر هم‌میهنان بپیوندید، و جمعیت را بیشتر کنید تا توان سرکوب رژیم از این هم… pic.twitter.com/ZOiCiH4rng
— Reza Pahlavi (@PahlaviReza) January 9, 2026

Early Friday morning, Pahlavi, whose father was deposed by the Islamic Revolution in 1979, said he was “proud” of the protesters and renewed his call to take to the streets again on Friday evening as well.

"You saw how a massive crowd forces the repressive forces to retreat. Those of you who were hesitant, join your fellow compatriots on Friday night (19 Dey - 8 PM), and make the crowd even larger so that the regime's repressive power becomes even weaker. I also invite field leaders to try to connect different crowd routes to each other and make them bigger,” Pahlavi said in a video published on 𝕏.

“I know that despite the internet and communication cuts, you will not abandon the streets. Be assured that victory belongs to you!”