Khamenei Vows No Retreat, Greenlights Crackdown on Protests

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in a Jan. 9, 2026 speech broadcast from Qom, said the Islamic Republic would not retreat and effectively authorized lethal force against protesters, portraying the movement as foreign-backed and invoking the regime’s founding bloodline. The speech coincided with a nationwide internet blackout and a surge in casualties; the regime acknowledged about 5,000 deaths, while opposition sources claimed far higher totals. On Jan. 13, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Mousavi called protesters “ISIS terrorists” and vowed harsh measures, with judiciary officials pushing swift trials and punishments. State messaging framed unrest as a foreign conspiracy and intensified anti-American rhetoric, including a post on X contrasting Trump with tyrants while the crackdown continued.