Pezeshkian's harsh words for protesters: 'Provocateurs'

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian made significant assessments regarding the recent increase in protests during a speech broadcast on state television. Pezeshkian claimed that the background of the actions involved agitation efforts by the country's enemies, stating that not everyone who took to the streets represented the public, and that some groups were intentionally seeking chaos.

Pezeshkian said, “The enemy has brought trained terrorists into the country. Those who cause chaos and rebel are not the protesting public. We hear the voices of the protesters and are putting all our efforts into solving their problems.”

Arguing that the United States and Israel were giving directives to escalate the demonstrations, Pezeshkian stated: “The US and Israel are instructing them, ‘Create chaos, kill, and we will follow you.’ And they (the protesters) are doing it. I ask families to keep their children away from those who cause subversion.”

Stating that they are taking serious steps toward improvement in the economic field as well, Pezeshkian expressed that the results of these changes would be felt soon. “Our duty is to solve the people's problems and alleviate their concerns. At the same time, it is not to allow those who cause chaos to turn the country upside down,” he assessed.

Additionally, according to data shared by the Tasnim News Agency, it was reported that the number of security personnel who lost their lives in the recent demonstrations has risen to 111.

BACKGROUND OF THE EVENTS

On December 28, 2025, merchants at the Grand Bazaar of Tehran went on strike in response to the rapid devaluation of Iran's official currency against foreign exchange and the worsening economic conditions. Following this step, protest demonstrations began to be seen in many parts of the country in a short time.

While no clear statement has been made by official authorities regarding the number of dead and injured due to the demonstrations so far, a report published by the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) stated that on the 14th day of the protests, a total of 116 people (37 security personnel, 4 health workers) had lost their lives, and more than 2,600 people had been injured. The same report noted that the number of people detained was 2,638.

It was announced that during the escalating events in Tehran on January 8, some groups among the protesters set fire to and damaged various public buildings, including numerous buses, ambulances, 24 houses, 25 mosques, 2 hospitals, and 26 banks.