Iran's Supreme Leader Slams Protesters as 'Vandals' Amid Deadly Crackdown

Supreme Leader's Response to Protests

• 💥 Iran's Supreme Leader has addressed the ongoing protests, labeling demonstrators as "vandals" and "saboteurs".
• 🗣️ This marks his first public response to the new wave of deadly protests spreading across the country.

Nature of the Protests

• 📈 Similar to protests in 2017 and 2019, these began with economic grievances before quickly becoming politicized.
• 📉 The regime is employing internet shutdowns to hinder protester mobilization and resorting to repression.
• 🚨 Security forces have escalated from tear gas to arrests, detentions, beatings, and killings of protesters.

Regime's Legitimacy and Strategy

• 📉 The Iranian regime has faced a major legitimacy crisis with nationwide protests occurring every two to three years since 2017.
• 🤥 The Supreme Leader is associating protesters with foreign agents to delegitimize them and encourage a harsher crackdown.

International Reaction and Division

• 🇺🇸 The US President has previously threatened intervention if Iran cracks down on protesters, to which Iran has responded by telling the US to focus on its own domestic issues.
• 🌍 There is division among Iranians both inside and outside the country regarding potential US intervention.
• ⚠️ Some Iranians desire US intervention to overthrow the regime, while others are concerned due to the potential for significant civilian casualties, as seen in past interventions.