Iran’s Leader Says Violence and Riots Will Not Be Tolerated
In his first public remarks following three consecutive nights of intensified protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated on Sunday that “rioters” will not be allowed to disrupt society. His comments, made in an interview with state television, sought to define a clear boundary between legitimate public grievance and what authorities describe as foreign-instigated chaos.
“Protesting is the people’s right,” President Pezeshkian told IRIB, acknowledging the widespread economic hardship fueling public anger. However, he sharply distinguished this from the actions of “rioters,” whom he accused of being backed by the United States and Israel. “The people should not allow rioters to disrupt society,” he urged. “The people should believe that we want to establish justice.”
The president called for national unity, asking Iranians to “come together and not let these people riot.” He framed the government’s role as one of listening, with a crucial caveat: “If people have a concern, we will hear them. It is our duty to hear them and solve their problems. However, our highest duty is not to allow rioters to come and disrupt society.”
Pezeshkian placed the blame for the escalation squarely on external powers. “They have taken some people here inside and abroad and trained them. They brought terrorists in from abroad into the country,” he claimed, specifically referring to individuals accused of setting a mosque on fire, whom he called “not human.” State media has broadcast images of damaged buildings, including a burning mosque, and reported casualties among security forces.
The remarks come amid a familiar pattern of rhetoric from Iranian officials during periods of domestic unrest, attributing internal dissent to foreign conspiracy. They also follow direct comments from international leaders. U.S. President Donald Trump stated his country “stands ready to help” demonstrators and threatened new military action if Iranian authorities “start killing people.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed hope that Iran would soon be freed from what he termed the “yoke of tyranny.”
President Pezeshkian’s statement highlights the tense and precarious situation within Iran, where profound economic discontent meets a government determined to control the narrative and suppress what it labels as violent insurrection. The path forward appears to hinge on this contested line between the people’s right to protest and the state’s uncompromising definition of riot and treason.
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