Iran’s supreme leader accuses foreign powers of fomenting unrest, threatens broader conflict if Washington strikes, as tensions rise following deadly protests and new military deployments.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Iran’s supreme leader on Sunday described recent nationwide anti-government protests as a “coup,” warning that any military attack by the United States would trigger a wider regional war amid escalating tensions following Washington’s increased military presence in the Middle East.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the demonstrations, which erupted over economic hardship before expanding into a broad challenge to the government, were orchestrated by foreign enemies and forcibly suppressed by Iranian authorities. He cautioned that U.S. military action would not be limited in scope.
“The Americans should know that if they start a war, this time it will be a regional war,” Khamenei said, urging Iranians “not to be scared” by rhetoric from Donald Trump, who has threatened intervention following Iran’s response to the unrest.
The protests began as public anger over the rising cost of living but evolved into sustained demonstrations across multiple cities. Iranian leaders have consistently labeled the unrest as “riots” instigated by the United States and Israel. Khamenei said protesters attacked police, government buildings, facilities belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, banks and mosques, and burned copies of the Koran. “It was like a coup,” he said, adding that “the coup was suppressed.”
Iranian authorities have acknowledged more than 3,000 deaths during the protests but maintain that most of those killed were security personnel or bystanders, attributing the violence to what they describe as terrorist acts. Human rights groups and foreign governments have accused Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of carrying out a sweeping crackdown that killed thousands of demonstrators.
The response to the protests prompted the European Union to designate the Guards as a terrorist organization. Iranian lawmakers retaliated on Sunday by passing legislation labeling European armies as terrorist groups. During a parliamentary session, lawmakers wore green IRGC uniforms and chanted slogans including “Death to America,” “Death to Israel,” and “Shame on you, Europe,” according to state television footage.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf criticized the EU’s move as “irresponsible,” saying that under Iranian law, European militaries would now be treated as terrorist entities. He said the decision would accelerate what he described as Europe’s decline in global relevance, while strengthening domestic support for the Guards. The immediate practical impact of the designation remained unclear.
Sunday’s parliamentary session coincided with the 47th anniversary of the return from exile of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic. The Guards, established after the 1979 revolution, serve as an ideological arm of Iran’s military and are tasked with protecting the state from internal and external threats.
The EU’s decision mirrored earlier designations of the IRGC by the United States, Canada and Australia. Iran previously enacted similar countermeasures in 2019 after Washington classified the Guards as a terrorist organization.
The latest developments come as Iran and the United States exchange warnings while signaling possible openness to negotiations. Ahmad Vahidi, an IRGC official, was quoted by Iranian media as saying Iran’s adversaries were attempting to create a “war atmosphere” through psychological operations, urging the public not to fall into what he described as a trap.
State-linked media echoed the confrontational tone. The conservative Kayhan newspaper ran a headline declaring “West Asia, Iran’s home and America’s graveyard,” while Mehr News Agency reported that thousands of graves in Tehran were ready should U.S. forces attack.
At the same time, Iranian officials indicated that diplomatic channels remain open. Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said structural preparations for negotiations were progressing despite heightened rhetoric. Trump confirmed that dialogue was taking place, though he reiterated that military options remained on the table, saying, “we’ll see what happens.”
Trump has previously said he believes Iran would ultimately choose to negotiate over its nuclear and missile programs rather than face military conflict. Tehran has stated it is willing to engage in nuclear talks provided its missile and defense capabilities are excluded from the agenda.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Saturday that war would not serve the interests of Iran, the United States or the region, according to his office, during a call with Egypt’s president. Separately, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani held talks in Iran aimed at de-escalating tensions, Qatar’s foreign ministry said.
Amid the political brinkmanship, ordinary Iranians expressed anxiety over the prospect of conflict. Firouzeh, a 43-year-old homemaker who declined to give her full name, said the tensions had left her fearful. “Lately, all I do is watch the news until I fall asleep,” she said. “Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night to check the updates.”
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