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In the city of Kermanshah, Iran, a wave of protests surged on January 8, 2026, with demonstrators blocking streets in a vivid display of dissent. These scenes of unrest were documented by Kamran for AFP and distributed by Getty Images, capturing the intensity of the moment.
On Friday, Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, delivered a sharp rebuke to the anti-government protesters. He labeled them as “vandals” and accused them of acting at the behest of U.S. President Donald Trump, suggesting that their actions were aimed at damaging public property. This criticism was broadcast on national television, with Reuters reporting Khamenei’s strong words against what he described as “mercenaries for foreigners.”
Khamenei stated, “The Islamic Republic, founded through the sacrifice of hundreds of thousands of honorable people, will not retreat in the face of vandals.” His remarks underscored a firm stance against the protests, which have been spreading across the nation.
Amidst these tensions, Iran, home to a population of 92 million, found itself increasingly isolated from the global community. In a bid to suppress the widespread protests, authorities implemented a blackout of the internet, striving to curb the flow of information and coordination among demonstrators.
“The Islamic Republic came to power through the blood of hundreds of thousands of honorable people. It will not back down in the face of vandals,” Khamenei said.
His comments came as the country of 92 million found itself largely cut off from the world on Friday, with authorities seeking to quell the sprawling protests by blacking out the internet.
The demonstrations, which began in Tehran’s bazaar on Dec. 28, have been fueled by growing frustrations over a long-running economic crisis, particularly the government’s handling of a sharp fall in the nation’s currency and soaring prices.
The scale of the unrest makes it one of the most widespread demonstrations in recent years, according to Human Rights Activists News Agency, with dozens reported killed and nearly 2,300 arrested or detained. HRANA, a U.S.-registered nonprofit, relies on an activist network inside Iran for its reporting.
Iranian leader Ali Khamenei comments on the recent protests against economic conditions on Iranian State Television in the capital Tehran on January 9, 2026.
Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images
The protests have also revived concerns about possible American intervention. Trump said last week that if Iran “violently kills peaceful protesters,” then the U.S. will “come to their rescue.”
“We are locked and loaded and ready to go,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social on Jan 2.
Iran’s supreme leader adviser Ali Larijani reportedly responded at the time by saying that U.S. interference in Iran’s protests was equivalent to chaos across the entire region.
Iran, which is a member of OPEC, is a major player in the global oil market.
Oil prices were last seen trading higher as energy market participants continued to monitor concerns over the disruption in Iran.
International benchmark Brent crude futures with March expiry traded up 0.9% at $62.52 a barrel on Friday, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures with February expiry stood at $58.29, up 0.9% for the session.
— CNBC’s April Roach and Anniek Bao contributed to this report.
