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‘They wanted to tear this country apart,’ says Iran’s Pezeshkian on U.S., Israel actions amid protests
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian speaks during an interview with the state TV, amid protests, in Tehran, Iran, 11 January, 2026
Reuters
U.S., Israeli and European leaders exploited Iran’s economic problems and encouraged unrest during recent nationwide protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Saturday (31 January).
The demonstrations broke out in late December over soaring inflation and rising living costs and spread across multiple cities.
“Recent experience has shown that sworn enemies, including the Zionist regime and its Western backers, are constantly trying to provoke, sow discord and divide Iran,” Pezeshkian said.
"By exploiting social demands, they attempted to turn protests into a civil war,” he said, adding that authorities must listen to peaceful protesters and address their real concerns.
“We are obliged to reassess our behavior and actions toward the people in order to deprive ill-wishers of any excuse to turn protests into hatred and incitement,” the Iranian President concluded.
The protests lasted around two weeks before being suppressed by security forces in a crackdown that rights groups say left at least 6,563 people dead, including 6,170 protesters and 214 members of the security forces, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).
However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told CNN Türk that 3,100 people, including 2,000 security personnel, had been killed.
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly voiced support for the demonstrators and warned that the U.S. was prepared to act if Iran continued to kill protesters.
U.S. officials said on Friday that Trump was reviewing options but had not decided on any military action.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Ynet news reported that a U.S. Navy destroyer docked at the Israeli port of Eilat on Friday.
Regional powers, including Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have been engaging in diplomatic efforts to prevent a confrontation between Washington and Tehran.
The U.S. has demanded that Iran curb its missile programme as a condition for resuming talks, but Araghchi said missiles would never be subject to negotiation.
He added that Tehran was prepared for either diplomacy or warfare and was also ready to engage with regional countries to promote stability.
“Regime change is a complete fantasy,” Araghchi said, adding that “some have fallen for this illusion”.
"Our system is so deeply rooted and so firmly established that the comings and goings of individuals make no difference," he concluded.
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