Khamenei Blames CIA and Mossad for Iran Unrest, Points to Trump Message as Proof

His remarks advance Tehran's foreign-plot narrative to justify a hardened security response.

Overview

In a series of posts on X, Iran’s supreme leader said the unrest was a foreign-planned “sedition” managed by the U.S. and Israel, claiming the CIA and Mossad deployed major resources.
He cited President Donald Trump’s calls for protesters to “keep going” and a “HELP IS ON ITS WAY” post as evidence of U.S. involvement.
Khamenei described the turmoil as coup-like, saying attackers struck police units, IRGC bases, government offices and banks, and alleged ringleaders trained by foreign actors carried out “engineered killings.”
He compared the violence to ISIS, alleging beheadings and people burned alive, and he praised the IRGC, Basij and police for fulfilling their duties while crediting the public with quelling the unrest.
Activists tracking the crackdown say protests have reached day 37 with HRANA reporting 6,842 deaths, while an official list names 2,986, and local media report President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered the start of nuclear talks with the U.S.