STORY: Iran's President, Masoud Pezeshkian, said on Sunday (January 11), that "The United States and Israel are sitting there, giving instructions to these people, telling them: go ahead, we are backing you."

Tehran threatened on Sunday to retaliate against Israel and the U.S. military bases in the event of U.S. strikes on Iran, issuing the warning as Israeli sources said Israel was on high alert for the possibility of any U.S. intervention.

Authorities have stepped up efforts to quell the unrest that has spread across Iran since December 28. A U.S.-based rights group, HRANA, reported the death toll stood at 116, mostly protesters but including 37 members of the security forces.

The protests began in response to soaring inflation, before turning against the clerical establishment that has ruled since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: TEHRAN, IRAN (RELEASED JANUARY 11, 2026) (IRINN - No use Iran. No use Iran International. No use BBC Persian. No use Manoto. No use VOA Persian)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRANIAN PRESIDENT, MASOUD PEZESHKIAN, SAYING:

"We are determined, and have decided, to resolve economic problems by any means possible."

2. WHITE FLASH

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRANIAN PRESIDENT, MASOUD PEZESHKIAN, SAYING:

"They have trained a group inside the country and abroad, and have brought terrorists into the country from outside, who set mosques on fire."

4. WHITE FLASH

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRANIAN PRESIDENT, MASOUD PEZESHKIAN, SAYING:

"If someone who belongs to this country protests, we hear those protests, we listen, and we address them."

6. WHITE FLASH

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRANIAN PRESIDENT, MASOUD PEZESHKIAN, SAYING:

"The United States and Israel are sitting there, giving instructions to these people, telling them: go ahead, we are backing you. The same ones who struck this country and killed our young people and our children are now giving them orders, telling them: you do this work, we are with you. You go and carry out acts of sabotage, and we will support you from behind."

8. WHITE FLASH

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRANIAN PRESIDENT, MASOUD PEZESHKIAN, SAYING:

"Families, I ask you: do not allow your young children to join rioters and terrorists who behead people and kill others."