STORY: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday (January 9) accused protesters of acting on behalf of U.S. President Donald Trump, saying rioters were attacking public properties and warning that Tehran would not tolerate people acting as "mercenaries for foreigners".

Iran's fragmented external opposition factions called for more protests on Friday with Reza Pahlavi, exiled son of the late ruling shah, telling Iranians in a social media post: "The eyes of the world are upon you. Take to the streets."

Trump, who bombed Iran last summer and who last week warned Tehran it could come to the protesters' aid, said on Friday he would not meet Pahlavi and was "not sure that it would be appropriate" to back him.

Iran was largely cut off from the outside world on Friday after authorities blacked out the internet to curb expanding protests, with phone calls not reaching the country, flights cancelled and online Iranian news sites only intermittently updating.

The protests that began over soaring inflation in the Islamic Republic late last month have spiralled into the biggest for three years, with unrest reported in every province and rights groups documenting dozens of deaths.

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Iran cut off from world as Supreme Leader warns protesters

VIDEO SHOWS: IRANIAN SUPREME LEADER, ALI KHAMENEI GIVES SPEECH AMID PROTESTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: TEHRAN, IRAN (JANUARY 9, 2026) (IRIB - No use BBC Persian. No use VOA Persian. No use Manoto. No use Iran International. No use Radio Farda)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRANIAN SUPREME LEADER, ALI KHAMENEI, SAYING:

“Last night in Tehran and some other places, a bunch of vandals showed up and destroyed buildings belonging to their own country, just to please the U.S. president.”

2. WOMEN CHANTING (Farsi): “Death to hypocrite”

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRANIAN SUPREME LEADER, ALI KHAMENEI, SAYING:

“Let him (Trump) run his own country, if he can. In his own country, there are all kinds of incidents going on.”

4. CROWD APPLAUDING

5. IRANIAN SUPREME LEADER, ALI KHAMENEI, SITTING/ CROWD SEATED

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRANIAN SUPREME LEADER, ALI KHAMENEI, SAYING:

“The Islamic Republic was established with the blood of several hundred thousand honourable people, and it will not back down in the face of those who engage in destruction, nor will it tolerate mercenaries serving foreign powers.”

7. KHAMENEI SITTING ON STAGE ADDRESSING AUDIENCE

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRANIAN SUPREME LEADER, ALI KHAMENEI, SAYING:

"Dear youth, preserve your religion, your political thought, your presence (on the scene), your preparedness and your seriousness to preserve the country’s progress. Protect your unity - an undivided nation will prevail over every enemy.”

9. VARIOUS OF CROWD CHANTING (Farsi): "O free Leader, we are ready, we are ready. "