• Iran's Ayatollah Khamenei insists "rioters must be put in their place" as protests grow violent.
• Protests initially sparked by economic collapse have resulted in at least 10 deaths.
• US President Trump warned Iran against harming peaceful protesters, fueling tensions.
• Protests have spread to over 100 locations across Iran, with significant unrest reported.
• Calls for negotiation with protesters come amid a failing economy and security force readiness to act.

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has stated that “rioters must be put in their place” amid escalating protests over the nation’s ailing economy, which have already resulted in at least 10 deaths. His comments follow a week of significant unrest, likely giving security forces a directive to suppress the demonstrations aggressively, according to SCMP, Al Jazeera, and Los Angeles Times.

The backdrop to these protests includes a stark economic decline, reflected in the rapid depreciation of Iran's currency, the rial. Khamenei’s speech was aimed at distinguishing between peaceful protesters expressing valid grievances and those he labeled as “rioters.” He emphasized that “we talk to protesters,” but stated, “there is no benefit to talking to rioters,” according to SCMP and Al Jazeera.

The protests have become the most significant since the demonstrations triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini in October 2022. However, current unrest, while extensive, has not reached the same levels of intensity or cohesion, partly due to fears instilled by violent crackdowns, such as those seen during the 2019 gasoline price protests, which left hundreds dead. The recent protests have thus far led to violence and deaths as the situation evolves, according to SCMP, Los Angeles Times, and Al Jazeera.

On Friday, U.S. President Trump warned Iran that if they resorted to “violently killing peaceful protesters,” America would intervene, leading to an immediate backlash from Iranian officials who accused the U.S. of interference. Iranian representatives have framed Trump’s remarks as threats that could destabilize the entire region and have insisted on the necessity of increased vigilance against perceived foreign aggression, as reported by both Al Jazeera and Los Angeles Times.

The unrest is widespread, extending to more than 100 locations across 22 out of 31 Iranian provinces, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. The rising tensions have escalated as protestors express their frustrations not only at economic conditions but increasingly against the Iranian government as a whole, amplifying calls for negotiation from Iran’s civilian government under President Masoud Pezeshkian, as per SCMP and Los Angeles Times.