Khamenei’s televised address demands forceful suppression of rioters In a live broadcast from Tehran on 4 January 2026, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared that “there is no benefit to talking to rioters” and that they must be “put in their place,” while accusing foreign powers of stoking unrest and worsening the rial’s collapse [1][2][3]. He distinguished “rioters” from “legitimate protesters,” signaling a hard‑line stance as security forces intensify operations. The speech was aired on state television and echoed across all three reports.

Protests spread to more than 170 locations with at least 15 deaths Human‑rights activists reported a death toll of fifteen across the country, with hundreds detained as demonstrations surged in 25 of Iran’s 31 provinces [1][2][3]. Rights groups documented over 580 arrests, noting the unrest is the largest since the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests. Economic grievances over the collapsing rial and political constraints continue to fuel the nationwide unrest.

Overnight incidents in Qom and Harsin raise violence levels State‑linked footage showed a grenade explosion in Qom that killed a man, while a Basij volunteer was slain in a gun‑and‑knife attack in Harsin, highlighting escalating confrontations [1][2][3]. Both incidents occurred during the night of 3‑4 January and were cited as examples of the protest’s growing volatility. Authorities have used these events to justify further security measures.

Trump warns of U.S. response; Iran claims halt to uranium enrichment Former President Donald Trump warned Tehran that the United States would intervene if Iran “violently kills peaceful protesters,” adding pressure to an already tense regional environment [1][2]. Meanwhile, Iran announced it has ceased uranium enrichment at all sites, presenting the move as a gesture toward renewed nuclear negotiations [2][3]. The juxtaposition of external diplomatic warnings and internal nuclear policy underscores the complex international backdrop to the domestic unrest.