Iran's supreme leader insisted Saturday that "rioters must be put in their place" after a week of protests that have shaken the Islamic Republic, likely giving security forces a green light to aggressively put down the demonstrations. The first comments by 86-year-old Ayatollah Ali Khamenei come as violence surrounding the demonstrations sparked by Iran's ailing economy has killed at least 10 people. State television aired remarks by Khamenei to an audience in Tehran that sought to separate the concerns of protesting Iranians upset about the rial's collapse from "rioters." residents worry for family amid Iran protests | Duration 2:08 In Iran, protests over the soaring cost of living have spread to several universities. Demonstrations have reached more than 100 locations in 22 of Iran's 31 provinces, the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported.

Source: CBC News January 03, 2026 19:04 UTC