Iran's leader demands crackdown on 'seditionists' after protestsListen to this articleIran was rocked by weeks of demonstrations sparked by anger over economic hardship that exploded into the biggest protests against the Islamic republic in yearsPARIS (FRANCE) - Iran's supreme leader said Saturday that authorities "must break the back of the seditionists", blaming US President Donald Trump for "casualties" after a deadly crackdown on protests against the country's clerical leadership. But demonstrations have subsided after the crackdown that rights groups say left thousands of people dead under an internet blackout that lasted more than a week. Mass protests challenging authorities that erupted in 2022 were also branded sedition, an accusation rights groups said the authorities used to violently suppress dissent. Rights groups have estimated up to 20,000 people have been arrested. Eyewitnesses who left Iran after the protests told AFP of coming under fire and hearing numerous gunshots during protests.

Source: Bangkok Post January 18, 2026 06:05 UTC