United States President Donald Trump has said Washington is prepared to support Iranians in what he described as their renewed quest for freedom, as anti-government protests continue to spread across Iran following a severe economic downturn.
In a message posted on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, Trump declared that the Iranian people were closer to freedom than ever before, adding that the United States stood ready to assist.
“Iran is looking at freedom, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help,” Trump wrote.
His remarks come amid escalating protests triggered by the sharp collapse of Iran’s national currency, which has fuelled public anger over economic hardship and governance.
The demonstrations, which began in Tehran on December 28, have now entered their third week and expanded to several major cities across the country.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, reacted sharply to Trump’s comments, accusing protesters of acting in the interests of the US president and dismissing the demonstrations as destructive and foreign-inspired.
In a video address broadcast on Iranian state television, Khamenei described the protesters as “a bunch of vandals” who, according to him, were destroying public property to please Washington.
“A bunch of vandals came out in Tehran and other places and destroyed buildings belonging to their own country just to please the president of the United States,” Khamenei said. “That’s because he made the absurd claim that he supports you rioters and people who are harmful to the country. If he is capable, he should run his own country.”
The Iranian leader, who has held ultimate authority since 1989, insisted that the unrest was not an expression of genuine popular will but the result of external manipulation. He also accused Trump of bearing responsibility for Iranian casualties during a recent conflict with Israel.
“His hands are stained with the blood of more than a thousand Iranian martyrs during the 12-day war with Israel,” Khamenei said, alleging that some protesters were acting in line with US interests.
He further claimed that a group of “inexperienced and careless people” had been misled into believing Trump’s statements, accusing them of setting fire to public facilities as a form of provocation.
Khamenei made it clear that the Iranian government would not bow to pressure, vowing that the Islamic Republic would stand firm despite the protests.
“Let everyone know that the Islamic Republic came to power through the blood of several hundred thousand honourable people, and it will not back down in the face of those who deny this,” he said.
The standoff between Washington and Tehran over the protests has further deepened tensions already strained by regional conflicts, sanctions, and stalled diplomatic engagement. While Trump’s statement signals moral and political backing for Iranian protesters, Tehran continues to frame the unrest as a foreign-backed attempt to destabilise the state.
As demonstrations persist, the situation remains fluid, with analysts warning that continued economic pressure and political rigidity could further inflame public discontent across the country.