Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has signalled a potential crackdown on protesters, accusing them of destroying their own streets, in remarks linked to former US President Donald Trump

Protests continued across Iran late Friday night, according to online videos shared by activists, despite threats from the country’s theocratic leadership to launch a harsh crackdown after cutting off internet access and international telephone connections.

At least 65 people have been killed since demonstrations erupted in late December over Iran’s deteriorating economy, evolving into the most serious challenge to the government in years.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei lashed out at former US President Donald Trump, accusing him of having hands “stained with the blood of Iranians,” as crowds chanted “Death to America!” in footage broadcast on state television. Iranian media later labelled the protesters “terrorists,” raising fears of a violent suppression similar to past crackdowns, even as Trump pledged support for peaceful demonstrators and warned of force if they were attacked.

Addressing a crowd at his Tehran compound, the 86-year-old Khamenei accused protesters of “ruining their own streets” to please the US president. “Because he said he would come to their aid,” Khamenei said, adding that Trump should instead “pay attention to the state of his own country.”

Judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei separately warned that punishment for protesters would be “decisive, maximum and without any legal leniency.”

Late Friday, the leaders of Germany, Britain and France — Friedrich Merz, Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron — issued a joint statement condemning reports of deadly violence and urging Iran to allow citizens to express themselves freely without fear of reprisals.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi also urged Western governments to denounce Iran’s ruling system, saying it had “made cruelty a governing method.”

“Some still cling to romantic myths about this regime,” Ebadi said, “but a government that shoots peaceful protesters at home cannot claim moral authority anywhere.”

Trump has repeatedly warned he would strike Iran if protesters are killed, remarks that took on added weight following a recent US military operation targeting Venezuela’s former president Nicolás Maduro. On Friday, Trump said any potential action would not involve ground troops but would instead “hit them very, very hard where it hurts.”

“Iran’s in big trouble,” Trump said. “People are taking over cities nobody thought possible just weeks ago.” He added: “You better not start shooting — because we’ll start shooting too.”

Internet blackout

Despite the communications shutdown, short videos circulating online appeared to show protesters lighting bonfires, chanting anti-government slogans and filling streets in Tehran and other cities into Friday morning. Demonstrations resumed Friday night, though their scale could not be independently verified. Security forces had earlier warned families to keep children indoors.

One video showed what appeared to be thousands gathered near a burning street barricade in Tehran’s northern Saadat Abad district. Chants of “Death to Khamenei!” could be heard.

The protests also marked a test of public response to calls from Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, whose father was overthrown in the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Pahlavi urged demonstrations at 8 p.m. Thursday and again Friday, with chants in some areas expressing support for the former monarchy — a sentiment once punishable by death but now reflecting the depth of public anger.

According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 65 people have been killed and more than 2,300 detained so far.

“What shifted the momentum was Reza Pahlavi’s call for people to take to the streets,” said Holly Dagres of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. “Social media showed Iranians responding seriously, protesting with the aim of ending the Islamic Republic.”

She added that the internet blackout likely served to hide the scale of the demonstrations and provided cover for security forces to kill protesters.

Protests before blackout

When the clock struck 8 p.m. Thursday, chants erupted across Tehran neighbourhoods, witnesses said, including “Death to the dictator!” and “Death to the Islamic Republic!” Some demonstrators shouted slogans praising the shah. Thousands were reportedly on the streets before communications were severed.

On Friday, Pahlavi appealed directly to Trump, warning that Khamenei intended to use the blackout to “murder these young heroes.”

“You have proven you are a man of peace and a man of your word,” Pahlavi said, urging US intervention to protect protesters.

His ties to Israel and support for recent Israeli military action against Iran have drawn criticism, and it remains unclear whether chants supporting the shah reflect backing for Pahlavi himself or nostalgia for the pre-revolution era.

The internet shutdown also appeared to take several Iranian state and semi-official news agencies offline.

State television claimed Thursday night’s protests were violent, citing arson attacks on vehicles, public transport and buildings, though it did not provide nationwide casualty figures. It later reported that six people were killed overnight in Hamedan and that two security personnel died in Qom.

Protests were also reported in Zahedan, in the restive Sistan and Baluchestan province, while state TV aired footage of pro-government motorcycle patrols moving through Tehran late Friday.