Micah Jonah
January 31, 2026
Iranian President, Masoud Pezeshkian has accused United States President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and European countries of provoking tensions during the recent protests across Iran.
Speaking in a televised address on Saturday, Pezeshkian said foreign powers took advantage of internal challenges facing Iran, encouraged unrest by inciting divisions among the population.
According to him, the protests went beyond normal expressions of public grievance, alleging that external actors exploited the situation to fuel violence and disorder. He said ordinary protests do not involve attacks on security personnel, destruction of public facilities or killings.
Pezeshkian maintained that his administration remains open to dialogue with citizens, stressing that the government is willing to listen to genuine concerns and resolve issues through engagement.
Iranian authorities have acknowledged that thousands of people were killed during the protests, placing the death toll at over 3,000. Officials say many of those killed were security personnel or civilians caught in violent disturbances.
The protests have further heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington, with President Trump in recent weeks threatening possible military action against Iran over its handling of the unrest.
A United States naval strike group has been deployed to the Middle East, while Trump has warned that the US is prepared to act if necessary.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is open to fair and equitable talks with the United States, but insisted negotiations cannot take place under threats. He added that Iran’s missile and defensive capabilities are not open to discussion.
The United States has also announced new sanctions targeting Iran’s interior minister and other senior officials over their roles during the protests, alongside measures against several individuals and entities linked to Iran’s security apparatus.
