Khamenei blames Trump for Iran protests: new escalation expected

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has US President Donald Trump called a “criminal” and held jointly responsible for the recent protests in his country. Trump caused suffering, harm and slander to the Iranian people during the protests, Iranian media quoted Khamenei as saying on Saturday.

Shah son Reza Pahlavi Meanwhile, Iranians called on new protests over the weekend.

Shah’s son Pahlavi calls for new protests

Meanwhile, Shah’s son Reza Pahlavi called on Iranians to stage new protests this weekend. The person living in the USA announced in online networks New opposition demonstrations across the country. However, according to an analysis by the US Institute for War Studies, the protests have recently lost strength due to the “brutal” repression by the security forces.

Pahlavi, the son of the The Shah was overthrown in the Islamic Revolution of 1979called on Iranians to raise their voices again this weekend. On both Saturday and Sunday evenings at 8 p.m., Iranians should “raise their voices in anger and protest.” The opposition member was also confident that the Iranian leadership would be overthrown. “The Islamic Republic will fall – the question is not if, but when,” he said at a news conference in Washington. Pahlavi also announced his return to Iran.

Pahlavi relies on Trump’s support

The Shah’s son, revered by many in Iran, was optimistic that US President Donald Trump will provide support to the demonstrators in Iran. “I believe that President Trump is a man of his word and that ultimately, as he has said, he will stand with the Iranian people.”

During the protests that began at the end of December, Trump repeatedly threatened US military intervention in Iran to help the demonstrators. Trump is currently holding back on military intervention. On Wednesday he said he had learned from a “reliable source” that “the killings in Iran have stopped.” On Friday, Trump thanked the Iranian leadership for canceling planned executions.

The US President pointed out Statements from the Gulf region back that Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman had talked him out of attacking Iran. It was Iran’s actions that influenced him, Trump told reporters.

EASA calls for people to avoid Iranian airspace

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) nevertheless called on airlines Avoiding Iranian airspace on. In a message to companies on Friday evening, EASA recommended not to fly “in Iranian airspace,” which applies “at any altitude.” The EU authority justified its warning with “the current situation and the possibility of military action by the USA, due to which Iranian air defenses have been put on heightened alert.” The German aviation authorities had already recommended on Thursday to avoid Iranian airspace until February 10th.

The protests in Iran were sparked at the end of December by anger over the poor economic situation. After rallies with angry slogans against the religious and political leadership of the Islamic Republic, the authorities blocked the internet nationwide just over a week ago. Regardless of this, further protests took place in the following nights.

First internet connections again in Iran

Meanwhile, the Netblocks organization announced on Saturday that it was first again Internet connections in the country give. “The readings show a slight increase in internet connectivity in Iran this morning,” the organization advocating for internet freedom said on the online service X on Saturday.

However, connections are only around two percent of the usual level and there are no signs of “a significant return” to generally available Internet.

Iran disinvited from Munich Security Conference

The Iranian government was criticized for its actions against demonstrators Munich Security Conference (MSK) disinvited. An “invitation to individual government representatives from Iran,” which was issued several weeks ago, will not be maintained in view of “current events,” the MSK press team told the news agency AFP with. According to the “Bild” newspaper, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, among others, was disinvited from the internationally important event in mid-February. The federal government had previously advised against sticking with Araghchi’s invitation.

It is estimated that several thousand people were killed in the brutal crackdown by Iranian security forces against the demonstrators. On Friday, the German Foreign Ministry referred to information from trustworthy sources that around 19,000 people had also been imprisoned. The human rights organization Iran Human Rights (IHR), based in Norway, speaks of 3,428 demonstrators who have been proven to have been killed by Iranian security forces.

Arrests after demonstration in London

Meanwhile, after riots at a demonstration in front of the Iranian embassy in London 14 people arrested been. Four officers were slightly injured, the Metropolitan Police told the PA news agency. One of the arrested people is suspected of climbing the embassy building and removing the Iranian flag.

Pictures and videos on social networks are said to show the riots on Friday evening. A group of demonstrators tried to prevent the man’s arrest, a police spokesman said. The officials then broke up the meeting. The incident follows weeks of mass protests in Iran against the authoritarian leadership of the Islamic Republic.

The embassy is located in South Kensington, which is also popular with tourists, near the world-famous Royal Albert Hall. The footage shows how a large number of police officers are on duty. A man on top of the building is seen displaying the Iranian flag.