President Pezeshkian Blames Trump, Netanyahu, and EU for Fanning Unrest in Iran

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has accused U.S. President Donald Trump, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, and European leaders of "inciting" the violent protests that have recently gripped the nation.

In a televised address on Saturday, Pezeshkian claimed that foreign powers exploited local grievances to sow discord and attempt to fracture the country.

While expressing a willingness to listen to peaceful protesters, the President emphasized that the escalation into armed violence and arson against public property suggests foreign interference. Official state reports claim over 3,000 fatalities, primarily among security forces and bystanders, though international rights groups dispute these figures as being significantly higher.

In response to the crackdown, the U.S. Treasury has imposed fresh sanctions on Iran’s Interior Minister and several IRGC officials. Despite the military pressure—signaled by a U.S. carrier strike group in the Middle East—Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that while Tehran is open to "fair and equal" talks, it will not negotiate under threat or compromise its national missile defense capabilities.