Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday accused the United States, Israel and several European actors of attempting to destabilize Iran by inciting unrest and deepening internal divisions during recent riots.

Speaking at the shrine of Imam Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, Pezeshkian said U.S. President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and European parties sought to provoke tensions by supporting and equipping certain groups.

He said that while some ordinary citizens were drawn into the unrest, the broader aim was to fracture Iranian society and sow conflict and hatred among the population.

According to the president, foreign-backed armed groups and what he described as terrorists hijacked limited, peaceful protests over economic grievances that took place on January 8 and 9, turning them into violent confrontations.

Pezeshkian said Trump openly encouraged violence by calling on armed rioters to seize state institutions and by threatening military action against Iran if authorities intervened.

He blamed the unrest on what he described as U.S. and Israeli incitement, saying it led to widespread destruction of public and private property, including shops, government buildings and public service facilities, as well as the deaths of thousands of civilians and members of Iran’s security forces.

Outlining the government’s stance, Pezeshkian said that genuine social protests do not involve the use of firearms, attacks on military personnel, or the burning of ambulances and markets. He emphasized that the government has a responsibility to listen to public grievances and address citizens’ concerns, adding that authorities remain prepared to do so.

However, he said the recent events went far beyond ordinary protest, arguing that Iran’s adversaries exploited existing social and economic challenges to provoke unrest and advance efforts to divide the country.

Concluding his remarks, Pezeshkian said the leadership and guidance of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, have repeatedly thwarted such plots and would continue to safeguard the country against similar attempts in the future. (ILKHA)