TEHRAN Jan 31— In a sharp escalation of rhetoric, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has formally accused U.S. President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and European leaders of orchestrating a coordinated campaign to destabilize the Islamic Republic.
Speaking during a televised address on Saturday, January 31, 2026, Pezeshkian claimed that foreign powers have weaponized Iran’s internal economic grievances to “provoke” society and incite violent division.
Key Highlights:
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Foreign Interference: Pezeshkian claims Trump, Netanyahu, and the EU exploited economic protests to “tear the nation apart.”
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Casualty Disputes: Official Tehran reports suggest 3,100 deaths during recent unrest, while international rights groups claim the figure is significantly higher.
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Rising Tensions: The accusations come as the U.S. deploys the USS Abraham Lincoln to the Middle East amid threats of “unprecedented” retaliation from Tehran.
“They Rode on Our Problems”
During his live broadcast, President Pezeshkian did not mince words regarding the recent wave of nationwide protests sparked by soaring inflation and living costs. While acknowledging the hardship faced by the Iranian people, he argued that the transition from social protest to civil unrest was manufactured abroad.
“They rode on our problems, provoked tensions, and sought—and still seek—to fragment our society,” Pezeshkian stated. “They brought people into the streets and wanted to sow hatred and division. Everyone knows this was not just a social protest.”
The President specifically named Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, suggesting that the “maximum pressure” tactics of the second Trump administration are designed to trigger systemic collapse from within.
A Nation Divided by Narratives
The narrative from Tehran stands in stark contrast to reports from international monitors. While the Iranian government acknowledges a death toll of roughly 3,100—attributing many to “rioters” attacking security forces—the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has reported upwards of 6,500 deaths.
Pezeshkian maintained that while the government is “ready to listen” to peaceful protesters, the involvement of foreign-backed elements changed the nature of the demonstrations. “In a normal protest, they don’t pick up guns or set fire to ambulances,” he added.
Geopolitical Standoff: War Drums in the Gulf
The President’s comments follow a week of high-stakes military posturing. In response to U.S. threats of “limited strikes” against Iranian nuclear facilities, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that any such action would be considered the “start of a war.”
Iran has since announced a two-day live-fire naval exercise in the Strait of Hormuz, a direct challenge to the U.S. carrier strike group currently stationed in the region.
What This Means for Global Stability
As the war of words intensifies, regional allies like Turkey and the UAE are reportedly working behind the scenes to de-escalate. However, with the Trump administration demanding a complete halt to Iran’s missile program as a prerequisite for talks—a demand Tehran has categorically rejected—the path to diplomacy remains narrow
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