President Describes Riots in Iran as US-Israeli Revenge for 12-Day War Defeat

In a message addressed to the Iranian nation, President Masoud Pezeshkian described the events of recent weeks as a harsh and painful test that left deep suffering for the country, saying the developments were especially distressing and unacceptable for him as president and as the people’s elected representative.

He said ill-wishers of Iran had conspired to transform rightful and civil public protests into a violent and bloody arena, a plot that resulted in the deaths of nearly 3,000 citizens and physical and psychological injuries to thousands of others.

The president said the same “wicked hands” that, during the 12-day war, killed more than a thousand Iranian women, men, youth, children, scientists, and military commanders, had now emerged in another form. According to Pezeshkian, by mobilizing a number of mercenaries, those actors turned protests — which he described as the natural right of a dynamic and vibrant society — into a “sacredless rage,” in which hundreds of mosques, schools, public places, and national assets were set ablaze and destroyed.

He said valuable lives were lost and many others were wounded, adding that the killing of nearly 2,500 innocent people and security personnel over just a few days of chaos and insecurity was a bitter and extremely difficult experience for Iran. Pezeshkian explicitly described the events of January 2026 as a US-Zionist conspiracy and an unjust revenge by the enemies of the Iranian nation following their defeat in the 12-day war of June 2025.

The president said he was mourning all those who lost their lives and standing in solidarity with every Iranian who has endured grief and suffering in recent days. He reaffirmed his long-standing pledge, derived from the trust of the Iranian nation, to remain a guardian of the people’s rights.

Pezeshkian said he had tasked various groups with conducting thorough investigations into the causes and factors behind the unrest in order to identify and eliminate the root sources of violence. He reiterated that protest is a natural right of citizens and that the government considers itself duty-bound to listen to the people’s voice.

He added that utmost care would be exercised in handling the conditions and charges of those recently detained so that, with justice, fairness, and compassion, genuine protesters and even those who were misled would be clearly separated from individuals whose hands are stained with the blood of innocent people.

The president said the administration and the state consider themselves responsible for all those harmed in the tragic events and would, with the help and solidarity of the Iranian nation, work as much as possible to compensate for the damages.

He stressed that identifying weaknesses, repairing them, and learning lessons from painful experiences would pave the way for the future, expressing confidence that the great Iranian nation, through unity and cohesion and with harmony among the three branches of power under the guidance of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, will shape a bright and resilient future./tasnim