The ongoing protests in Iran, which began at the start of the new year, continue to escalate, prompting official Iranian media to finally acknowledge the unrest, albeit with a predictable narrative of external manipulation and condemnation. State-controlled outlets are now reporting on the demonstrations, simultaneously attributing them to orchestrated attacks and pointing fingers at Israel and the United States.
A report from “Press TV” Iran’s foreign news channel, detailed the alleged dismantling of “several armed terrorist cells” and the arrest of suspected foreign agents, framing the unrest as a wave of “foreign-backed riots” resulting in the deaths of police officers. This response serves to deflect blame from the underlying grievances fueling the protests and solidify a narrative of external interference.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has characterized the demonstrators as a “band of vandals” attempting to impress U.S. President Donald Trump. This inflammatory language mirrors the increasingly belligerent rhetoric emanating from Washington, where Trump previously threatened intervention should Iranian security forces harm protesters. The U.S. posture raises concerns of further escalating tensions and potentially destabilizing the region.
In Berlin, the German government has adopted a more cautious tone. Deputy Government Spokesperson Steffen Meyer declined to comment on Trump’s pronouncements regarding Iran, while a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry reiterated existing travel warnings and advised German citizens to leave the country. This reflects a pragmatic approach, prioritizing the safety of nationals while avoiding direct endorsement of U.S. policy.
Despite intermittent disruptions to internet and phone connectivity across various Iranian provinces, the German Embassy in Tehran remains operational. The Foreign Ministry emphasizes that the internet shutdowns are not universal, indicating the government’s attempt to maintain control while simultaneously acknowledging the severity of the situation. A crisis team within the German government has convened to monitor developments.
The initial spark for the protests, which commenced in Tehran on December 28th, was the dramatic collapse of the Iranian currency, a consequence of economic mismanagement and international sanctions. Human rights organizations report that the demonstrations have spread to dozens of cities nationwide, reflecting widespread economic discontent and broader dissatisfaction with the political system. Crucially, a lack of independent media access renders a truly impartial assessment of the scope and nature of the protests exceedingly difficult, further complicating international efforts to understand the situation. The Iranian government’s reliance on blaming external actors highlights the regime’s continued efforts to suppress dissent and maintain control through a lens of propaganda and political deflection.
