—❗️🇺🇸/🇮🇷 President Trump: 'I said help is on the way for the people of Iran, and we did help, we stopped the hanging of almost 800 people, which is a tremendous achievement'

@Middle_East_Spectator

—❗️🇺🇸/🇮🇷 President Trump: 'I don't need to tell you what I'm gonna do [regarding Iran]. Why would I tell you? We have military options but we also have other options, and it seems the killing has stopped—they've told me the killing has stopped, Iran's leaders have told me, and some very reliable people'

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇮🇷 NEW: At least 52 terrorists and rioters have been executed in the past two weeks, according to Iranian opposition outlets

These reports cannot be confirmed.

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇮🇷 NEW: Reza Pahlavi calls upon Iranians to shout slogans in support of him at 8pm from January 17-19th

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇮🇷 NEW: Iran executed at least 5 people on January 14th, the day when Trump claimed the killings had stopped – HRANA

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇮🇷 NEW: The Iranian government has restored the ability to send and receive SMS, but it seems to be working only limited

@Middle_East_Spectator

—❗️🇺🇸/🇮🇷 Strategic advisor to Iran's Parliament Speaker, Mahdi Mohammadi:

'We know that we are facing a regime-change war in which the only way to achieve victory is to make credible the threat that, during the 12-day war, although it was ready, did not get the opportunity to be carried out:

A geographically expansive war of attrition, focused on the Persian Gulf energy markets, on the basis of steadily increasing missile firepower, lasting at least several months'

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇮🇷 NEW: There are signs that the internet in Iran is slowly coming back

It's not clear if this is nationwide or how long this will last—and most Iranians are currently asleep.

It's also possible that a very limited amount of servers (in essential sectors) were connected.

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇮🇷 UPDATE: The Iranian internet is NOT connected, they tested something tonight for a short time period, that's all

As reported before, it will likely take a while before internet is actually restored.

@Middle_East_Spectator

— 🇮🇷 NEW: The Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, gave a speech on the occasion of Eid Mab'ath (when Prophet Muhammad received his first divine revelation)

In his speech, he also talked about the recent U.S.-Israeli backed insurgency. This was translated by our friends at Fotros (posts below).

@Middle_East_Spectator

🇮🇷| Leader of Iran, Imam Khamenei:

“First of all, the nature of this sedition was American, this was clear. The Americans planned it and carried it out.

America’s goal, and I say this firmly and explicitly, based on over 40 years of experience in the Islamic Republic, is to devour Iran.

From the beginning of the Revolution until today, the dominance they had over this country was destroyed by the people, by the youth, by all segments of the people across the country, under the leadership of the great Imam.

From day 1, they have been thinking about restoring that dominance, meaning placing Iran once again under their military, political, and economic control.

That’s the goal. This is not about the current US president, nor about the person who is no longer president; this is about US policy.

America’s policy is this: A country with these characteristics, in such a sensitive geographic position, with these capabilities, this size, and this population…. they cannot tolerate it.

Such a country, with the progress it is making scientifically and technologically across various fields, is intolerable to the Americans. We consider the US president a criminal, both for the casualties, for the damages, and for the slander he directed at the Iranian nation.“

@FotrosResistancee

🇮🇷| Leader of Iran, Imam Khamenei:

“Of course, in the past, when unrest of this kind occurred, it was usually American journalists, second-tier US politicians, or European countries that intervened.

What distinguished this unrest was that the President of the United States himself—personally—entered into incitement and plunder.

He spoke, commented, threatened, encouraged the rioters, and sent messages from America to these individuals (whom I will explain later who they were), telling them to move forward, not to be afraid, saying, ‘We support you; we will provide military support.’ That is, the US president himself became involved in the unrest and became part of it.

A group within this unrest, some of those who carried out destruction, arson, illegal acts, and killings, were presented by him as the Iranian people.

This was a great slander against the Iranian nation. He said, ‘These are the Iranian people; I want to defend the Iranian people.’ … These are crimes.

The reasons I have stated are documented reasons; there is nothing hidden. He spoke openly, encouraged openly. We have continuous documented evidence that they provided assistance, both them & the Zionist regime, which I’ll briefly mention later.”

@FotrosResistancee

🇮🇷| Leader of Iran, Imam Khamenei:

“Of course, the Iranian nation broke the back of the sedition.

The Iranian people, in the millions on January 12, made that day a historic one, like the 22nd of Bahman; that is, the people created the 22nd of Dey (January 12) and added another honor to their achievements.

The Iranian people, with several million in Tehran and large, dense crowds in many other cities, were able to deliver a strong punch to the mouths of the loud-claiming pretenders. Praise be to God.”

@FotrosResistancee

🇮🇷| Leader of Iran, Imam Khamenei:

“The Iranian nation defeated America. The Americans had launched this sedition with extensive preparations for much larger objectives, it was a sedition with a prelude to bigger actions.

The Iranian people defeated it.

During the brief war a few months before this (12-day war), they defeated America & the Zionists there as well, and today too the Iranian nation has defeated America, by God’s grace.

This is true, but it is not enough. It is not enough.

Yes, we extinguished the sedition, but that is not sufficient.

The US must be held accountable.

Our various institutions, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant bodies, must pursue this matter.

We are not taking the country toward war… we have no intention of pushing the country into war.

But we will not ignore the domestic (inner) criminals either.

Worse than domestic criminals are international criminals, we will not let them go either.

This must be pursued in its own way, with the correct methods.

And by divine success, just as the Iranian nation broke the back of the sedition, it must also break the back of the sedition-mongers.”

@FotrosResistancee

🇮🇷| Leader of Iran, Imam Khamenei:

“First of all, unity among the people must be preserved.

Factional, political, and divisive disputes should not spread among the people. We must all be one—together—in defense of the Islamic system, in defense of the country of Iran, our beloved Iran.

Everyone should stand together, side by side.

The officials, those responsible in various sectors, truly worked as well. The respected President, along with other state officials, was active, present on the ground, and working.

It should not be said that, just because I am unaware of someone else’s work, I should go and criticize “Why didn’t you do this?” No—everyone worked.

I strongly avoid, prohibit, and do not allow insults toward state leaders, the President, or others under such important international & domestic circumstances… whether those individuals are in parliament, outside parliament, or anywhere else.

We must appreciate them. We must value officials who, when such incidents occur for the country, do not distance themselves from the people.

In the past, we sometimes saw the people in the field while officials merely watched, and sometimes even spoke against the people.

This time, no: the officials stood alongside the people, were among the people, moved with the people, and worked toward the same goal.

This appreciation must be shown. This is very important.”

@FotrosResistancee

🇮🇷| Leader of Iran, Imam Khamenei:

“My firm recommendation regarding the President personally, to the heads of the other branches of government, and to the active leaders of the country is this:

Let them do their work, make their efforts, and carry out the great responsibility entrusted to them.

Of course, the economic situation is not good, the people’s livelihoods are truly facing difficulties, and I know this.

Precisely for this reason, in these areas they must work TWICE as hard.

For essential goods, livestock inputs, basic food supplies, and the general needs of the people, government officials must always work twice as hard & with greater seriousness. There is no doubt about this.”

@FotrosResistancee