Trump, Netanyahu blocked all paths, prevented deals, says Iran President
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- Iranian President blames Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu for recent unrest, citing obstruction of deals.
- Over 3,000 killed in late 2025 protests, with human rights groups estimating more than 7,000 fatalities.
Iranian President Masoud Bzeshkian accused US President Donald Trump and 'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of inciting recent protests in Iran and blocking any progress on international agreements, calling them “enemies of the country” who have closed all avenues for negotiation.
Speaking Thursday to a group of intellectuals and social activists in Golestan province in northern Iran, Bzeshkian said the country’s youth should not bear responsibility for the unrest. He attributed the turmoil to government failings in providing adequate education and employment opportunities.
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“The enemy and the Zionists exploited the events in the country, contributing to problems and fueling tensions,” he said, urging citizens to focus on healing after the bloodshed. “The wounds are bitter, but they must be tended, not deepened until they become infected.”
Bzeshkian stressed the need for reconciliation and forward-looking solutions rather than continued disputes that leave Iran vulnerable to foreign interference.
Deadly Protests
Official figures report more than 3,000 deaths in the violent protests that erupted in late December 2025 and early January 2026. Activist-run news agencies based in the United States estimate the toll exceeds 7,000. The unrest stemmed from sharp economic deterioration, including currency collapse, high inflation, and rising unemployment.
Rising Tensions with Washington
The protests come amid escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington. US naval forces, including an aircraft carrier strike group, were deployed to the region following repeated threats from Trump over Iran’s crackdown on demonstrators.
Trump, speaking after a White House meeting with Netanyahu on Thursday, emphasized his desire for an agreement with Iran but warned of a “shock” if negotiations fail. He added that Netanyahu “understands our position” and described their discussions as productive.
Read more: Iran president accuses Trump, Netanyahu of fueling protests
The US and Iran plan another round of talks in the coming week, following what Trump called a “very good” first indirect negotiation session in Muscat, Oman. Tehran, however, maintains that Washington and Israel are fabricating pretexts for military intervention and insists on the lifting of Western sanctions in exchange for limits on its nuclear program.
Bzeshkian’s statements underscore Iran’s position that domestic unrest is being exploited by foreign powers, even as the country navigates both economic hardship and a tense international environment.
