Anti-Khamenei protests have now spilt beyond Iran, with their impact seen in London as well. A video circulating online shows a protester climbing the Iranian embassy building in London and tearing down the national flag.
The video captions, "End of the Regime is guaranteed! The Iranian regimeâs flag was torn down from the Iranian embassy in London."
According to reports, London police arrested two people following the incident and deployed additional forces in the area.
The protests come amid growing unrest against Iranâs Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. As demonstrations continue, Khamenei has warned of a strong crackdown on those he called agitators.
He has also issued warnings to Israel and the United States, saying there will be retaliation if America interferes in Iranâs internal matters.
Earlier in the day, Iranâs Parliament met to discuss the ongoing protests that have shaken the country. During the session, lawmakers were heard chanting slogans including âDeath to America!â.
Economic crisis fuels fresh unrest across Iran
The current unrest is being seen as a continuation of the anger that has existed for years. In 2022, Iran witnessed massive protests after the death of Mahsa Amini, which led to nationwide demonstrations against the compulsory hijab law. Women openly removed their hijabs and cut their hair in public, directly challenging the authority of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. That movement was eventually crushed by the government through arrests, violence, and strict repression, with at least 551 people losing their lives.
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Though the protests were suppressed, public anger never fully disappeared. It has now resurfaced, driven mainly by severe economic problems. Iran is facing high inflation, rising unemployment, and sharp increases in food prices, which have made daily life difficult for many citizens.
For the past 14 days, protests have been spreading across different parts of Iran. Like earlier movements, the current unrest is also finding strong expression on social media, with viral videos drawing global attention. Many ordinary Iranians are now demanding changes in both political and religious leadership.
The governmentâs response has once again been forceful. Over the last 13 days, at least 42 people have reportedly been killed, and more than 2,000 protesters have been arrested. On Friday, Khamenei described the protesters as âforeign spies,â âviolent rioters,â and âagents of Israel and the United States.â