Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned on Monday against foreign-backed unrest in the Islamic Republic, underlining importance of distinguishing between legitimate protesters from those connected to foreign intelligence services.
Speaking during an open parliamentary session on Monday, Ghalibaf said the directives by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei on distinguishing between protesters from rioters provides a clear and effective roadmap.
Dialogue with protesters is essential, noting that their demands are legitimate and that all efforts must be directed toward restoring economic stability, the Iranian speaker stated, as quoted by IRNA news agency.
He stated that the Iranian government is seriously committed to addressing public concerns, expressing hope that planned measures would respond to legitimate demands.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Islamic Republic’s parliament, echoing remarks by @khamenei_ir about protesters, said that those who oppose the regime must be “confronted effectively.” He claimed the protestors “directly or indirectly connected to intelligence services.”… pic.twitter.com/vLlrZ89GaI
— Ali Hamedani (@alihamedanii) January 5, 2026
At the same time, Ghalibaf warned that individuals directly or indirectly linked to foreign intelligence services, whose role is to hijack protests and turn them into unrest, must be confronted in a smart and effective manner to protect public security and social calm.
He added that throughout history, the Iranian nation has confronted mercenaries and traitors, and that enemies will once again be defeated despite deploying extensive intelligence, security, and media resources.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Ghalibaf said the world is witnessing the stage in which Israeli war crimes in Gaza are carried out openly, resulting in the killing of large numbers of women, children, and civilians, while such actions are celebrated in the US Congress despite condemnation in international courts.
He also pointed to the abduction of Venezuela’s legally elected president, calling it a clear violation of international law.