In his statement, Pezeshkian noted that the "difficulties and hardships" faced by the Iranian people are largely a result of years of hostility and harsh sanctions imposed by the U.S. government and its partners.
On the same day, January 17, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed support for the protesters in Iran, stating that the Iranian authorities are using repression and violence to maintain power, and it is time to "seek new leadership" for the country. However, he did not specify any particular candidates.
Protests began in Iran on December 29, 2025, against the backdrop of a sharp devaluation of the rial. According to Reuters, the number of deaths during the protests exceeded 5,000, including about 500 security personnel. Trump has repeatedly threatened military action against Iran in response to the killings of protesters, but on January 16, he changed his decision and backed away from an attack, as Iranian authorities did not execute protest participants. Khamenei accused Trump of being responsible for the deaths of the protesters.
