In his speech on Friday, January 19, following the largest street presence of people on the twelfth night of the new wave of protests, Ali Khamenei declared: "The Islamic Republic will not back down."

The leader of the Islamic Republic described the protesters as "a bunch of destroyers, rioters, and harmful individuals for the country" and added that they acted on Thursday night to "welcome the heart of the President of the United States by destroying the country's buildings." He emphasized: "In the face of those who are destructive, the Islamic Republic will not back down."

Khamenei also referred to Donald Trump's message, which warned the Islamic Republic officials that if they kill protesters, he will take action against the Iranian government. He went on to accuse Trump of having "blood on his hands from the 12-day war between Iran and Israel" and said: "Now he says he supports the Iranian people, and a bunch of inattentive and thoughtless people believe him."