Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the last shah of Iran, thanked President Donald Trump for his "support" of Iranian protesters.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed not to yield after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to come to the aid of protesters, as rights groups reported a sharp rise in arrests following days of unrest sparked by soaring inflation.

The first comments by 86-year-old Ayatollah Ali Khamenei come as violence surrounding the demonstrations sparked by Iran's ailing economy has killed at least 10 people.

Trump threatens U.S. intervention if Iran violently suppresses ongoing protests, escalating tensions after last year's 12-day war between Israel and Iran.

U.S. sanctions on Iran have taken a heavy toll on the country’s economy, contributing to the current protest movement.

U.S. President Donald Trump and top Iranian officials have exchanged dueling threats as widening economic protests sweep across parts of the Islamic Republic.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Saturday that grievances behind nationwide protests were justified, but accused external forces of inciting the unrest and vowed to crack down on rioters.

Iran’s exiled opposition leader, Reza Pahlavi, his issued a New Year's message to his compatriots that “the current regime has reached the end of the road" in comments that come as protests in the country have escalated and turned fatal.