• Threatens to sink US warships
• Tehran holds commemoration in honour of those who perished during recent unrest

TEHRAN: Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Tuesday that US President Donald Trump would not succeed in destroying the Islamic republic, as authorities held a commemoration ceremony for thousands of people killed during recent unrest.

“In one of his recent speeches, the US president said that for 47 years America has not succeeded in destroying the Islamic republic... I tell you: you will not succeed either,” Khamenei said in a speech.

He also warned that the US warship deployed in the Gulf could be sunk, after Tehran announced it would partially shut down the strategic Strait of Hormuz will close for a few hours due to “security precautions” while Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards conduct military drills there.

“We constantly hear that they have sent a warship towards Iran. A warship is certainly a dangerous weapon, but even more dangerous is the weapon capable of sinking it,” he said.

Khamenei also expressed scepticism over the outcome of the negotiations with the US.

“If there are to be negotiations -- because there is no real room for negotiation -- determining the outcome of the negotiations in advance is a mistake and madness,” he said, referring to US calls for Iran to abandon its nuclear programme.

Memorial

The memorial, held at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla mosque, marked the 40th day since the deaths from unrest that followed nationwide protests over the rising cost of living.

Crowds carried Iranian flags and portraits of those killed as nationalist songs played and chants of “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” echoed through the venue.

Tehran has acknowledged that more than 3,000 people died during the unrest, including members of the security forces and bystanders, attributing the violence to “terrorist acts.”

Authorities say the protests began peacefully before turning into “foreign-instigated riots” involving killings and vandalism, which they blamed on the United States and Israel.

Senior officials, including First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref and Revolutionary Guards commander Esmail Qaani, attended the ceremony.

“Those who supported rioters and terrorists are criminals and will face the consequences,” Qaani said, according to Tasnim news agency.

On Friday, Iran said it had established a fact-finding committee to investigate the unrest, while authorities pledged swift trials for those involved in the violence.

State television has in recent weeks aired what it described as interrogation sessions with suspects accused of armed attacks on public property and security personnel.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2026