Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Iran faces an enemy "at the peak of wealth, force and deceit" whilst speaking at a pro-government rally in Tehran on January 12.

"Today the Islamic Republic faces an enemy who is at the peak of wealth, force and deceit, and through plundering the world and with arrogance, an arrogant spirit and tyrannical nature, has seized this wealth, force and deceit with this character and this power from the nations of the world, from the countries of the world," Ghalibaf told supporters gathered for the demonstration in reference to the Trump administration.

He claimed Iran simultaneously fights on multiple fronts. "The wise and beloved nation of Iran today simultaneously fights this enemy on four fronts: in economic war, in cognitive and psychological war, in the military war of America and the Zionist [Israel] regime combined together, and today in terrorist war," he said.

"We thank Almighty God that this nation, this great nation, has never allowed the enemy to achieve his goals and has prevented any action that he wishes to impose on this nation in any field, whether military, political, economic or in terrorist war. This nation stands with pride, with power," Ghalibaf said.

He attributed Iran's success to popular support. "One of the most important and fundamental reasons for our victory over the enemy was that our people came to the field. Against the foreigner, our people provided support," he added.

Ghalibaf claimed the US miscalculated Iranian public response. "Our enemy thought that if they came with a military attack, our people would become scattered. They have always made mistakes about this great nation of Iran with these wrong calculations, wrong perceptions and wrong analyses. This time too, they made a mistake," he said.

He referenced the 12-day conflict with Israel in June 2025. "The ninety-million-strong core of the Iranian people, with every language, with every ethnicity, with every religion, with every denomination, with every dialect, with every political inclination, stood united and cohesive against the foreign enemy in the twelve-day war," Ghalibaf added.

The parliament speaker concluded with effusive praise for Iranian citizens.

"I have a duty to first bow my head in respect before this historical awareness, this sense of responsibility, this risk-taking and magnanimity of the Iranian people, this insight, this forbearance, this courage, this affection, and to be grateful to these people, and I sacrifice myself for such a nation and people who are present in the field in this manner during difficult days and have forgiven every mistake and stood firm against the enemy for our beloved Iran," he said.

The pro-government rallies took place as protests that began on December 29 entered their third week.

Human rights organisations have documented at least 500 deaths through January 12, though US and Israeli officials suggest the actual toll is significantly higher with some figures putting the death toll at more than 4,000.

Iranian authorities have blamed the US and Israel for backing the protests, describing demonstrators as foreign-backed terrorists.

President Masoud Pezeshkian called on January 11 for loyalist Iranians to take to the streets to oppose the unrest.

Iran has maintained a near-total internet blackout since January 8, severely limiting independent verification of events inside the country.