Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hails mass pro‑regime rallies as a “historic” defeat of alleged U.S. and Israeli plots, saying the “great Iranian nation” has shattered enemies’ schemes and warning Washington to stop relying on “internal hirelings.” Even as state media blame foreign powers for the bloodshed, reports say U.S. military commanders are counseling restraint on potential strikes and American and Iranian officials are quietly exploring limited diplomatic contacts to manage unrest and avoid a broader Middle East escalation.