Tehran, Iran – In a fiery speech, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has lashed out at US President Donald Trump, calling him a “criminal” for his backing of the ongoing protests sweeping the country.
Khamenei’s comments came as the Iranian government continued its crackdown on the widespread demonstrations, which were sparked by anger over soaring inflation, a collapsing currency and worsening economic hardships. The unrest has rapidly transformed from protests over living costs into broader anti-government rallies demanding regime change.
Addressing the nation on Thursday, Khamenei acknowledged for the first time that thousands of people had been killed in the protests, with some dying in an “inhumane, savage manner”. He blamed the US for the high death toll, accusing Trump of supporting the demonstrators.
“An attack on the great leader of our country is tantamount to a full-scale war with the Iranian nation,” President Massoud Pezeshkian warned on Sunday, in an apparent response to speculation that Trump may be considering an attempt to assassinate or remove Khamenei.
Trump has called for an end to Khamenei’s nearly 40-year reign, describing him as a “sick man who should run his country properly and stop killing people”. The US president also urged Iranians to “take over your institutions” and said “help is on its way”.
The latest wave of unrest began on 28 December, with widespread anger spilling out of Tehran and into cities across the country. Authorities responded on 8 January by imposing a near-total internet and phone service shutdown, cutting off most global connectivity in an effort to suppress communication and stifle independent reporting.
At least 5,000 people have been killed in the protests, including around 500 security personnel, according to an Iranian official. The Human Rights Activists News Agency says 24,348 protesters have been arrested in the crackdown.
While no protests have been reported for days, with the streets returning to an uneasy calm, some Iranians have been chanting anti-Khamenei slogans from the windows of their homes, witnesses said.