Iran's Supreme Leader Accuses Trump of Criminality for Supporting Protests and Blames Demonstrators for Deaths

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned US President Donald Trump as a criminal for his support of Iranian protesters, attributing thousands of deaths to the demonstrations. Khamenei's remarks highlight ongoing tensions between Iran and the US amid significant unrest.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei criticised US President Donald Trump, labelling him a "criminal" for backing Iranian protesters. In a televised address, Khamenei accused demonstrators of causing thousands of deaths since protests began on December 28. This marked the first time an Iranian leader acknowledged the scale of casualties from the crackdown. He claimed the US aims to dominate Iran's resources and called protesters "foot soldiers" for America.

Trump responded by urging an end to Khamenei's nearly four-decade rule, describing him as a "sick man" who should govern properly. Trump stated, "His country is the worst place to live anywhere in the world because of poor leadership." He also suggested that Iran needs new leadership. The exchange followed Trump's earlier comments about Iran cancelling over 800 executions, which he respected but did not verify.

Protests and Internet Restrictions

Iran has returned to a tense calm after severe repression of protests that began over economic issues. The crackdown resulted in at least 3,095 deaths, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. This death toll surpasses any previous unrest in Iran since the 1979 revolution. The agency relies on activists within Iran to confirm fatalities, though the AP has not independently verified these figures.

During the protests, authorities blocked internet access on January 8. However, limited internet services resumed briefly on Saturday. Text messaging and some local websites became accessible, with some users reporting limited international access via VPNs. The reason for this partial restoration remains unclear, though it may relate to business needs as the Iranian workweek begins.

International Reactions and Accusations

Iranian officials have repeatedly accused the US and Israel of inciting unrest. President Masoud Pezeshkian discussed these allegations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Tehran Prosecutor General Ali Salehi dismissed Trump's remarks about cancelling executions as irrelevant. Salehi emphasised Iran's strict approach towards offenders but did not provide further details.

Khamenei alleged that rioters had foreign-supplied live ammunition but did not specify any countries involved. He stated that while Iran does not seek war, it will not ignore domestic or international offenders. He urged officials to pursue these cases diligently.

Calls for Further Protests

Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi called for renewed protests from Saturday to Monday, but no new demonstrations were reported by Saturday afternoon. Pahlavi, whose father was overthrown in 1979, has support among monarchists abroad but struggles to gain traction within Iran. Despite this, he positions himself as a potential transitional leader if the current government falls.

No signs of protests have been observed in Tehran recently, with daily life returning to normalcy. State media have not reported any new unrest either. Meanwhile, internet monitoring services noted slight increases in connectivity on Saturday morning.

The situation in Iran remains tense as authorities continue to manage the aftermath of recent protests and international scrutiny intensifies.

With inputs from PTI