Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has publicly acknowledged the deaths of thousands of people during recent nationwide protests. It is an unusual admission from the religious leadership, coming amid a horrific crackdown that has attracted international attention.
This has been mentioned in a report by Fox News. In a televised address on Saturday, Khamenei said the unrest, which began in late December due to economic difficulties and widespread political grievances, had resulted in the deaths of “several thousand” people.
He described some deaths as the result of “inhumane, barbaric” conditions, but blamed the United States and other foreign forces rather than Iranian security forces.
Khamenei accused US President Donald Trump of instigating the demonstrations, which initially focused on rising costs and inflation but later transformed into broader anti-government demonstrations. He called Trump a “criminal” for commenting on and supporting the movement from afar.
According to Fox News, he said the protesters were misled by foreign powers and that authorities would not leave unpunished those he called “criminals.”
These protests have been condemned by human rights organizations, who estimate that more than 3,000 people have died in clashes between protesters and security forces, although exact figures are difficult to confirm due to intermittent internet shutdowns imposed by Iranian authorities.
Responding to Khamenei’s comments, Trump stepped up his rhetoric, saying “it is time to look for new leadership” in Iran.
In an interview with Politico, he criticized the way the religious establishment handled the unrest and personally condemned Khamenei’s role in the violence, calling him unfit for leadership.
Trump said, “As the leader of a country, he is guilty of completely destroying the country and using unprecedented levels of violence. Leadership is about respect, not fear and death.”
Trump further said, “That man is a sick man who should run his country properly and stop killing people. His country is the worst place to live in the world because of bad leadership.”
This important exchange comes at a time when global attention has turned to Iran’s internal political stability and fears of further international pressure.
Meanwhile, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei continued to blame America. “The recent treason was orchestrated by America. America planned and acted. America’s goal is to annex Iran,” he posted on Twitter.
However, daily life in Tehran and other major cities is showing signs of returning to normal after weeks of protests and security operations.
