Khamenei Accuses US and Trump of Incitement
Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has publicly attributed the recent wave of deadly protests across the country to incitement by the United States and former President Donald Trump. In a speech delivered on Saturday, January 17, 2026, Khamenei acknowledged that 'thousands' of people had been killed during the unrest, with some deaths occurring in an 'inhuman, savage manner.' He branded Trump a 'criminal' for his perceived role in supporting the demonstrations and accused the U.S. of attempting to re-establish 'military, political and economic domination' over Iran.
Khamenei's remarks, broadcast by state television, framed the protests as an 'American conspiracy' and 'sedition' orchestrated by Iran's adversaries, including Israel. He asserted that 'those linked to Israel and the US caused massive damage and killed several thousand,' alleging they were responsible for starting fires, destroying public property, and inciting chaos.
Protests Erupt Over Economic Hardship and Escalate
The widespread protests began on December 28, 2025, initially sparked by growing discontent over economic hardship, including a sudden decline in the value of the rial. The demonstrations quickly escalated beyond economic grievances, transforming into nationwide calls for an end to the clerical rule of the Islamic Republic.
Iranian authorities responded to the unrest with a brutal crackdown, including a near-total shutdown of internet and communication services, making it difficult to verify information from within the country. Thousands of individuals were arrested, with officials warning of severe punishments, including potential death sentences under the Islamic legal term 'mohareb,' meaning to wage war against God.
Conflicting Reports on Death Toll
While Supreme Leader Khamenei acknowledged 'several thousand deaths,' human rights organizations have provided their own estimates. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported that it had verified 3,090 deaths, including 2,885 protesters, and over 22,000 arrests. Other sources, citing contacts within Iran, suggested the death toll could be significantly higher, with some reports indicating figures between 12,000 and 20,000.
The government's efforts to suppress information, including the internet blackout and alleged threats to families of victims, have complicated efforts to ascertain the precise number of casualties.
Donald Trump's Stance and Calls for New Leadership
Throughout the period of unrest, former U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly voiced support for the Iranian protesters. He issued warnings of 'very strong action' if the Iranian government continued its crackdown or executed detained demonstrators. Trump also publicly called for 'new leadership in Iran' and an end to Khamenei's rule, describing the Supreme Leader as a 'sick man.'
At one point, Trump thanked Iranian leaders via social media for allegedly halting mass hangings, a claim that Iranian officials subsequently denied, stating there were 'no plan to hang people.' These conflicting narratives underscore the deep diplomatic tensions surrounding the events in Iran.
6 Comments
Raphael
Khamenei is absolutely right; this is foreign-backed sedition, not genuine protest.
Michelangelo
The US wants to control our resources. They use any excuse to interfere.
Donatello
The Supreme Leader is delusional. The protests are real, and they're against him.
Raphael
While the US certainly has a history of intervention in the region, it's hard to ignore the widespread internal economic grievances that initially sparked these protests. Blaming everything on external actors might be an oversimplification.
Donatello
It's true that some external actors might try to capitalize on unrest, but the core issue remains the Iranian people's deep dissatisfaction with their government. Attributing all dissent to foreign plots dismisses legitimate calls for change.
Mariposa
Trump always fuels chaos. He's directly responsible for encouraging violence.