Khamenei Acknowledges Thousands Killed in Iran Unrest
Teheran: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has publicly acknowledged for the first time that thousands of people have been killed during recent nationwide protests, Fox News reported; This marks a rare confession from religious leaders amid a violent crackdown that has drawn international attention.
In a televised speech on Saturday, Khamenei said the unrest, which began in late December over economic difficulties and broader political troubles, had resulted in “several thousand” deaths. He noted that some casualties occurred under “inhumane, brutal” conditions but placed blame on the United States and other foreign actors rather than Iranian security forces.
Khamenei accused US President Donald Trump of encouraging demonstrations that initially focused on rising costs and inflation and later turned into broader anti-regime protests. He called Trump “criminal” for commenting on and supporting the movement from afar.
He suggested that protesters were being manipulated by foreign powers and said authorities would not allow those he described as “criminals” to go unpunished, according to Fox News.
The protests were condemned by human rights organizations, which estimated that more than 3,000 people were killed in clashes between demonstrators and security forces. Exact figures remain difficult to verify, in part due to intermittent internet blackouts by Iranian authorities.
Responding to Khamenei’s words, Trump stepped up his rhetoric, saying that “it is time to look for new leadership” in Iran.
In an interview with Politico, Trump criticized the religious establishment’s handling of the unrest and personally condemned Khamenei’s role in the violence, stating that he was unfit to lead.
“As the leader of a country, what he is guilty of is the complete destruction of the country and the use of violence on an unprecedented level,” Trump said. “Leadership is about respect, not fear and death.”
“This man is a sick man who needs to run his country properly and stop killing people. His country is the worst place to live anywhere in the world because of poor leadership,” Trump added.
This high-stakes exchange comes at a time when global attention is focused on Iran’s domestic political stability and the possibility of greater international pressure.
Meanwhile, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei continued to blame the USA by posting the following on X: “The recent sedition was planned by the USA. The USA made the planning and took action. The purpose of the USA is to swallow Iran.”
Despite the tensions, daily life in Tehran and other major cities has begun to show signs of returning to normal after weeks of protests and increased security operations.
