Iran’s supreme leader blames US for protests

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused the United States and Donald Trump of being responsible for the “losses, damages and slander” in his country during the recent protests.

In a speech on Saturday, Khamenei acknowledged that thousands of people had been killed during the recent uprisings, “some in an inhumane and brutal manner” but blamed “rebels” for the deaths.

The US president urged Iranian anti-government demonstrators to “continue protesting” and threatened military intervention if security forces killed them.

According to the US-based Iranian Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), 3,090 people lost their lives in the protests in Iran due to the unrest over the economy that started on December 28.

The protests have since turned into calls for an end to the rule of Iran’s supreme leader.

The Iranian government has described the demonstrations as “riots” backed by Iran’s enemies.

Protesters were met with lethal force and internet and communications services were almost completely cut off.

There have been reports of less unrest in recent days, but developments on the ground remain unclear as internet access remains limited.

In his speech on Saturday, Khamenei said Iran considers President Trump “criminal” and that the United States should be “held responsible” for the recent unrest.

He also claimed on social media that “America’s goal is to swallow Iran.”

Trump has yet to respond to the religious leader and the BBC has contacted the White House for comment.

Donald Trump he said on wednesday He was told that “the killings in Iran have stopped”, but added that he did not rule out military action against the country.

His comments came after the US and UK reduced staff numbers at Al-Udeid air base in Qatar.

Officials told BBC’s US partner CBS that America’s partial withdrawal was a “precautionary measure”.