Khamenei Accuses Trump of Being a Criminal Over Alleged Harm and Casualties in Iran

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, launched a sharp attack on US President Donald Trump on Saturday, branding him a “criminal” for what he described as the harm, casualties, and defamation inflicted on the Iranian nation. In strongly worded remarks, Khamenei accused the United States of orchestrating the recent unrest in Iran while stressing that his government would not be forced into an armed conflict.

Speaking in comments carried by local media outlet Iran International, Khamenei said, “We consider the US president a criminal for the casualties, damages, and the slander he inflicted on the Iranian nation.” His remarks came amid heightened tensions following widespread protests and allegations of foreign involvement in the disturbances.

Khamenei asserted that while Iran would act with restraint at the state level, it would not show leniency toward those it believes are responsible for bloodshed. “We will not drag the country into war, but we will not let domestic or international criminals go unpunished,” he said, underlining what he described as Iran’s measured but firm approach.

The Supreme Leader claimed that the recent wave of unrest was the result of an American plot aimed at weakening Iran. “The recent unrest was an American plot, and the United States’ goal is to devour Iran,” Khamenei declared, portraying the protests as being backed by foreign forces rather than arising solely from internal grievances.

He went further to directly accuse Donald Trump of intervening in the turmoil. “Trump himself intervened in this unrest, made statements, encouraged the rioters, and said we will provide military support,” Khamenei claimed, alleging active involvement by the US president.

According to Khamenei, Washington’s broader objective was to establish “domination over Iran.” He also accused US officials of distorting the nature of the protests, alleging that Trump had portrayed Iranian citizens as “vandals” in public statements.

“The Iranian nation, just as it broke the back of the riot, must also break the back of those who instigated it,” Khamenei said, emphasizing a hardline stance against both internal dissenters and foreign actors. He added that Iran would not forgive what it sees as domestic and international criminals responsible for the unrest.

Meanwhile, Iran International, a media outlet critical of the Islamic Republic, reported that it had received new information suggesting that the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its affiliated proxy groups played a significant role in the deaths of demonstrators.

Iranian officials have not publicly responded to or confirmed these allegations. The same publication claimed, citing official sources and an analysis of medical data, that at least 12,000 people were killed during protests over two nights on January 8 and 9.

Although casualty figures remain disputed, if verified, such numbers would mark one of the deadliest periods of unrest in Iran’s recent history. Independent confirmation of the data has not been made available.

Amid the turmoil, Iranian royal Reza Pahlavi, who lives in exile, called on citizens to demonstrate their opposition by participating in nightly national chants from Saturday through Monday at 8 pm local time.

Eyewitnesses reported that Iranian authorities have significantly increased the deployment of security forces in and around several cities. Regulations have reportedly been tightened, and patrols intensified in an effort to prevent renewed demonstrations.

Rights Groups Report Thousands Killed

Human Rights activists have claimed that more than 3,000 people were killed during Iran’s nationwide protests, as authorities moved to suppress demonstrations and partially restored internet access after an eight-day blackout.

While Iranian state media reported further arrests, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said it had verified 3,090 deaths, including 2,885 demonstrators.

The Iranian government has described armed individuals involved in the unrest as “terrorists” posing as protestors and has accused the United States and Israel of engineering the turmoil.

Residents in Tehran said the capital has remained relatively calm over the past four days, with drones visible overhead but no major protests reported.

The protests, which began on December 28 over economic grievances, quickly spread nationwide and evolved into calls for an end to clerical rule, marking the worst unrest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Opposition groups and at least one Iranian official have estimated that more than 2,000 people were killed during the unrest, though figures vary widely.

US President Donald Trump had earlier claimed that Iran had halted preparations to execute demonstrators, though Tehran has neither confirmed nor acknowledged such actions.

According to Iranian media reports, several alleged protest “ringleaders” have been arrested following intelligence operations carried out by security agencies.