Iran's Supreme Leader Labels Trump a 'Criminal' Amid Ongoing Protests
Khamenei's Strong Condemnation of US Involvement
In a recent address, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned US President Donald Trump, labeling him a 'criminal' for his support of Iranian protesters. Khamenei accused the demonstrators of being responsible for thousands of deaths during the protests that erupted on December 28, marking the first time an Iranian official has disclosed the scale of casualties.
Khamenei stated, "In this revolt, the US president made remarks in person, encouraged seditious people to go ahead and said: 'We do support you, we do support you militarily.'" He reiterated his belief that the US aims to dominate Iran's economic and political landscape.
He further claimed, "We do consider the US president a criminal, because of casualties and damages, because of accusations against the Iranian nation." Khamenei characterized the protesters as 'foot soldiers' of the US, accusing them of vandalizing mosques and educational institutions, stating, "Through hurting people, they killed several thousand of them."
Trump's Mixed Signals
Just a day prior, Trump had adopted a more conciliatory stance, noting that Iran had canceled the execution of over 800 individuals, expressing respect for this decision. However, he did not clarify the source of this information. His remarks suggested a potential shift away from military action.
Recently, Trump had assured Iranian protesters that 'help is on the way' and indicated that his administration would respond if the violence against demonstrators continued or if authorities executed detained protesters.
Iran's Response to Protests
Khamenei claimed that rioters were armed with live ammunition sourced from abroad, although he did not specify any countries. He stated, "We do not plan, we do not take the country toward war. But we do not release domestic offenders; there are international offenders. We do not let them alone either," urging officials to pursue these cases.
Following the severe crackdown on protests that began over Iran's struggling economy, the country has returned to a tense calm. Reports indicate that at least 3,090 individuals have died, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, marking the deadliest protests in decades and reminiscent of the turmoil during the 1979 revolution.
Limited Internet Access Restored
In recent days, Tehran has shown no signs of protests, with daily life appearing to return to normal. Following a complete internet blackout on January 8, limited text messaging and internet services were briefly restored, allowing some access to local websites and international services through VPNs.
Monitoring services reported slight increases in connectivity, although the reasons behind this restoration remain unclear. It is speculated that officials may have reactivated some systems to facilitate business operations as the Iranian workweek commenced.
Calls for Renewed Protests
Despite the return to normalcy, exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi called for renewed protests from Saturday to Monday, though there was little indication that his appeal was heeded. Pahlavi, whose father was ousted during the 1979 Islamic Revolution, has a loyal following among monarchists in the diaspora but struggles to gain broader support within Iran.