Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has launched a fierce verbal assault on former US President Donald Trump, holding him directly responsible for the 'casualties, damages and slander' inflicted on Iran during recent anti-government demonstrations.
The Social Media Offensive
In his first post on his Persian-language X account since 12 January, Khamenei shifted blame for the domestic unrest squarely onto foreign powers. He asserted that the protests were a direct result of 'American sedition', with the ultimate US aim being 'to swallow Iran'. The Supreme Leader accused demonstrators of acting on behalf of Trump and other 'foreign terrorists', and also pointed the finger at 'those linked to Israel and the US' for causing massive damage and killing 'several thousands'.
Khamenei declared, "The Iranian nation broke the back of sedition; it must also break the back of the seditionists. We are not leading the country to war, but we will not abandon the domestic and international criminals of American sedition either."
From 'Locked and Loaded' to Conciliation
This rhetoric follows a week of heightened tension. Trump had warned the Iranian government not to kill protesters, stating he was 'locked and loaded' and telling demonstrators 'help is on the way'. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed that 'all options remain on the table', and Iran's closure of its airspace last Wednesday suggested a US strike was imminent.
However, the situation de-escalated after Trump was reportedly persuaded by advisors against military action. US allies in the Middle East urged restraint, fearing regional destabilisation and global economic fallout. Officials reportedly advised Trump that strikes alone were unlikely to topple the Iranian regime and expressed uncertainty over targeting military sites. There were also concerns about the US military's capacity for a prolonged campaign.
A Shift in Tone and a Rising Death Toll
By Friday, Trump's stance had shifted markedly. He took the unusual step of publicly thanking the Iranian government, claiming it had cancelled the execution of over 800 political prisoners, a move he said he 'greatly respected'. This contrasted sharply with his earlier threats.
On the ground in Tehran, visible protests have ceased for several days, with shopping and street life returning to an outward normality, though a week-long internet blackout persists. Authorities report no further unrest elsewhere in the country.
Despite the calm, the human cost is stark. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency estimates the death toll at 3,090. This figure, which continues to rise, surpasses that of any other round of protest in Iran for decades and evokes memories of the 1979 revolution's chaos.
