Former US President Donald Trump has launched a fierce verbal attack on Iran's Supreme Leader, labelling him a "sick man" and declaring Iran the "worst place to live" in the world. This incendiary response came after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei directly accused Trump of fuelling deadly anti-government protests.
A War of Words Escalates
The diplomatic spat intensified when Ayatollah Khamenei, in a speech broadcast on Iranian state television on Saturday, branded Trump a "criminal". He claimed the US president's support for protesters led to a bloody crackdown, resulting in the deaths of "several thousand" people. This marked the first official Iranian acknowledgement of the scale of casualties from unrest that began on December 28.
Khamenei asserted that Trump had personally encouraged "seditious people" and offered military support. He described the protesters as American "foot soldiers" and reiterated long-standing accusations that the US seeks domination over Iran's resources.
Trump's Scathing Retort
In a swift and characteristically blunt retort given in an interview with Politico, Trump dismissed the Iranian leader's claims and fired back with his own criticisms. He called for an end to Khamenei's nearly four-decade reign, stating it was "time to look for new leadership in Iran."
"The man is a sick man who should run his country properly and stop killing people," Trump stated. He placed the blame for Iran's condition squarely on its leadership, adding, "His country is the worst place to live anywhere in the world because of poor leadership."
Protest Death Toll Revealed
The core of this exchange revolves around the significant human cost of the recent protests. While independent estimates had circulated for weeks, Khamenei's admission that "several thousand" may have died provided a grim, state-linked figure. This suggests the death toll could exceed 3,000, following a severe government crackdown on the demonstrations.
The verbal clash underscores the persistently hostile relationship between the US and Iran, which has endured across American administrations. Trump's call for regime change echoes the hardline stance of his presidency, while Khamenei's rhetoric reinforces the Iranian establishment's view of the US as a malign foreign influence seeking to destabilise the nation.
