TEHRAN: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday dismissed warnings from US President Donald Trump, telling him to focus on problems at home as widespread protests over economic hardship continued to shake Iran.
Trump’s hands “are stained with the blood of more than a thousand Iranians” and predicted the “arrogant” US leader would be “overthrown” like the imperial dynasty that ruled Iran up to the 1979 revolution, Khamenei said.
Khamenei’s remarks came after Trump said the United States was monitoring the situation in Iran “very closely” and warned that Washington would respond forcefully if Iranian authorities intensified their crackdown on protesters.
“If they start killing people like they have in the past, I think they’re going to get hit very hard by the United States,” Trump said.
In response, Khamenei accused demonstrators of acting on behalf of foreign powers, alleging that rioters were attacking public property and serving as “mercenaries for foreigners.” He warned that Tehran would not tolerate such actions.
He accused Trump of having his hands “stained with the blood of more than a thousand Iranians” and predicted that the “arrogant” US president would eventually be overthrown, comparing him to Iran’s former imperial rulers toppled in the 1979 revolution.
Iran has witnessed its largest protests in nearly two weeks, driven by anger over rising prices, unemployment, and the rapid collapse of the national currency. Demonstrators have chanted slogans such as “death to the dictator” and set fire to official buildings, according to videos circulating online.
Internet monitoring group Netblocks said authorities imposed a nationwide internet blackout late Thursday, noting that the country had been offline for hours in what it described as an attempt to suppress the protests.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported that at least 34 protesters and four members of the security forces have been killed, with more than 2,200 people arrested. Iranian authorities have not released official casualty figures.
While Iranian officials say economic protests are legitimate and should be addressed through dialogue, security forces have responded to some demonstrations with tear gas amid violent clashes.
US Vice President JD Vance struck a more cautious tone, saying Washington supports peaceful protesters worldwide, including in Iran, while urging Tehran to pursue renewed negotiations with the United States over its nuclear programme.
The unrest, which began at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar in late December before spreading nationwide, comes as Iran faces mounting economic pressure from sanctions and stalled diplomacy, raising concerns about further instability and deteriorating relations with Washington.
