Iran’s Khamenei Calls Trump ‘Criminal’ for Protest Casualties and Damage

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday called U.S. President Donald Trump a “criminal,” blaming him for casualties and damage during the recent protests.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday accused U.S. President Donald Trump of being a “criminal” for what he called Washington’s role in supporting nationwide unrest that has shaken the country.

Khamenei said security forces, officials and ordinary citizens had managed to contain the disturbances, which he claimed caused “harm to the people and damage to the nation,” but he underscored the need to investigate the “nature, causes and objectives” of the protests.

He described the upheaval as having an “American character,” arguing that successive U.S. policies aimed to restore political, military and economic dominance over Iran, and said U.S. officials viewed Iran’s geographic position, population and technological capacity as intolerable.

The unrest, which erupted on Dec. 28 over economic hardship, has since escalated into widespread anti-government demonstrations, drawing comparisons to the largest protests in decades. According to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), more than 3,090 people have been killed, including 2,885 protesters, as part of one of the deadliest crackdowns since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Iranian authorities imposed a near-total internet blackout for days during the unrest, limiting communications and reporting, but limited connectivity has since returned, offering glimpses of large security deployments and quiet streets where protests once surged.

Khamenei’s remarks came a day after Trump, speaking during a trip to Florida, thanked Tehran for reportedly halting the execution of more than 800 detainees and said the development had influenced his stance against military escalation.

Trump has previously warned Iran against violent crackdowns and suggested support for protesters, a stance Tehran’s government has condemned as interference in its internal affairs.

International rights groups and foreign governments have called for restraint and accountability in Iran, saying respect for human rights and open dialogue are essential to addressing domestic grievances without further bloodshed.

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