Ayatollah Ali Khamenei<\/a> made the remarks during a public address Saturday, blaming the U.S.<\/a> for the unrest and violence and saying some protesters died “in an inhuman, savage manner,” the BBC reported.<\/p>\n The protests, which began in late December over economic conditions, later expanded into calls for an end to Iran\u2019s ruling system<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n U.S.-based Iranian Human Rights Activists News Agency estimates that more than 3,000 people were killed over roughly three<\/a> weeks of unrest, though Iranian authorities have not released an official death toll.<\/p>\n According to the BBC, nationwide internet shutdowns have made independent verification difficult, with connectivity dropping to roughly 2% of normal levels, citing data from cyber monitoring group NetBlocks.<\/p>\n A ‘TEAR DOWN THE WALL’ MOMENT IN IRAN WILL DAMAGE BOTH THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC \u2014 AND CHINA<\/a><\/p>\n Iran\u2019s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reportedly acknowledged Saturday that thousands of people were killed during recent anti-government protests. (\u00a0Office of the Supreme Leader of Iran via Getty Images)<\/p>\n Videos authenticated by BBC Persian and BBC Verify show Iranian security forces firing on demonstrators during the unrest.<\/p>\n Trump told Politico<\/a> on Saturday that “it\u2019s time to look for new leadership in Iran,” after being read a series of hostile posts from Khamenei\u2019s X account accusing the president of responsibility for the violence.<\/p>\n “What he is guilty of, as the leader of a country, is the complete destruction of the country and the use of violence at levels never seen before,” Trump said, according to Politico. “Leadership is about respect, not fear and death.”<\/p>\n TOP IRANIAN GENERAL THREATENS TO ‘CUT OFF’ TRUMP’S HAND OVER POTENTIAL MILITARY STRIKES<\/a><\/p>\n President Donald Trump has said in recent days he was looking at “very strong options” including possible military involvement in Iran. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson\/AP Photo)<\/p>\n Trump went further in personal terms, telling Politico, “The man is a sick man who should run his country properly and stop killing people.”<\/p>\n “His country is the worst place to live anywhere in the world because of poor leadership,” Trump added.<\/p>\n Trump has previously urged Iranians to continue protesting and “take over institutions,” saying that “help is on its way,” according to Politico. The president later said he had been informed that the killings had stopped<\/a>.<\/p>\n “The best decision he ever made was not hanging more than 800 people two days ago,” Trump told Politico, when asked about the scope of potential U.S. military action<\/a>.<\/p>\n Demonstrators burn a poster depicting Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a rally in support of anti-government protests in Iran, in Holon, Israel Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026.\u00a0 (AP Photo\/Ohad Zwigenberg)<\/p>\n In a series of posts on X posts, Khamenei accused Trump of responsibility for the violence, writing, “We find the US President guilty due to the casualties, damages and slander he inflicted upon the Iranian nation.”<\/p>\n In another post, Khamenei claimed that “America’s goal is to devour Iran.”<\/p>\n![\"Iranian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1768709528_507_iran-khamenei-address-flag.jpg\")
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