Khamenei calls Trump ‘criminal’ for inciting anti-govt protests
Hardline cleric calls for executions, threatens US
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday branded US President Donald Trump a “criminal” for supporting protesters in Iran, and blamed demonstrators for causing thousands of deaths. Meanwhile, a senior hardline cleric has called for the death penalty for detained demonstrators and directly threatened Trump — evidence of the rage gripping authorities in the Islamic Republic.
There have been no signs of protests for days in Tehran, where shopping and street life have returned to outward normality, though a week-old internet blackout continued.
In a speech broadcast by state television, Khamenei said the protests had left “several thousand” people dead — the first indication from an Iranian leader of the extent of the casualties from the wave of protests that began December 28 and led to a bloody crackdown.
“In this revolt, the US President made remarks in person, encouraged seditious people to go ahead and said: ‘We do support you, we do support you militarily’,” said Khamenei, who has final say on all state matters.
