In his address, which was shown on Iranian state television, Khamenei stated: “The President of the United States is a criminal who is responsible for the victims and the damage inflicted on the Iranian people.”
He also noted that Donald Trump incited the protesters, even promising them military support.
The Supreme Leader added that the protesters were armed with firearms that came from abroad, but he did not specify which country they were obtained from.
Khamenei mentioned that the authorities plan to hold accountable both the protesters and those whom they believe incited them.
“We are not involving the country in war, but we will not leave unpunished either domestic offenders or international criminals,” he said.
According to Iranian human rights defenders from HRANA, more than three thousand people have died as a result of the brutal suppression of protests in Iran, as reported by the BBC Russian Service. Some human rights organizations claim that the death toll could be significantly higher. Access to reliable information from Iran is complicated due to internet blockages in the country.
Previously, Donald Trump urged Iranian demonstrators to continue their protests and stated that if the Iranian authorities begin repression, the U.S. might consider military intervention.
Trump also mentioned that the U.S. is considering several “very tough” options against Iran. Reports indicate that he even contemplated the possibility of striking Iran; however, as of January 17, such strikes had not been carried out. On January 15, AFP reported that the authorities of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman convinced Trump to postpone an attack on Iran. However, on January 16, Trump stated that no one persuaded him to refrain from the strike, adding: “I convinced myself,” he explained to reporters.
