For the first time, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has admitted that thousands of people were killed during the country’s recent nationwide protests, a rare acknowledgment from the clerical leadership amid a harsh crackdown that has drawn international attention, Fox News reported.Speaking in a televised address on Saturday, Khamenei said the unrest, which began in late December over economic hardships and wider political grievances, resulted in “several thousand” deaths. He described some of the casualties as caused by “inhuman, savage” conditions, but pointed the finger at the United States and other foreign actors rather than Iran’s own security forces.Supreme Leader Khamenei also accused US President Donald Trump of encouraging the recent demonstrations in Iran, which began over rising costs and inflation but later turned into broader anti-regime protests. Khamenei called Trump a “criminal” for commenting on and supporting the movement from afar. He claimed protesters were being manipulated by foreign powers and warned that authorities would not allow what he termed “criminals” to go unpunished, Fox News reported.Human rights organisations have condemned the crackdown, estimating that more than 3,000 people have died in clashes between demonstrators and security forces. Exact figures remain difficult to verify, in part due to intermittent internet shutdowns imposed by Iranian authorities.In response, Trump intensified his rhetoric, saying it was “time to look for new leadership” in Iran. In an interview with Politico, he criticised the clerical establishment’s handling of the unrest and condemned Khamenei’s role in the violence, calling him unfit to lead.”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. “Leadership is about respect, not fear and death.”He added, “The man is a sick man who should run his country properly and stop killing people. His country is the worst place to live anywhere in the world because of poor leadership.”The exchange comes as global attention focuses on Iran’s political stability and the possibility of further international pressure.Meanwhile, Khamenei continued to accuse the US, posting on X: “The recent sedition was orchestrated by the US. The US did the planning and took action. The US’s goal is to devour Iran.”Despite the tension, daily life in Tehran and other major cities shows signs of returning to normal after weeks of protests and security operations.
