Khamenei Blames U.S. for Iran Protests and Deaths

Sat Jan 17 2026 17:06:17 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Iran's Supreme Leader accuses the U.S. of inciting violence during ongoing protests that have resulted in thousands of deaths, while protesters call for an end to his rule.

In a recent speech, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has placed blame on the U.S. and former President Donald Trump for the violent protests in Iran, which have led to over 3,000 deaths since their inception on December 28. Khamenei's comments come amidst ongoing unrest that began as economic protests but have evolved into widespread calls for regime change. The Iranian government has labeled these demonstrations as backed by foreign enemies, while Khamenei insists that the U.S. must be held accountable for the chaos. Internet restrictions continue to obscure the situation on the ground as the protests face violent repression.

Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has accused the US and Donald Trump of being responsible for 'casualties, damage and slander' in his country during recent protests.

During a speech on Saturday, Khamenei acknowledged that thousands of people had been killed in the unrest, which he termed 'inhuman and savage.' He attributed these deaths to 'seditionists' rather than the government crackdown.

The protests, which began on December 28 over economic grievances, have reportedly claimed 3,090 lives, according to US-based activists. The Iranian government, however, calls the protests 'riots' fueled by its enemies.

Protesters have faced deadly force and a near-total internet shutdown, making updates from the ground challenging to verify. Khamenei labeled Trump as a 'criminal' requiring accountability and claimed that the US aims to 'swallow Iran.' Trump's response has yet to materialize, but he previously encouraged demonstrators and hinted at possible military action if violence against them continues.

As the situation develops amidst ongoing restrictions on communication, both the US and UK have reduced military presence in the region as a precaution.