In his speech, broadcast on Iranian television, Khamenei stated: “We consider the President of the United States to be a criminal who is responsible for the victims, the damage, and the slander against the Iranian people.”
According to him, Donald Trump incited the protesters by promising them military support. Furthermore, Khamenei claimed that the protesters were armed with firearms that had come from abroad, although he did not specify from which country they were obtained.
He also added that Iranian authorities intend to hold accountable both the protesters and those whom they believe provoked them. “We are not leading the country to war. However, we will not leave unpunished those who violate the laws, including international offenders,” he emphasized.
According to the Iranian human rights organization HRANA, more than three thousand people have fallen victim to the brutal suppression of protests in Iran, reports the "Russian Service of the BBC." Some human rights defenders claim that the actual number of victims may be significantly higher. Reliable information from the country is difficult to obtain due to internet blockages.
Donald Trump previously urged Iranian demonstrators not to cease their actions and warned that in the event of repression by the Iranian authorities, the U.S. might resort to military intervention. He also mentioned “very tough” measures that could be taken against Iran, including the possibility of military strikes. However, it became known that as of January 17, such strikes had not yet been carried out. AFP reported that the authorities of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman convinced Trump to refrain from attacking Iran. Nevertheless, Trump stated on January 16 that no one had tried to dissuade him, adding: “I convinced myself,” he commented to reporters.
