Tehran/Washington, Jan 17 (.) “We consider the US president a criminal for the casualties, damages, and the slander he inflicted on the Iranian nation,” Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said on Saturday, accusing Washington of orchestrating the recent demonstrations as part of its goal “to devour Iran.”
“Trump himself intervened in this unrest, made statements, encouraged the rioters, and said we will provide military support,” Khamenei added, stating that this spree of unrest had been planned in advance by US authorities in order to establish “domination over Iran.”
Dismissing the protesters as “vandals,” Khamenei rejected any suggestion that the demonstrations reflected popular will, and said “The Iranian nation, just as it broke the back of the riot, must also break the back of those who instigated it.”
“The Iranian nation will not let go of the domestic and international criminals behind this unrest,” Khamenei remarked.
The US president has continuously urged Iranian anti-government demonstrators to “keep protesting” and “seize institutions”, expressing solidarity and threatening military intervention if security forces kill them.
Since the start of the protests, the state has been brutal in its crackdown against dissenters, abducting, and arresting thousands, and used live fire on protesters without hesitation, killing thousands.
However, as Tehran has also imposed a near-total internet curfew, it is extremely difficult to arrive at any kind of accurate number regarding casualties, though the number is agreed to be well over thousands, with estimates going from 10 – 12, and even 20,000, since they first kicked off in December 28, last month.
Nonetheless, what initially started off as a protest against the economic hardship being faced by citizens, soon escalated into a nationwide call for Khamenei’s resignation from power, and an end to the Islamic Republic.
The Iranian government has dismissed the protests as “riots”, backed by Iran’s enemies, and exclusively named the US, and Israel as the chief perpetrators, and demanded that authorities in Washington who planned this whole thing, “be held accountable.”
Trump has not issued any remarks against Khamenei’s statement, though the US State Department said today that it has heard reports that the “Islamic Republic is preparing options to target American bases,” and warning strong retaliation, cautioned Tehran not to “play games with President Trump”.
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