Khamenei blames Trump for unrest and protester casualties: 'We find the US president guilty'

TEHRAN, IRAN: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused President Donald Trump of direct responsibility for the deaths and injuries linked to the country’s recent anti-government protests.

Speaking to supporters on Saturday, January 17, and amplifying the charge online, Khamenei said that the US president was “guilty” for the casualties suffered during the unrest.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claims Trump is 'guilty'

In a post on X, Khamenei wrote, “We find the US president guilty due to the casualties, damages and slander he inflicted upon the Iranian nation.”

He characterized the protests as an “American conspiracy,” arguing that “the latest anti-Iran sedition was different in that the US president personally became involved.”

In a follow-up post, Khamenei said that Washington sought to “bring Iran under their military, political & economic domination again,” adding that such hostility reflected a broader US policy rather than the position of one administration.

The Trump administration, for its part, had said that the president had a range of options available, from military action to cyber operations, and had repeatedly told Iranians that “help is on its way.”

On Friday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also told reporters that, "The president and his team have communicated to the Iranian regime that if the killing continues, there will be grave consequences."

Thousands feared dead in brutal crackdown

The demonstrations began as protests over economic conditions before expanding into a nationwide movement challenging Iran’s leadership. The unrest continued for more than two weeks before authorities launched a sweeping security response.

With internet access curtailed across much of the country, independent reporting has been limited.

Sources inside Iran told CBS News that at least 12,000 people, and possibly as many as 20,000, are feared to have been killed. Thousands more have been detained and could face severe penalties under Iran’s judicial system.

Trump thanks Iran for halting executions

Amid the reports of mass casualties, President Trump on Friday publicly thanked Iranian authorities for not carrying out what he described as large-scale executions.

“Iran canceled the hanging of over 800 people,” Trump told reporters while departing the White House for Mar-a-Lago.

He said that he “greatly respected” the decision, a shift from his earlier warning of “very strong actions” if Tehran proceeded with capital punishment against detained protesters.