Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday directly accused former US President Donald Trump of being responsible for the violence and destruction witnessed during recent nationwide protests, describing Washington’s actions as an attempt to undermine Iran’s sovereignty.
Addressing a large gathering in Tehran, Khamenei said the United States played an active role in what he termed a “sedition,” alleging that Trump personally intervened by issuing threats and openly backing anti-government demonstrators.
“The objective of America in these disturbances was nothing less than to swallow Iran,” he said, asserting that US hostility toward the Islamic Republic has remained consistent since the 1979 Revolution.
The remarks came against the backdrop of widespread protests that erupted late last month over rising inflation, unemployment, and a sharp fall in the value of Iran’s currency, the rial. What began as peaceful demonstrations in Tehran soon spread to several provinces, turning violent in many areas.
Tensions escalated on January 8 after a US-based son of a former Iranian monarch publicly urged citizens to intensify street protests. This led to clashes between security forces and demonstrators, particularly in western Iran, where hundreds were reportedly injured.
Iranian authorities claimed that the unrest was infiltrated by “rioters” backed by US and Israeli intelligence agencies. Officials said government offices, police stations, banks, shops, and mosques were attacked, resulting in damage estimated at hundreds of millions of dollars.
While Tehran has not released an official death toll, independent estimates suggest fatalities could range from hundreds to possibly over a thousand.
Khamenei reiterated that Washington has pursued a strategy of regime change in Iran for decades, adding that this time the involvement was more direct, with the US president himself encouraging unrest rather than relying solely on Western media or proxy groups.
He further alleged that American and Israeli operatives had trained individuals inside Iran to carry out acts of sabotage and intimidation, saying security forces had detained many of them.
According to Khamenei, around 250 mosques were burned or vandalised during the protests, along with widespread damage to public and private property.
At the same time, the Supreme Leader acknowledged the country’s economic hardships, stating that people were facing severe financial strain. He urged government authorities to take stronger measures to stabilise prices and ensure the availability of essential goods, including food and livestock feed.
Khamenei also emphasised that Iran does not seek war but warned that those responsible for violence — both domestic and foreign — would be held accountable.
His statement came shortly after Trump said he had abandoned plans for military strikes on Iran and claimed that Tehran had stopped executing protesters — a claim Iranian officials denied, noting that no death sentences had yet been issued in connection with the unrest.
