Khamenei calls Trump a ‘criminal,’ blames him for deadly protests sweeping Iran

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei connected Saturday lashed retired astatine President Donald Trump, labeling him a "criminal" and accusing the U.S. of orchestrating unrest that has erupted into the deadliest protests successful decades.

"The latest anti-Iran sedition was antithetic successful that the U.S. President personally became involved," Iranian media quoted Khamenei as saying, per Reuters.

The connection is the latest Iranian authorities rhetoric blaming the U.S. for contributing to instability successful Iran, with Tehran singling retired Trump arsenic a cardinal fig successful what it calls foreign-driven unrest. The authorities has besides been pointing fingers astatine Israel. 

Protests person raged successful Iran since precocious December, initially implicit economical problems but rapidly expanding into wide anti-regime demonstrations. Demonstrators person been met with terrible crackdowns by information forces.

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Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, sits adjacent to the Iranian authorities emblem during an authoritative code successful Tehran. ( Office of the Supreme Leader of Iran via Getty Images)

Human rights groups accidental thousands of protesters person been killed successful the unrest. Reports from assorted groups accidental Khamenei was liable for a crackdown that killed thousands of protesters. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists successful Iran connected Friday enactment the decease toll astatine 3,090.

The number, which exceeds that of immoderate different circular of protestation oregon unrest successful Iran successful decades and recalls the chaos surrounding the 1979 revolution, continues to rise.

Meanwhile, Iranian absorption fig Reza Pahlavi told Bret Baier connected "Special Report" connected Monday that a minimum of 12,000 radical were dead.

Trump has expressed enactment for Iranian protesters and talked astir authorities change, portion immoderate Republican lawmakers person openly urged Trump to see subject action.

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Demonstrators pain a poster depicting Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a rally successful enactment of anti-government protests successful Iran, successful Holon, Israel, connected Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026.  (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

The president said connected Tuesday that helium chopped disconnected meetings with the Iranian regime, saying determination would beryllium nary interaction until the authorities stops killing protesters. He besides urged the Iranian radical to "take over" the country.

When asked if Arab and Israeli officials "convinced" him to not onslaught Iran, Trump told reporters Friday that helium convinced himself and cited the canceled hangings. 

Trump besides expressed akin sentiments connected societal media Friday.

"I greatly respect the information that all scheduled hangings, which were to instrumentality spot yesterday (Over 800 of them), person been canceled by the enactment of Iran. Thank you!" Trump said successful a station connected Truth Social connected Friday. 

It is unclear who Trump spoke to successful Iran to corroborate the authorities of immoderate planned executions. The connection echoes what White House property caput Karoline Leavitt told reporters Thursday astir the canceled executions. She maintained that each options remained connected the array erstwhile it comes to dealing with Iran.

Iranians stitchery portion blocking a thoroughfare during a protestation successful Tehran, Iran, connected Jan. 9, 2026.   (MAHSA / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images)

"What I volition accidental with respect to Iran is that the president and his squad person communicated to the Iranian authorities that if the sidesplitting continues, determination volition beryllium sedate consequences," Leavitt told reporters Thursday. "And the president received a connection arsenic helium revealed to each of you and the full satellite yesterday that the sidesplitting and the executions volition stop. And the president understands contiguous that 800 executions that were scheduled and expected to instrumentality spot yesterday were halted." 

It’s unclear from Trump’s station if helium was referring to the 800 executions that were already canceled oregon whether determination person been 2 consecutive days erstwhile 800 executions person been called off. 

Meanwhile, a sermon by Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami carried by Iranian authorities vigor sparked chants from those gathered for prayers, including: "Armed hypocrites should beryllium enactment to death!"

Khatami, a subordinate of Iran’s Assembly of Experts and Guardian Council agelong known for his hardline views, described the protesters arsenic the "butlers" of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and "Trump’s soldiers," according to The Associated Press.

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He said Netanyahu and Trump should await "hard revenge from the system."

"Americans and Zionists should not expect peace," the cleric said.

Fox News Digital’s Benjamin Weinthal and Diana Stancy, arsenic good arsenic Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.