Iran’s leader says ‘thousands’ killed in protests, Trump a ‘criminal’

South China Morning PostCenter-RightEN 1 min read 100% complete by BloombergJanuary 17, 2026 at 01:18 PM

AI Summary

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Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei acknowledged that "several thousand people" died during recent anti-government demonstrations, marking his first public acknowledgment of the unrest's deadly scale. Khamenei accused the US and Israel of supporting the killings, claiming the Islamic Republic possesses evidence to support this. He stated that Iran does not seek war but will punish those responsible for the unrest, both domestically and internationally. Khamenei also criticized US President Donald Trump, holding him responsible for deaths, damage, and accusations against the Iranian people, further labeling Trump a "criminal" for his personal involvement in the "sedition". Human rights groups estimate the death toll to be around 3,500, with over 22,000 people detained.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Washington 40% Islamic Republic 50% Israel 60% Anti-government demonstrations 70% United States ×380% Donald Trump ×385% Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ×290% Iran ×695%

Keywords

iran protests 100% anti-government demonstrations 80% ayatollah ali khamenei 70% us 60% donald trump 60% political unrest 50% human rights 40% islamic republic 40%