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

Fox News - WorldCenter-RightEN 3 min read 100% complete by Michael DorganJanuary 17, 2026 at 01:49 PM

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blamed U.S. President Donald Trump for orchestrating the recent deadly protests that have swept Iran since late December. Khamenei accused Trump of direct involvement in the unrest, which initially began over economic issues but evolved into anti-regime demonstrations. Human rights groups estimate that thousands of protesters have been killed in the government crackdown, with some figures exceeding 3,000 deaths. Trump has voiced support for the protesters, urged regime change, and stated he cut off meetings with the Iranian government until the killings stop. He also claimed to have influenced Iran to cancel scheduled hangings.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Reuters 30% Truth Social 30% Bret Baier 30% 1979 revolution 40% Israel 40% Reza Pahlavi 40% Lindsey Graham 40% Human Rights Activists in Iran 50% United States ×280% Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ×290% Iran ×1095% Donald Trump ×10100%

Keywords

iran protests 100% khamenei 90% trump 90% u.s. involvement 80% regime change 70% crackdown 70% political unrest 60% human rights 60% foreign-driven unrest 50% economic problems 40%