Senior Iranian cleric calls for protester executions in defiance of Trump claims

A senior Iranian cleric, Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, called for the execution of protesters, contradicting claims by President Trump that Iran had agreed to halt executions. Khatami, an influential hardliner, labeled protesters as enemies of Iran and agents of the US and Israel. This comes after widespread protests in Iran, triggered by economic concerns in late December, evolved into calls for governmental change. Iranian authorities responded with a brutal crackdown, resulting in thousands of deaths and arrests, according to rights groups. Despite Trump's apparent gratitude for halting executions, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, vowed further punishment for protesters, accusing Trump of involvement in the unrest. The protests represent the deadliest unrest in Iran since the 1979 revolution.

During Friday prayers in Tehran, hardline cleric Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami called for the execution of arrested protesters amid ongoing unrest in Iran. The protests, which began on December 28 due to economic grievances, have evolved into challenges against the Iranian government. Khatami, a prominent religious figure, accused the protesters of being agents of Israel and the United States. He also directly threatened former U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with retaliation. The Iranian government has reportedly intensified a crackdown on dissent, including internet shutdowns and violence, resulting in thousands of deaths according to a U.S.-based human rights group.