TehranIran warned that any attempt to target Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would result in an all-out war amid rising tensions with the United States and deadly nationwide protests. Tehran also hinted that it might resume executions after an Iranian official reported that at least 5,000 people had died during the unrest.
Iran: An attack on the supreme leader is equivalent to a full-scale conflictPresident Masoud Pezeshkian issued a warning on X, stating that Tehran will respond "to any unjust aggression will be harsh and regrettable, adding that any attack on the country's supreme leader is tantamount to an all-out war against the nation."
The Iranian president also held the United States and its allies responsible for Iran's economic problems, claiming that the country's long-standing animosity and cruel sanctions were a significant contributing factor.
"We need to find new leaders in Iran," Trump said.In response to US President Donald Trump's repeated threats of potential intervention if protesters continue to be killed or executed, Pezeshkian made the comments. In an interview with Politico on Saturday, Trump declared that it was "time to look for new leadership in Iran."
The US president said in an interview with Politico that they condemned Tehran's leadership, claiming that they use repression and violence to keep power. Trump stated, "What he is guilty of, as the leader of a country, is the complete destruction of the country and the use of violence at levels never seen before," according to Politico.
"The leadership should concentrate on running his country properly, like I do with the United States, and not killing people by the thousands in order to keep control, even though that function is a very low level," he continued.
Unexpectedly, Trump praised the Iranian government on Friday for postponing the planned executions of more than 800 people, suggesting that tensions may be lowering as the country's protests seem to be fading.
Before leaving for his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, Trump told reporters on the White House South Lawn that he had "great respect" for the decision and that it had a "big impact." This comes after Trump warned for days that if the crackdown got worse, the US military might step in.
5,000 people died as the unrest persisted.At least 5,000 people have died in Iran's anti-government protests, which have been going on for days, including 500 security personnel, according to a top Iranian official on Sunday. The deadliest clashes have been reported in the country's northwest Kurdish region, where tensions have been rising due to clashes between government forces and Kurdish separatists.
Iran's crippling economy and high inflation had sparked protests in December. It is regarded by many observers as Iran's deadliest unrest since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, which drove Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi out of the nation.
Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei has claimed that thousands of people have died as a result of the unrest, and he has blamed the West, especially the US.
He also cautioned President Donald Trump in a speech on Saturday about his comments and his encouragement of "seditious people" to carry on the unrest. He asserted that US "foot soldiers" are participating in the demonstrations and demolishing schools and mosques. He stated, "We do consider the US president a criminal, because of casualties and damages, because of accusations against the Iranian nation," according to the Associated Press. "They killed several thousand of them by hurting people."
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