Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has accused US President Donald Trump of instigating weeks of unrest across the country, as rights groups report that more than 3,000 people have been killed in the crackdown on protests.
In remarks carried by Iranian state media on Saturday, Khamenei said Washington bore responsibility for the deaths, destruction and turmoil witnessed during the demonstrations, describing Trump as a “criminal” for what he called the suffering inflicted on the Iranian nation.
The protests erupted on December 28 over deepening economic hardship but quickly evolved into widespread calls for an end to clerical rule, representing the most serious challenge to Iran’s leadership in years.
Khamenei claimed that “several thousand” people were killed after violence was fuelled by forces linked to the United States and Israel. He accused foreign actors of burning public buildings, destroying infrastructure and spreading chaos, while insisting Iran would not be drawn into war but would pursue those he described as criminals “without compromise.”
Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), based in the United States, said it had confirmed 3,090 deaths, including 2,885 protesters, as well as more than 22,000 arrests. Reuters said it could not independently verify the figures.
Trump has repeatedly criticised Tehran’s response to the protests, at one point threatening “very strong action” if executions were carried out. On Friday, however, he thanked Iranian leaders for what he said was a decision to halt mass hangings — a claim Iranian officials dismissed, saying no such plans existed.
Iran’s prosecutor general, Mohammad Movahedi Azad, has warned that detainees accused of aiding unrest or attacking security forces would face harsh punishment. Those charged as mohareb — defined under Islamic law as waging war against God — could face the death penalty.
The government-imposed internet blackout, which severely limited information flow during the unrest, began easing on Saturday. Internet monitoring group NetBlocks reported a slight increase in connectivity after more than 200 hours of disruption, though access remained far below normal levels.
Iranian state media said the crackdown had largely suppressed the protests and reported the arrest of thousands of alleged “rioters and terrorists,” including individuals accused of links to opposition groups abroad.
Among those reportedly detained was a woman identified as Nazanin Baradaran, whom state media alleged helped organise protests under a pseudonym on behalf of exiled opposition figure Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s last shah. Reuters said it could not verify the report.
Israeli officials have publicly voiced support for Pahlavi. Earlier this month, Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu said Israel had operatives inside Iran working to weaken the country’s capabilities, though he denied any direct effort to topple the government.