Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has urged authorities to crack down on "seditionists" who he accuses of killing thousands during the recent wave of protests that were brutally repressed in Iran.
Khamenei, who has been in power for nearly 40 years, made the call in a televised address, saying that the Iranian nation must "break the back of the seditionists" just as it broke the back of terrorism. He also accused the US and Israel of fueling the protests with their "terrorist operation".
The protests, which were sparked by anger over economic hardship, have subsided after a one-week crackdown on dissent that has left thousands of people dead under an internet blackout.
Rights groups estimate that up to 20,000 people have been arrested in connection with the protests, and many more are believed to have died. The true death toll is difficult to verify due to strict internet restrictions, but estimates range from 3,428 to over 5,000 people killed by security forces.
Khamenei's comments on Saturday were laced with vitriol against the US president Donald Trump, whom he accused of being "guilty for the casualties, damages and accusations" he has levelled against Iran. Trump had earlier called for an end to Khamenei's nearly four decades-long rule, saying that the man is a "sick man who should run his country properly and stop killing people".
The US president also warned that any Iranian authorities responsible for protesters' deaths could face justice under US law.
Khamenei's remarks come as security officials in Iran reported identifying 32 members of a Bahai cult suspected of fueling the riots, with 12 agents arrested and 13 summoned to court. The Bahais have long faced persecution in Iran, which has accused their members of being spies linked to Israel.
Meanwhile, Norway-based rights group Iran Human Rights said that 3,428 protesters had been verified killed by security forces, but warned that the actual toll could be several times higher.
The opposition Iran International channel based outside the country reported at least 12,000 people killed during the protests, citing senior government and security sources.
Khamenei, who has been in power for nearly 40 years, made the call in a televised address, saying that the Iranian nation must "break the back of the seditionists" just as it broke the back of terrorism. He also accused the US and Israel of fueling the protests with their "terrorist operation".
The protests, which were sparked by anger over economic hardship, have subsided after a one-week crackdown on dissent that has left thousands of people dead under an internet blackout.
Rights groups estimate that up to 20,000 people have been arrested in connection with the protests, and many more are believed to have died. The true death toll is difficult to verify due to strict internet restrictions, but estimates range from 3,428 to over 5,000 people killed by security forces.
Khamenei's comments on Saturday were laced with vitriol against the US president Donald Trump, whom he accused of being "guilty for the casualties, damages and accusations" he has levelled against Iran. Trump had earlier called for an end to Khamenei's nearly four decades-long rule, saying that the man is a "sick man who should run his country properly and stop killing people".
The US president also warned that any Iranian authorities responsible for protesters' deaths could face justice under US law.
Khamenei's remarks come as security officials in Iran reported identifying 32 members of a Bahai cult suspected of fueling the riots, with 12 agents arrested and 13 summoned to court. The Bahais have long faced persecution in Iran, which has accused their members of being spies linked to Israel.
Meanwhile, Norway-based rights group Iran Human Rights said that 3,428 protesters had been verified killed by security forces, but warned that the actual toll could be several times higher.
The opposition Iran International channel based outside the country reported at least 12,000 people killed during the protests, citing senior government and security sources.
and i'm literally shaking thinking about how harsh the regime must be 
i mean khamenei's words are super concerning, like how can one person dictate the fate of an entire nation? 
and that trump is just adding fuel to the fire with his comments, it's all so wild 
anyway i think we should be keeping a close eye on what's happening over there, it's not right that ppl are getting killed for speaking out 
The way Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is framing this whole thing just feels really off to me 
. He's basically saying that the protesters who are demanding for change are some kind of "seditionists" who need to be crushed, and that anyone caught up in this movement must be guilty until proven innocent. That's not how democracy works, you know? 
. It's like, no matter who starts a riot or not, the fact remains that thousands of people have lost their lives in this crackdown.
. Persecution is never okay, and it's especially worrying when there's a lack of transparency and accountability 
.
. I mean, if we know that there were over 12,000 protesters killed during these riots, and thousands more arrested, it's time for someone to step up and hold Iran accountable for its actions 
.
. I mean, thousands of ppl are dead and still being arrested... it's crazy 
. Khamenei blaming US & Israel for fueling protests is just ridiculous 
. He's basically saying they're behind all the violence, but we know that's not true 
. And what about the US threatening Iran with justice if they're responsible for protester deaths? That just adds to the tension 
.
. And now they're saying 32 Bahais are responsible for the riots? That's just another example of how discriminatory and unfair Iran's treatment of minorities is 
. I mean, I get it, he's trying to deflect attention from his own regime's brutal crackdown on protesters, but come on! It's time for some real accountability here 
. And what really gets me is that the death toll could be several times higher due to internet restrictions... like, isn't that just a huge red flag? 
. Like, I get that Khamenei is frustrated with all these protests, but accusations of being a "sick man" just because he's been in power for 40 years feels kinda low 
. I'm not buying it. Trump may have spoken out against Khamenei, but let's be real, who hasn't dissed him online at some point 
. Khamenei needs to calm down and focus on finding solutions instead of just stirring up more hate 
.
. Meanwhile, I'm over here like "guys, let's focus on getting the actual numbers right" 
. Khamenei saying those protesters were terrorists is just, like, so not okay 
. It's not about sedition, it's about the gov't trying to silence dissenting voices 
.
.
. Like, we know thousands of people have died, but where are the trials? Where are the investigations? It's all just a big cover-up 
. I'm not saying Iran isn't guilty of some serious human rights abuses, but let's at least try to get to the bottom of it 
like what's up with these protests in Iran? it sounds super intense and scary 
and why are people so angry about economic hardship? can't they just, like, work on finding solutions instead of resorting to violence or whatever 
is it true that the US and Israel are fueling the protests? 
didn't Trump do something crazy before this whole thing went down? 
Khamenei is just getting more and more unhinged! I mean, accusing the US and Israel of fueling riots in Iran? Come on, that's just ridiculous 
And then he goes after Trump like a possessive ex 
Newsflash, Khamenei: just because you're in power for 40 years doesn't mean you can do whatever you want without facing consequences. The US is not going to sit back and let Iran's human rights abuses slide 
. and now he's blaming the US & Israel for fueling the protests? come on, that's just not true 
.
.
.
Khamenei is so extra with his threats to the US too like who does he think hes talking to? 
i feel bad for the people stuck in iran rn trying to get info is impossible due to internet restrictions 
i just hope there r some ppl with the power 2 make a change