At a Glance
- President Trump told Politico “it’s time to look for new leadership in Iran”
- Iran’s supreme leader called Trump “a criminal” and said protests have largely subsided
- At least 3,090 protesters have been killed since nationwide protests began
- Why it matters: The U.S. is deploying additional forces to the Middle East amid escalating tensions
President Donald Trump on Saturday called for regime change in Iran, telling Politico “it’s time to look for new leadership in Iran” as protests continue to grip the nation.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding Trump’s remarks.
Khamenei Responds
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, delivered a defiant address Saturday accusing Trump of encouraging “agitators” and declaring that Iran considers Trump “a criminal, both for the casualties, for the damages, and for the slander directed at the Iranian nation.”
Khamenei stated that key agitators had been detained, and the country’s semiofficial Fars news agency reported that protests had largely subsided.
Trump’s Counterattack
Trump denounced Khamenei in his remarks to Politico, calling him “a sick man who should run his country properly and stop killing people.”
“His country is the worst place to live anywhere in the world because of poor leadership,” Trump said.
A spokesperson for Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations declined to comment on Trump’s remarks.
Escalating Death Toll
Thousands of protesters have been killed since the nationwide protests began. The massive crackdown on unrest has left at least 3,090 dead, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).
HRANA has also reported 22,123 arrests. Without the government’s official count, the organization says it relies on supporters in Iran cross-checking information and that its data goes through “multiple internal checks.”
Khamenei on Saturday acknowledged for the first time that thousands had been killed, increasing official recognition from a previous admission that hundreds had died.
Mixed Messages
Trump earlier this week had urged Iranians to “take over institutions” and keep their protests going, telling them that “help is on the way.”
However, on Friday he struck a different tone, saying he “greatly” respected that “over 800” scheduled hangings “have been cancelled by the leadership of Iran.”
Iran’s judiciary said Thursday a man facing the death penalty would not be executed. The White House did not provide a source for the claim that 800 people have been spared.
Military Buildup
A U.S. official told News Of Philadelphia on Wednesday that the Defense Department is preparing to send additional U.S. forces and assets to the Middle East. The deployments are intended to bolster security in the region and prepare for potential retaliation by Iran.
The deployments include:
- A carrier strike group
- Additional aircraft
- Land-based air defense systems
The U.S. also began evacuating key personnel from its largest military base in the Middle East on Wednesday as Trump weighed potential military action in Iran.
Key Takeaways
- Trump explicitly called for new Iranian leadership amid ongoing protests
- Iran’s supreme leader personally attacked Trump while claiming protests are waning
- The death toll has reached at least 3,090 protesters according to human rights monitors
- The U.S. is significantly increasing its military presence in the region
