Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a stark warning to President Donald Trump, posting an image of a crumbling statue bearing Trump’s likeness and suggesting the American leader would be “overthrown” like past tyrants, as tensions escalate over nationwide protests gripping Iran.
The ayatollah’s message came as Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on any country conducting business with Iran and repeatedly threatened military intervention to support demonstrators facing a violent government crackdown.
In a post on his official Farsi-language account, Khamenei wrote that the “father figure who sits there with arrogance and pride” would meet the same fate as historical oppressors. He specifically referenced Pharaoh, Nimrod, and former Iranian rulers Reza Khan and Mohammad Reza, declaring that Trump “too will be overthrown” when at the peak of his pride.
The Iranian leader’s defiant response came shortly before Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that Tehran wanted to negotiate with the United States. The president said Iranian leaders contacted him and that a meeting was being arranged, though he cautioned that military action might occur before any diplomatic engagement.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that Trump was keeping all options available regarding Iran. She told reporters that airstrikes would be among many possibilities on the table for the commander-in-chief, while noting that diplomacy remained the president’s first choice.
The Iranian protests began in late December in downtown Tehran, initially focused on rising inflation and the declining value of the rial. Demonstrations quickly spread across the nation, reaching 186 cities across 31 provinces, with activists documenting 585 protest locations.
According to Iran Human Rights, the death toll had risen to at least 2,500 people, including 12 children under age 18. The organization reported that thousands more sustained injuries. Other sources suggest significantly higher casualty figures, though independent verification remains impossible due to an ongoing internet blackout imposed by authorities.
Iranian officials have described demonstrators as armed rioters encouraged by the United States and Israel to spread chaos. A mass funeral for 100 security forces was held near Tehran University, with authorities claiming that 109 security personnel died in armed attacks during the protests.
Over 10,000 people have been arrested during the crackdown, according to monitoring groups. Iran’s judicial chief, Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, signaled that detained protesters would face expedited trials, telling state media that authorities needed to act quickly for maximum effect. “If it becomes late, two months, three months later, it doesn’t have the same effect,” Mohseni-Ejei said.
A 26-year-old protester named Erfan Soltani faced imminent execution as the first anti-government demonstrator sentenced to death. His family reported that prison authorities informed them the execution had been postponed, though human rights groups warned that hangings could occur soon.
Trump previously threatened “very strong action” if executions began, declaring that Iran was “looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before” and that the United States stood ready to help.
The State Department issued a security alert urging Americans to leave Iran immediately, citing escalating protests and increased security measures. The advisory recommended that citizens consider departing by land to Armenia or Turkey, while planning alternative communication methods due to continued internet outages.
Amid mounting tensions, the United States and the United Kingdom withdrew some personnel from the al-Udeid base in Qatar as a precautionary measure. Iran subsequently closed its airspace to most flights, while German airline Lufthansa announced it would avoid Iranian and Iraqi airspace until further notice.
A senior Iranian official warned that Tehran had informed regional countries hosting American bases, including Saudi Arabia and Turkey, that it would strike those installations if the United States attacked Iran. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi insisted the situation was under control and urged Washington to pursue diplomatic engagement.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced new sanctions targeting 18 firms and individuals involved in Iran’s energy exports. The United States also sanctioned Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, along with other officials described as architects of the brutal crackdown. Larijani was one of the first Iranian leaders to call for violence in response to the legitimate demands of the Iranian people.
Larijani, a close adviser to Khamenei, responded by accusing Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of being the primary killers of Iranians.
As tensions appeared to reach a breaking point, Trump softened his stance. He said he had been told “on good authority” that the killing in Iran was stopping and that there were no plans for executions. “The killing has stopped. The executions have stopped,” the president added.
Mustafa Hijri, leader of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan, an armed opposition group based in exile in Iraq approximately 30 miles from the Iranian border, told reporters his organization remained ready to support protesters. However, he said the time for armed intervention had not yet arrived, fearing it could provide the regime with justification to intensify its crackdown.
Hijri expressed hope for international assistance, particularly American strikes targeting suppression forces and judicial institutions. He noted that while most Iranians opposed the regime, sending armed forces across the border without broader support could backfire dramatically and endanger peaceful demonstrators.
