Amid protests in Iran, Trump calls for the end of Khamenei’s regime

Washington: US President Donald Trump has called for an end to the decades-long rule of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He said the country needs new leadership as it faces continued public unrest. Speaking to Politico on Saturday, Trump said, “The time has come to find new leadership in Iran,” following weeks of protests in the Islamic Republic. These protests have been fueled by public anger over political pressure, economic hardship, and human rights violations.
Trump strongly criticized Iran’s leadership, accusing it of ruling through violence and fear. Referring to the alleged executions, he told the publication, “The best decision they ever made was not executing over 800 people two days ago.” The US President argued that Iran’s current leadership relies on pressure to remain in power and blamed Khamenei for the country’s decline. Trump accused the Supreme Leader of presiding over the “complete destruction of the country” and using violence like never before to suppress dissent.

Trump said, “To keep the country running—even at a very low level—leadership should focus on running the country properly, just like I do with the United States, not killing thousands of people to maintain control.” He added, “Leadership is about respect, not fear and death.” Escalating his criticism, Trump called Khamenei a “sick man” and said that Iran’s dire situation is a result of its current leadership.
According to Trump, Iran’s rulers have made the country “the worst place to live.” Trump’s remarks came after Khamenei said that Iran had defeated the United States and Israel “once again” and put an end to the “treason” he described as instigated by Washington and Tel Aviv. Speaking during a speech marking a religious holiday on Saturday, Khamenei accused the United States of orchestrating unrest with the aim of “engulfing Iran.”
He called US President Donald Trump a “criminal” responsible for the killings and destruction in recent riots in Iran, saying Trump personally intervened, made public comments, and encouraged the rioters by promising military support. Khamenei said Iran would not seek war, but it would “not hesitate to punish those responsible for the unrest inside and outside the country.”