In a striking move, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has publicly acknowledged for the first time that thousands of protesters have been killed in recent demonstrations. In his speech on Saturday, he expressed outrage over what he called "massive damage" and claimed that those linked to Israel and the US were responsible.
Khamenei also blamed US President Donald Trump, saying that he was a "criminal" who had inflicted massive harm on Iran. The supreme leader vowed that Iran would be met with "a very, very powerful force" if it launched an attack, warning Tehran not to "play games with President Trump".
The admission comes amid widespread reports of deadly crackdowns by security forces against protesters demanding an end to the supreme leader's rule. Protests began on December 28 over economic grievances but quickly escalated into demands for the overthrow of Khamenei.
Khamenei's comments are a significant escalation in tensions between Iran and the US, with Trump having urged Iranian demonstrators to continue protesting. The White House has yet to respond to the supreme leader's remarks.
Iranian authorities have maintained that the protests were "riots" backed by Iran's enemies, while protesters have shared videos of security forces shooting at demonstrations authenticated by both BBC Persian and BBC Verify.
A near-total shutdown of internet and communication services in Iran continues, with only about 2% of normal connectivity remaining. The situation on the ground remains unclear due to restrictions, but some reports suggest that the situation has returned to normal in certain areas.
Khamenei also blamed US President Donald Trump, saying that he was a "criminal" who had inflicted massive harm on Iran. The supreme leader vowed that Iran would be met with "a very, very powerful force" if it launched an attack, warning Tehran not to "play games with President Trump".
The admission comes amid widespread reports of deadly crackdowns by security forces against protesters demanding an end to the supreme leader's rule. Protests began on December 28 over economic grievances but quickly escalated into demands for the overthrow of Khamenei.
Khamenei's comments are a significant escalation in tensions between Iran and the US, with Trump having urged Iranian demonstrators to continue protesting. The White House has yet to respond to the supreme leader's remarks.
Iranian authorities have maintained that the protests were "riots" backed by Iran's enemies, while protesters have shared videos of security forces shooting at demonstrations authenticated by both BBC Persian and BBC Verify.
A near-total shutdown of internet and communication services in Iran continues, with only about 2% of normal connectivity remaining. The situation on the ground remains unclear due to restrictions, but some reports suggest that the situation has returned to normal in certain areas.
This is getting crazy... Ayatollah Khamenei finally admits to killing all those protesters? Like, what took him so long? 
It's wild how he's trying to spin it as if the US and Israel are behind everything, but everyone knows that's just a bunch of BS. 
Trump's comments didn't exactly help the situation, but I mean, come on, Ayatollah dude, don't go around calling people "criminals"... that's not gonna solve anything. 
The internet shutdown is ridiculous, by the way... how are people even supposed to live without access to their phones and stuff? 
It's like they're trying to control everything. 
. Khamenei thinks he can just sweep it under the rug and blame external forces for the violence? it's like trying to put a Band-Aid on a deep wound 
. at the end of the day, we need to be willing to face our own demons and take responsibility for our actions 
. if the protesters' demands are valid, then maybe it's time for some real change 
. and let's not forget, words can hurt just as much as actions do 
.
. I mean, come on, a "criminal" label? That's just toxic 
. And now he's threatening Trump with a "very, very powerful force"? It sounds like something out of a bad thriller movie 
. The US is already dealing with enough stress, and the last thing we need is more rhetoric from world leaders. Can't they all just talk to each other instead? 
the fact that thousands of people have been killed and it's being downplayed as "massive damage" is just heartbreaking 
trump or not, the US should be condemning this violence and calling for an end to the crackdowns ASAP 
meanwhile, i hope those in Iran who are still fighting for their rights can find some peace and justice soon 
️
. I mean, who can just ignore the fact that people are being shot and arrested left and right? The US President saying he's a "criminal" is pretty intense too 
. But at the same time, I get why Khamenei would want to point fingers - he's got some major critics out there 
.
.
That's some serious beef. And the fact that he's calling the protests "massive damage" is just rich coming from a guy who's been in power for decades. It's like, dude, you're the one causing all the problems! 
. I'm not buying into all this "massive damage" and "criminal" talk from Khamenei... sounds like he's just trying to deflect from the fact that his own government is being super repressive 
.
. The fact that the internet is still down and all we're getting are propaganda reports from Iranian authorities just makes me super skeptical 
. I don't know what's going on in Iran right now, but one thing's for sure: it's not something you want to get involved with... let's just wait and see how this whole thing plays out 
.
. His comments are a stark reminder of the delicate balance of power between Iran and its adversaries, particularly the US 
.
.
. One wonders if there are concerns about how Trump's statements might be perceived or whether there are efforts underway to de-escalate tensions 
. Whatever the case, it's clear that this situation requires careful consideration and a nuanced approach to prevent further bloodshed