US President Donald Trump has called for an end to the 37-year rule of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urging the country to seek new leadership amid weeks of nationwide protests.
In an interview with a US news outlet, Trump said Iran’s leadership depends on repression and violence to maintain control. He accused Khamenei of overseeing the country’s destruction and using unprecedented force against civilians.
Trump said Iran’s leaders should focus on governing the country effectively rather than killing thousands of people to remain in power.
His comments come after Khamenei vowed to punish protesters, describing them as seditionists and blaming Trump for the casualties. Iranian authorities have labeled the demonstrations as terrorist acts, claiming they are part of a US-backed conspiracy.
Iran has since returned to a tense calm following a sweeping crackdown on protests that erupted on December 28 over worsening economic conditions.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reports that at least 3,095 people were killed during the unrest.
During the crackdown, authorities shut down internet access nationwide. Text messaging and limited online services have since been partially restored in some areas for short periods.
