Trump Urges End to Khamenei’s Rule Amid Ongoing Protests in Iran

Washington: US President Donald Trump has called for an end to the decades-long rule of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stating that the country requires new leadership as it grapples with sustained public unrest.

In remarks to Politico on Saturday, Trump said it was “time to look for new leadership in Iran,” citing weeks of protests driven by public anger over political repression, economic difficulties, and alleged human rights violations.

Trump sharply criticised Iran’s leadership, accusing it of maintaining power through fear and violence. Referring to alleged executions, he claimed that Khamenei governs by repression and blamed him for what he described as Iran’s steady decline. The US President accused the Supreme Leader of presiding over the “complete destruction of the country” and of using excessive force to suppress dissent.

“Leadership is about respect, not fear and death,” Trump said, adding that a government should focus on running the country effectively rather than relying on violence to retain control. He further described Khamenei as a “sick man” and alleged that Iran’s worsening conditions were a direct result of its current leadership, calling the country “the worst place to live anywhere.”

Trump’s comments came shortly after Khamenei claimed that Iran had once again defeated the United States and Israel and had “extinguished the sedition” that he alleged was instigated by Washington and Tel Aviv.

Addressing a gathering during a religious holiday on Saturday, Khamenei accused the United States of orchestrating the unrest with the intention of “swallowing up Iran.” He described Trump as a “criminal,” blaming him for the deaths and destruction during the recent protests, and alleged that the US President had encouraged unrest by publicly commenting on the situation and pledging military support.

Khamenei said Iran was not seeking war but warned that it would not hesitate to punish those responsible for the unrest, both within the country and abroad.

With inputs from IANS