By Admin 
Thousands of people have died in nationwide protests in Iran that began in late December 2025. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei admitted for the first time in a televised speech on Saturday (January 17, 2026) that ‘several thousand’ people have been killed. He described some of the deaths as ‘inhumane and cruel’, but blamed the US and other foreign powers.
What were the big things in Khamenei’s statement?
- America conspired to protest and Trump himself intervened.
- Trump encouraged the protesters and promised military support.
- America’s goal is to ‘swallow’ Iran.
- Called Trump a ‘criminal’ and said that criminals will be punished.
- The Iranian nation has crushed the ‘fitna’ (conspiracy).
How did Trump react to Khamenei’s statement?
US President Donald Trump strongly criticized Khamenei in an interview with Politico, saying:
- The time has come to find new leadership in Iran.
- Khamenei is a ‘sick man’ who runs the country through fear and death.
- Leadership is based on respect, not through fear and death.
- Iran is the worst place in the world because of bad leadership.
Trump had earlier told protesters “help is on the way” and warned of “very strong action” if the killing continued. Recently he said that the killings have stopped and there are no plans for executions, but he is monitoring the situation.
What are the government actions and death toll figures?
The government took strict action against the protesters. Security forces fired on protesters, imposed an internet blackout and cut off communications. According to human rights organizations, there have been more than 3,000 deaths, including children and civilians. Thousands of arrests took place. Khamenei said some of the deaths occurred in an ‘inhumane and cruel manner’, but described them as a foreign conspiracy. He described the protesters as two types – people supported and trained by America and Israel and the youth who came under their influence.
Human rights organizations condemned the crackdown
G7 countries have talked about imposing additional sanctions on Iran. The United Nations appealed for maximum restraint. Iran has directly accused America and Israel and claimed to have evidence, while the demonstrations have now subsided and everyday life is returning to normal in other cities including Tehran. But the internet blackout continues and the situation remains critical. This is the deadliest unrest since the Islamic Revolution of 1979.
What was the reason for the start of protests in Iran?
The demonstrations began on 28 December 2025, when Tehran’s traders took to the streets to protest against the sharp decline of the Iranian rial and inflation. Inflation in Iran is around 40%, prices of oil and food items have increased a lot. These economic grievances soon turned political and people started raising slogans against the Islamic Republic and Khamenei’s rule. Demonstrations spread across 31 provinces, with slogans such as ‘Death to the dictator’ chanted and in some places symbols of the former monarchy.