Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has launched a sharp verbal attack on United States President Donald Trump, accusing him of interfering in Iran's internal affairs by openly siding with protestors amid ongoing unrest in the country. The criticism comes against a backdrop of significant domestic turmoil, with reports indicating that approximately 192 people have lost their lives and thousands have been injured during the demonstrations.
Khamenei's Fiery Retort on Social Media
In a series of posts on the social media platform X, the Iranian leader directly addressed the American president. Responding to Trump's expressions of support for the Iranian protestors, Khamenei delivered a pointed rebuke. "If he is so competent, let him run his own country," Khamenei wrote, dismissing Trump's stance.
The Supreme Leader's condemnation extended beyond the current protests. He also slammed Trump for the United States' involvement in a 12-day war in June 2025, which he claimed took "over a thousand Iranian" lives. In another post, Khamenei highlighted this contradiction, noting that Trump now claims to stand with the Iranian nation after ordering military action that resulted in significant Iranian casualties.
Asserting Iran's resilience, Khamenei declared, "Let everyone know that the Islamic Republic of Iran, established through the sacrifice of hundreds of thousands of honorable people, will not back down in the face of those who sow destruction." He further warned that the Iranian people would not tolerate foreign mercenaries.
Trump's Support and US Military Posture
The exchange was triggered by public statements from President Trump offering encouragement to the protesters in Iran. On social media, Trump stated, "Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!"
This rhetoric was accompanied by reports from major American publications, including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. Citing anonymous U.S. officials, the reports indicated that President Trump had been presented with military options for a potential strike on Iran as of Saturday night, though no final decision had been made.
Adding to the tense atmosphere, the US State Department issued a separate warning, stating, "Do not play games with President Trump. When he says he’ll do something, he means it." This combination of verbal support and implied military threat has significantly raised the stakes in the ongoing confrontation.
On-the-Ground Reality of the Protests
Within Iran, the protest dynamics continue to evolve. Online videos, likely disseminated using Starlink satellite transmitters to bypass internet restrictions, have shown demonstrators gathering in areas like the Punak neighborhood in northern Tehran. The footage depicts scenes of authorities shutting off streets, with protestors waving lit mobile phones, banging metal objects, and setting off fireworks.
According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, as reported by The Associated Press, the nature of protests in the capital has adapted to a heavy security presence. "The pattern of protests in the capital has largely taken the form of scattered, short-lived, and fluid gatherings, an approach shaped in response to the heavy presence of security forces and increased field pressure," the agency noted.
The report also mentioned surveillance drones flying over protest locations and movements by security forces, indicating a state of ongoing monitoring and tight security control aimed at quelling the dissent.
Amid this crisis, Khamenei sought to project strength and self-reliance. In his posts, he claimed that Iran is now better-equipped than it was before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. "Neither our spiritual strength nor our material and conventional weapons are comparable to what we had before," he asserted, signaling a readiness to confront both internal and external challenges.
