News Article (Approx. 500 Words)
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian warned on Sunday that any attack on the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, would amount to a declaration of war, as tensions between Tehran and Washington intensified amid weeks of deadly unrest across Iran.
In a post on social media platform X, Pezeshkian said that an assault on Khamenei would be “tantamount to a full-scale war with the Iranian nation,” responding to speculation that former US president Donald Trump was considering the removal or assassination of the Islamic Republic’s most powerful figure.
The warning came as protests, sparked by economic hardship and political grievances, entered their third week.
Pezeshkian also accused the United States of fuelling the unrest, which has left thousands dead and tens of thousands detained. He blamed Washington’s long-standing sanctions for worsening living conditions in Iran, saying they had imposed “hardship and constraints” on ordinary citizens.
US officials have repeatedly denied orchestrating the protests, framing them instead as a domestic uprising against Iran’s leadership.
Trump, however, has openly supported the demonstrators. In an interview with Politico, he called for an end to Khamenei’s nearly 40-year rule, describing him as “a sick man” and urging him to stop killing protesters. Last week, Trump publicly encouraged Iranians to continue protesting and to “take over your institutions,” claiming that outside help was imminent.
The unrest began on 28 December, driven by anger over soaring inflation, a collapsing currency and economic mismanagement. What started as demonstrations over living costs quickly evolved into broader anti-government protests demanding regime change.
Iranian authorities responded with a sweeping crackdown, including a near-total shutdown of internet and phone services on 8 January, cutting off much of the country from the outside world.
Reports later emerged that the US had come close to launching military strikes on Iran before pulling back amid regional and diplomatic pressure. According to Axios, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Washington that Israel was unprepared for Iranian retaliation, while Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged restraint due to risks to regional stability.
Iranian officials say at least 5,000 people have been killed in the unrest, including around 500 members of the security forces. Supreme Leader Khamenei acknowledged the death toll for the first time last week, blaming the US for the violence and calling for harsh punishment of protesters, whom authorities describe as “terrorists and armed rioters.”
Human rights groups report that more than 24,000 people have been arrested. Among them is Erfan Soltani, a 26-year-old protester whose scheduled execution was reportedly halted. His family confirmed over the weekend that he is alive, though they fear he has been tortured and denied medical care.
With some internet access partially restored and streets largely quiet, Iran remains tense. Night-time chants against Khamenei echo from apartment windows in major cities, underscoring the fragile calm and the deep divisions still gripping the country.