Washington DC [US], January 18, 2026: Amid intensifying anti-government protests in Iran, US President Donald Trump on Saturday openly questioned the legitimacy of Iran\u2019s current leadership, stating that the country needs \u201cnew leadership\u201d after nearly four decades under Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.<\/p>\n
Speaking in an interview with Politico, Trump sharply criticised Tehran\u2019s ruling establishment, alleging that it survives through repression and excessive use of force rather than public trust. He said Iran\u2019s leadership has presided over economic collapse, soaring inflation and widespread public dissatisfaction.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat the leader of that country is responsible for is the near-total ruin of Iran and the use of violence on an unimaginable scale,\u201d Trump remarked. He added that a government\u2019s primary duty is to govern effectively, not to maintain control through fear. \u201cLeadership is built on respect, not on fear and death,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Trump also took a personal swipe at Khamenei, accusing him of failing his people and describing Iran as one of the most difficult places to live due to what he termed \u201ccatastrophic leadership.\u201d He urged Iran\u2019s rulers to focus on governance instead of crushing dissent.<\/p>\n
The comments came shortly after Ayatollah Khamenei blamed the United States\u2014and Trump in particular\u2014for the ongoing unrest in Iran. In a series of posts on X, the Iranian Supreme Leader accused Washington of fuelling violence and falsely portraying protestors as representing the Iranian nation.<\/p>\n
Khamenei alleged that Trump had supported what he called \u201cseditionists,\u201d accusing the US President of encouraging vandalism, arson and killings. He termed Trump\u2019s statements \u201ca grave slander against the Iranian people\u201d and claimed that US backing amounted to direct involvement in the unrest.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the scale of the protests continues to grow. According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), demonstrations across Iran have entered their twenty-first day, despite widespread internet shutdowns and a heavy security presence.<\/p>\n
HRANA reports indicate that at least 3,308 people have lost their lives so far, while 4,382 cases remain under verification. More than 2,100 individuals have reportedly sustained serious injuries, and authorities have detained at least 24,266 people nationwide.<\/p>\n
In a rare admission, Khamenei recently acknowledged that \u201cseveral thousand people\u201d have died during the unrest, marking the first time Iran\u2019s top leadership has publicly recognised the scale of casualties.<\/p>\n
Trump\u2019s latest remarks underline the escalating war of words between Washington and Tehran, as Iran\u2019s internal turmoil draws increasing international attention and condemnation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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