Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, admits for the first time that there were deaths in demonstrations across the country

File photo: In this photo released by an official website of the Office of the Supreme Leader of Iran, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a ceremony marking the Shiite holiday of Eid al-Ghadir, in Tehran, Iran, on June 25, 2024. Office of the Supreme Leader of Iran via AP Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, called the President of the United States, admitting for the first time that the protests in the country had “thousands” of dead. Furthermore, he called the President of the United States, Donald Trump, a criminal, this Saturday (17). “In this uprising, the US president made statements personally, encouraged the protesters to continue and said: ‘We support you, we support you militarily,’” said Khamenei, who has the final say in all matters of state. He further reiterated that the US seeks to dominate Iran’s economic and political resources. “We consider the US president a criminal, due to the victims and damage, due to the accusations against the Iranian nation,” said Ali Khamenei. He described the protesters as “foot soldiers” of the United States and said they destroyed mosques and educational centers. “By hurting people, and killing thousands of them,” he said. Death toll rises to more than 3,400 in protests in Iran, says NGO Ali Khamenei’s comments came a day after Trump adopted a conciliatory tone, stating that “Iran canceled the hanging of more than 800 people” and adding: “I very much respect the fact that they canceled it.” He did not clarify who he spoke to in Iran to confirm the cancellation of any planned executions. His comments were a sign that he may be backing down from a military attack. Days earlier, Trump had told Iranians that “help is on the way” and that his administration would “act accordingly” if the killing of protesters continued. Economic crisis triggers a wave of protests in Iran Economic crisis in Iran The economic crisis in Iran triggered a wave of protests against the ayatollahs’ regime. Since December 28, thousands of Iranians have taken to the streets. The economic crisis deepened with the devaluation of the local currency. In one year, the rial lost 56% of its value against the dollar, and the price of food increased by an average of 72%. In the capital, Tehran, the protest began with a strike by traders in the city’s main market. Then, it evolved into other acts and also confrontations. In one of the protests, protesters threw stones at police officers. One of them turns and fires.

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