Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Saturday charged US President Donald Trump with bearing responsibility for the “casualties” that accompanied a wave of protests across the Islamic Republic, according to AFP.
Human rights organizations have alleged that Iranian authorities have met the demonstrations with a violent crackdown.
Addressing a crowd during a religious holiday, Khamenei declared: “We hold the American president guilty for the casualties, damages, and accusations he has levelled against the Iranian nation.”
The Supreme Leaders noted that “this was an American conspiracy,” adding that “America’s goal is to swallow Iran… the goal is to put Iran back under military, political, and economic domination.”
He also urged authorities to “break the back of the seditionists,” following the crackdown on nationwide protests against the country’s clerical establishment.
“We do not intend to lead the country to war, but we will not spare domestic criminals… worse than domestic criminals, international criminals, we will not spare them either,” he added.
US Sanctions
On Thursday, Washington announced sanctions against Iranian security officials and financial networks, accusing them of driving a brutal crackdown on peaceful demonstrations while laundering billions in oil revenues.
“The United States stands firmly behind the Iranian people in their call for freedom and justice,” Bessent said in a statement, noting that the action was taken at President Donald Trump‘s direction.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent unveiled the measures in response to the largest anti-government protests ever witnessed in Tehran.
However, the demonstrations have increased in recent days due to sweeping crackdown and an internet blackout that has stretched nearly a week.
Moreover, the Treasury blacklisted 18 individuals and entities accused of running “shadow banking” networks that launder Iranian oil revenues through front companies in the UAE, Singapore, and Britain.
Through cover firms and exchange houses, these networks channel billions of dollars each year at a time when Iranian citizens face deepening economic hardship.
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