“We consider the US president a criminal for the incidents of harming, harming and slandering the Iranian nation,” Khamenei said, according to Iranian state media.
The protests began on December 28 due to the economic crisis and grew into widespread protests demanding an end to clerical rule in the Islamic Republic.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to intervene, including threats of “strong action” if Iran kills protesters.
But on Friday, in a social media post, he thanked the leaders of Tehran, saying they had canceled the hanging of many people. Iran said “there is no plan to hang people”.
In what appeared to be a response to Trump, Khamenei said: “We will not drag the country into war, but we will not allow domestic or international criminals to go unpunished,” state media reported.
IRAN’S WORST IN YEARS
Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei said “several thousand deaths” had occurred during protests across the country, the worst unrest in Iran in years. He accused Iran’s long-time enemies the US and Israel of orchestrating the violence.
“Those linked to Israel and the US have caused a lot of damage and killed several thousands,” he said, adding that they started fires, destroyed public property and created chaos. “They commit crimes and slander,” he said.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, or HRANA, said it has confirmed the death of 3,090 people, including 2,885 protesters, and more than 22,000 people arrested.
Last week, Iran’s general prosecutor said those arrested would face severe punishment. Those arrested included people who “helped rioters and terrorists who attacked security forces and public property” and “armed soldiers who spread fear among citizens,” he said.
“All the perpetrators are mohareb,” state media quoted Mohammad Movahedi Azad as saying, adding that the investigation would be carried out “without mercy, mercy or tolerance”.
Mohareb, the Islamic legal term for fighting God, is punishable by death under Iranian law.
INTERNET QUESTION SERVICES PARTIALLY RESTORED
Reuters could not independently verify the numbers of casualties or the details of the disturbances reported by the media and Iranian rights groups.
Finding information has been difficult due to the internet blackout, which was partially lifted on Saturday.
Iran’s crackdown appears to have ended the protests, according to residents and state media, and the official Mehr News Agency reported on Saturday that internet service had been restored to some users.
The ISNA news website said the SMS service has also been activated.
“Metrics show a very small increase in internet connection in #Iran this morning” after 200 hours of shutdown, internet monitoring group NetBlocks posted on X. Communications remain at about 2% of normal levels, it said.
A resident of Karaj, west of Tehran, contacted by WhatsApp, said he saw that the internet had returned at 4 a.m. (0000 GMT) on Saturday. Karaj faced severe violence during the protests. A resident, who asked not to be named, said Thursday was the most intense riot there.
Several Iranians overseas said on social media that they were able to send messages to Iranian users early Saturday.
THE ARRESTS FOLLOWED THE OPERATION OF THE TECHNOLOGY, THE MEDIA SAYS
State media reported the arrest of thousands of “rebels and terrorists” across the country, including people linked to opposition groups abroad who are advocating the overthrow of the Islamic Republic.
The arrests included several people described by Iranian state media as “leaders”, including a woman named Nazanin Baradaran, who was arrested following “sophisticated intelligence operations”.
Reports say Baradaran was working under the alias Raha Parham on behalf of Reza Pahlavi – the exiled son of Iran’s last shah – and played a leading role in organizing the riots. Reuters could not confirm the report or his identity.
Pahlavi, who has long been opposed to the party, has positioned himself as a leader in the event of the collapse of the regime and said he would seek to strengthen relations between Iran and Israel if he were to take over the country’s leadership.
Israeli officials have expressed support for Pahlavi. In a rare public disclosure this month, Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu said in an interview with Israel Army Radio that Israel has personnel “on the ground” in Iran.
He said they aimed to weaken Iran’s capabilities, although he denied they were working to overthrow the leadership.
