Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei admitted Saturday that thousands died in over two weeks of unrest. He accused U.S. President Donald Trump of inciting protesters with promises of military support, calling him a “criminal” responsible both for the casualties and the damage from the late-December economic protests.
His address ignored security forces’ rooftop gunfire. HRANA reports over 3,300 deaths and 24,000 arrests; Norway’s Iran Human Rights logs 3,428 fatalities.
A Tehran eyewitness decried laser-targeted face shots as a “massacre.”
“They were aiming with lasers and shooting people in the face,” they said anonymously. “They massacred people. They killed our most beautiful, most gorgeous and bravest, our kids.”
Khamenei blamed U.S.-Israel agents and naive youths for wrecking infrastructure per a plot. “By harming the people, they (the ‘rioters’) killed several thousand of them. Some were killed with a force that was inhuman, completely savagely. These actions were part of the sedition’s pre-prepared blueprint.”
Protesters threw stones rarely against Basij bikers. “The only weapon the people had was stones which they didn’t even have a chance to throw.”
Foreign Minister Araghchi called higher tolls “misinformation.” Khamenei demanded U.S. accountability.
“We consider the U.S. President a criminal, both for the casualties and damage, and for the slander he leveled against the Iranian nation.”
Trump called Khamenei a “sick man” who should stop killings. “In order to keep the country functioning—even though that function is a very low level—the leadership should focus on running his country properly, like I do with the United States, and not killing people by the thousands in order to keep control.” He praised sparing 800 hangings as Khamenei’s “best decision.”
Khamenei urged unity despite woes, declared protests over, and vowed pursuit of “criminals.” Internet stays at 2% after blackout, while Prosecutor Salehi promised swift justice on indictments.