Source HT
TEHRAN – Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a blistering condemnation of U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday, accusing him of having “hands stained with the blood of Iranians” as the country’s most widespread protests in years entered a perilous new phase.
The remarks come as the Islamic Republic remains under a near-total internet and telecommunications blackout, a move human rights groups warn is a precursor to a violent, large-scale crackdown.
Rhetoric Escalates as Death Toll Mounts
In a televised address, the 86-year-old Khamenei dismissed the nationwide unrest as a foreign-backed plot, claiming demonstrators were “ruining their own streets” merely to please the American president. He likened Trump to historical tyrants such as the Pharaoh and the late Shah, predicting the U.S. leader would soon see his own “downfall.”
The Supreme Leader’s rhetoric specifically referenced past military tensions, asserting that Trump’s previous orders for strikes on Iranian soil have made him personally responsible for Iranian deaths. Meanwhile, state-run media has begun labeling protesters as “terrorist agents,” a designation that often precedes the use of lethal force and “moharebeh” (enmity against God) charges, which carry the death penalty.
Casualties and the “Digital Darkness”
As of Saturday, January 10, the situation on the ground remains difficult to verify due to the government-imposed communications outage. However, human rights organizations have provided grim estimates:
Death Toll: Rights groups including Iran Human Rights (IHR) and HRANA have confirmed at least 62 deaths, including at least nine minors. Unconfirmed reports from medical sources in Tehran suggest the number could be significantly higher.
Arrests: Over 2,200 individuals have been detained across 31 provinces.
Blackout: Monitoring group NetBlocks confirmed a “total communications blackout,” affecting both landline internet and international telephone services, leaving millions unable to contact the outside world.
A High-Stakes Standoff with Washington
The current unrest, which began in late December following a collapse of the Iranian rial, has evolved into a direct confrontation between Tehran and the Trump administration.
President Trump has repeatedly warned the Iranian leadership that any “violent repression” of peaceful protesters would result in “hell to pay,” even hinting at potential U.S. intervention. This threat has gained significant weight in Tehran following recent U.S. military actions in other regions, leading Iranian officials to accuse Washington of actively orchestrating a regime change.
As security forces deploy in greater numbers to major city centers, the international community remains on high alert. Exiled figures, including Reza Pahlavi, have called on the U.S. and its allies to provide “technological and moral support” to help Iranians bypass the digital firewall and protect those in the streets.
