"US-Iranian tensions remained high as Tehran's hard-line rulers renewed their hostile rhetoric and threatened to hand out the "severest punishments" -- including potentially executions -- against anti-government protesters. Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian -- previously considered by many to be a relative moderate among Iran's rulers -- on January 18 warned that an attack on the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, would bring about an"all-out war.""
""An attack on the great leader of our country is tantamount to a full-scale war with the Iranian nation," Pezeshkian said in a post on social media. In a speech on January 17, Khamenei praised Pezeshkian's role in the suppression of recent demonstrations, while acknowledging that "several thousand" people had been killed during the protests."
"US President Donald Trump has taken the forefront among Western leaders in calling out the Iranian regime for its brutal crackdown on anti-government protesters. 'New Leadership' For Iran Trump told Politico in remarks published on January 17 that Khamenei was guilty of "the complete destruction of the country and the use of violence at levels never seen before" and said it was time to look for "new leadership" in Iran."
Tensions between Iran and the United States intensified as Iranian hard-liners renewed hostile rhetoric and threatened the severest punishments, including potential executions, for anti-government protesters. President Masud Pezeshkian warned that any attack on Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would amount to a full-scale war. Khamenei praised Pezeshkian's suppression of demonstrations and acknowledged that several thousand people had been killed. Protests began on December 28, 2025 over economic grievances and expanded into broader unrest. U.S. President Donald Trump condemned the regime's violence, called for new leadership, and warned of strong action over potential hangings.
Read at RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty
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