US President Donald Trump has said that Iran needs new leadership, openly calling for the removal of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Trump made the remarks after Khamenei blamed the United States for the wave of protests and violence that has spread across Iran in recent weeks.
Trump criticised Iran’s leadership for what he described as a failure to govern responsibly. He said true leadership is built on respect and care for people, not fear, force, or bloodshed. According to Trump, the current leadership has caused suffering for ordinary Iranians by responding to protests with violence instead of addressing public concerns.
The unrest in Iran began in late December 2025, initially triggered by rising prices, unemployment, and economic pressure. The demonstrations soon expanded into widespread protests against Iran’s political and religious leadership. Human rights groups and independent sources claim that thousands of people have been killed and many more arrested during a heavy security crackdown. Authorities have also restricted internet access to control the spread of information.
Ayatollah Khamenei responded sharply to Trump’s comments, calling him a “criminal” and accusing the United States of interfering in Iran’s internal matters. He said foreign powers were trying to create instability and chaos inside the country. Khamenei defended the government’s actions, saying they were necessary to protect national security.
Iran’s government has also issued strong warnings to the US. President Masoud Pezeshkian said that any attack or threat against Iran’s Supreme Leader would be treated as an attack on the entire nation. He warned that such action could lead to a full-scale war. Iranian leaders have also blamed US sanctions for worsening the country’s economic crisis.
