Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Jan 18: US President Donald Trump has called for an end to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s 37-year rule, saying it was time for “new leadership” in Iran as the country reels under weeks of anti-government protests.
Speaking to Politico on Saturday, Trump accused Iran’s leadership of ruling through repression and violence. “It’s time to look for new leadership in Iran,” he said, blaming Khamenei for the “complete destruction of the country” and the use of unprecedented force against protesters.
“The best decision he ever made was not hanging more than 800 people two days ago,” Trump remarked, adding that leadership should be based on “respect, not fear and death”. Calling Khamenei a “sick man”, he said Iran had become the “worst place to live anywhere” because of its current leadership.
Trump further said that instead of killing people to retain control, Iran’s leadership should focus on governing the country properly. He also warned earlier that the US would intervene militarily if Iranian authorities continued killing protesters and had urged demonstrators to take over state institutions, though this did not materialise.
His comments came soon after Ayatollah Khamenei vowed to “break the back of the seditionists” involved in the protests. Addressing supporters during a religious event, Khamenei blamed Trump for casualties during the demonstrations and said domestic as well as “international criminals” would not be spared punishment.
Iranian authorities have described the protests as “terrorist” acts and “riots”, alleging they are part of an American conspiracy to dominate Iran militarily, politically and economically. According to reports, at least 3,428 protesters have been killed in the crackdown by security forces.
Meanwhile, exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi also appealed to Iranians to intensify protests, urging them to raise their voices with national slogans. Protesters in several places have been heard chanting his name. Pahlavi, whose father was overthrown during the 1979 Islamic Revolution, said he wanted to lead a transition to a secular democracy through a popular referendum and declared, “I will return to Iran.”
Seeking to draw support from Trump, Pahlavi said he believed the US President would stand with the Iranian people, unlike former president Barack Obama, who negotiated with Tehran.