A prominent hardline cleric in Iran has publicly called for the execution of anti-government demonstrators, directly contradicting recent statements from US President Donald Trump regarding the fate of those arrested.
Hardline Sermon Calls for Severe Punishment
During a Friday sermon, Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, a senior member of the influential Guardian Council and the Assembly of Experts, launched a fierce verbal attack on protesters. He labelled them as "armed hypocrites" who should be "put to death". Khatami went further, accusing demonstrators of being "butlers" and "soldiers" of Israel and the United States, and vowed that neither country should "expect peace".
His incendiary remarks stand in stark opposition to claims made by President Trump earlier in the week. Trump stated he had been told Iranian authorities agreed to halt executions of protesters, later thanking Iran for stopping what he said were plans to execute 800 individuals. The origin of this figure remains unclear.
Supreme Leader's Rejection and Ongoing Crackdown
Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, swiftly rejected Trump's narrative. On Saturday, he branded the US president a "criminal" for his alleged personal involvement in the protests and promised further punishment for those involved. "By God's grace, the Iranian nation must break the back of the seditionists just as it broke the back of the sedition," Khamenei declared.
Rights groups report that the state repression continues unabated. According to the Human Rights Activists news agency, the death toll from the unrest has surpassed 3,090 people, with nearly 4,000 more cases under review. More than 22,100 individuals have been arrested, raising significant concerns about the mistreatment of detainees.
Protests Quelled but Fallout Continues
The wave of demonstrations, which began on 28 December initially over economic grievances, rapidly evolved into the most serious challenge to Iran's leadership since the 1979 revolution. The protests spread nationwide, with demands shifting to calls for an end to the current government.
A brutal security crackdown, which Human Rights Watch described as including "mass killings of protesters", has largely succeeded in clearing the streets. With the immediate unrest suppressed, authorities are now publicly focusing on punishing those they accuse of participating in what they frame as a foreign-backed plot.
In his sermon, Ayatollah Khatami cited extensive damage allegedly caused by protesters, including to 350 mosques, 126 prayer halls, 400 hospitals, and numerous emergency vehicles. Meanwhile, Iran remains largely isolated from the global internet, with authorities maintaining a shutdown that has lasted over a week, stifling communication and information flow.
The future of the protest movement remains uncertain. Prominent opposition figure Reza Pahlavi, son of the late Shah, continues to advocate for the government's overthrow from abroad. On Friday, he urged President Trump to intervene, stating Iranians "have no choice to carry on the fight". Whether the demonstrations will reignite is a pressing question as the regime consolidates its forceful response.
