Former President Donald Trump told Politico it is "time to look for new leadership in Iran" as nationwide protests continue. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused Trump of inciting "agitators" and, for the first time, acknowledged that thousands have been killed. Human Rights Activists News Agency reports at least 3,090 dead and 22,123 arrests, though its numbers are not an official government count. U.S. officials say the Pentagon is preparing additional forces for the Middle East while some U.S. personnel have been evacuated.
Trump Calls For New Leadership In Iran Amid Deadly Nationwide Protests
President Donald Trump called for "new leadership" in Iran after Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the country considers Trump a "criminal" for the casualties and damage during the protests. (Getty Images)(Getty Images)
Former President Donald Trump on Saturday urged a change of leadership in Iran as nationwide protests that have shaken the country for weeks continued to draw international attention.
In an interview with Politico, Trump said it was "time to look for new leadership in Iran." The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the former president's remarks.
“It’s time to look for new leadership in Iran.”
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, responded in a defiant address, accusing Trump of encouraging "agitators" and calling him "a criminal, both for the casualties, for the damages, and for the slander directed at the Iranian nation." Khamenei said key instigators had been detained, and Iran’s semiofficial Fars news agency reported that protests had largely subsided.
Trump sharply criticized Iran’s leadership in the Politico interview, calling Khamenei "a sick man who should run his country properly and stop killing people," and adding that the country suffers from "poor leadership." A spokesperson for Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations declined to comment on Trump’s remarks.
Human rights groups and activists say thousands of protesters have been killed in the crackdown since nationwide unrest began. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reports at least 3,090 dead and 22,123 arrests. HRANA says it compiles its toll by cross-checking reports with supporters inside Iran and applying "multiple internal checks," and is not an official government count.
For the first time, Khamenei publicly acknowledged that thousands had been killed, a figure that far exceeded earlier official admissions that cited hundreds of deaths.
Earlier this week, Trump urged Iranians to "take over institutions" and to continue demonstrating, telling them that "help is on its way." On Friday he struck a different tone, saying he "greatly" respected reports that "over 800" scheduled hangings had been canceled by Iranian authorities. Iran’s judiciary announced that one man facing the death penalty would not be executed; the White House did not provide an independent source for the larger figure of 800 people spared.
U.S. Military Preparations
A U.S. official told NBC News the Defense Department is preparing to deploy additional forces and assets to the Middle East to bolster regional security and to prepare for potential retaliation by Iran. Reported reinforcements include a carrier strike group, additional aircraft and land-based air defense systems. U.S. authorities also began evacuating key personnel from their largest military base in the region as tensions escalated.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com.
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