Khamenei Acknowledges Protest Deaths, Accuses Trump of Orchestrating Unrest

Overview

• Khamenei publicly recognized for the first time that people were killed in the nationwide protests, saying there were several thousands of deaths.
• He blamed the United States and President Trump for a conspiracy behind the unrest and portrayed demonstrators as U.S. “soldiers” who damaged mosques and educational centers.
• He vowed to crush “sedition,” said Iran does not seek war, and warned that domestic and “international” criminals would not be spared.
• Human-rights monitors reported about 3,090 deaths and more than 22,000 arrests, with verification hindered by internet shutdowns that briefly eased before being reimposed on Saturday.
• His comments followed Trump’s claim that Tehran canceled planned executions of detainees and a European aviation advisory urging airlines to avoid Iranian airspace because of possible U.S. action.