Overview
- Politico reported that President Donald Trump said it is time for Iran to find a new leader and called for the replacement of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
- Trump criticized Iran’s rule as relying on repression and violence, arguing that leaders should not kill large numbers of people to maintain power.
- In a Jan. 17 speech, Khamenei said the U.S. president incited rioters and brought casualties, damage and slander to Iran, calling him guilty.
- Khamenei told supporters that authorities had broken the back of the unrest and warned that domestic and foreign offenders would be punished.
- Jiji and Kyodo dispatches relaying Politico’s interview noted reports that protest deaths have surpassed 3,000, while coverage emphasized no immediate shift in Iran’s leadership or U.S. policy.