Sun Jan 18 07:56:08 UTC 2026: ### Khamenei Accuses Trump of Inciting Deadly Protests in Iran
The Story: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has directly accused former US President Donald Trump and the United States government of orchestrating and instigating the deadly anti-government protests that have recently gripped Iran. Khamenei alleges that the US is directly responsible for the deaths of “several thousand” people during the unrest, claiming foreign interference in the violent demonstrations.
Key Points:
- Khamenei blames Trump and the US for the deaths of “several thousand” protesters.
- He alleges direct foreign involvement in the anti-government protests.
- The protests lasted for weeks.
Key Takeaways:
- The Iranian government, under Khamenei’s leadership, is attempting to deflect blame for the internal unrest by pointing to external forces, specifically the United States and the legacy of Trump’s presidency.
- Accusations of foreign interference are a common tactic used by authoritarian regimes to delegitimize dissent and rally support.
- The high death toll claimed by Khamenei suggests the protests were significantly violent, regardless of the alleged foreign involvement.
First Piper 