After days of protests and sharp rhetoric from U.S. President Donald Trump, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has broken his silence with a stern warning aimed at Washington and Trump personally. As unrest continues across Iran, Khamenei used a post on X to issue a forceful message, invoking the fate of historical tyrants and warning that “arrogant” leaders ultimately fall.
“The President of the United States, who judges the entire world with arrogance, should know that arrogant leaders of the world, such as Pharaoh, Nimrod, Mohammad Reza [Pahlavi] and others, met their downfall at the very moment when their pride was at its peak. He too will fall,” Khamenei wrote.
Le président des États-Unis, qui juge le monde entier avec arrogance, devrait savoir que les dirigeants arrogants du monde, tels que Pharaon, Nemrod, Mohammad Reza [Pahlavi] et d’autres, ont connu leur chute au moment même où leur orgueil était à son comble. Lui aussi tombera.
— Ayatollah Khamenei (@fr_Khamenei) January 10, 2026
Crackdown Warnings as Protests Continue
Signs of a tougher crackdown have emerged as protests show no sign of easing. Iran’s attorney general, Mohammad Movahedi Azad, warned that individuals taking part in the demonstrations would be treated as “enemies of God,” a charge that can carry the death penalty under Iranian law.
What Is Happening in Iran?
Anti-regime protests continued for the fourteenth consecutive day, with demonstrations spreading across multiple cities and security measures tightened nationwide. While authorities initially downplayed the unrest, official rhetoric has shifted over time, with protesters increasingly described as “terrorists” rather than “rioters.”
Iranian state media and officials have accused the United States of fueling the unrest, alleging that what began as peaceful demonstrations was deliberately turned violent through foreign involvement, a claim aired by Press TV.
Trump, Exiled Figures, and International Attention
Trump has openly expressed support for the protests. In a post on Truth Social, he said Iran was witnessing a renewed push for freedom and that Washington stood ready to help.
Former Iranian crown prince Reza Pahlavi, who lives in exile, has also re-emerged publicly, praising what he described as an unprecedented nationwide challenge to Khamenei’s rule. He called for the use of “all technical, financial, and diplomatic resources” to help restore communication for Iranians.
How the Protests Began
The demonstrations began on December 28 following the sharp collapse of Iran’s currency, the rial, which has plunged to more than 1.4 million to the U.S. dollar amid economic pressure from international sanctions. What started as economic anger has since evolved into broader calls challenging the Islamic Republic.
The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported that at least 72 people have been killed and more than 2,300 detained since the protests began.
