Tehran's top cleric accuses demonstrators of serving Netanyahu and Trump

Tehran’s Friday Prayer leader Ahmad Khatami has demanded the execution of protesters who were detained during the recent unrest, as well as the arrest of all individuals who offered support to them.

Khatami, a conservative cleric appointed by Iran’s supreme leader, alleged that the demonstrators were acting on behalf of foreign governments and labelled them “the servants” of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and “the soldiers of Trump.” 

According to Khatami, “They should expect harsh retribution from the government. The Americans and the Zionists should not count on peace.” He went on to condemn the protesters more sharply, stating: “These fools imagined they could divide the country. As long as even one Iranian is alive, no one will allow a single inch of this land to be lost.” Characterising the demonstrators in the strongest terms, he added, “These savages did what even the Mongols could not do, but they achieved nothing.”

Khatami’s comments followed statements from US President Donald Trump, who announced that Iran had cancelled mass executions planned for more than 800 detainees. Trump claimed the reversal had significantly altered the trajectory of the situation. “Iran cancelled the hanging of over 800 people,” he told reporters before departing the White House for his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida. He added, “And I greatly respect the fact that they cancelled.”

When asked whether any Arab or Israeli officials had persuaded him to temper earlier suggestions that he might consider military action against Iran, Trump responded: “Nobody convinced me. I convinced myself.” He continued, “You had yesterday scheduled over 800 hangings. They didn’t hang anyone. They cancelled the hangings. That had a big impact.”

The wave of unrest began after a precipitous decline in Iran’s national currency but rapidly expanded into nationwide anti-government demonstrations demanding the removal of the leadership. Official reports and media coverage estimate that more than 2,000 people have been killed, a figure also publicly acknowledged by Vice President Ahmad Musavi. The US-based human rights organisation HRANA has said that fatalities may have exceeded 3000.

Meanwhile, US media outlets — citing several sources, including one inside Iran — report that activist groups gathering information from hospitals and medical personnel now believe the real death toll is far higher, with minimum estimates of 12,000 and some assessments suggesting it could reach 20,000 or more.

By Tamilla Hasanova