Trump calls for new leadership in Iran amid protests

US President Donald Trump has said the United States should seek a change in Iran’s political leadership in light of ongoing protests in the country.

He made the remarks in an interview with Politico, stating that “it is time to look for new leadership in Iran.”

Trump personally denounced Khamenei, calling him a “sick man” who has made Iran “the worst place to live anywhere in the world because of poor leadership,” accused him of the “complete destruction of the country,” and condemned the regime's use of “violence at levels never seen before.” He highlighted Khamenei's 37-year rule and suggested the best decision the leader made recently was canceling planned mass executions (reportedly over 800) amid international pressure.

The comments come as the nationwide protests, which began in late December 2025 and have been described as the most serious challenge to the Islamic Republic since 1979, appear to have slowed or waned by mid-January 2026 due to the regime's brutal crackdown, including internet blackouts, mass arrests, live fire, and allegations in some reports of the use of toxic substances.

Protests were initially triggered by the sharp devaluation of the Iranian rial, which hit record lows around 1.4 to 1.45 million to the USD, along with hyperinflation exceeding 40 to 50 percent and soaring prices for essentials such as food, fuel, and cooking oil. These issues were worsened by the end of subsidized imports, ongoing sanctions, and the fallout from the 2025 Iran-Israel war. Demonstrations began in Tehran's Grand Bazaar with shop closures and strikes, quickly spreading to all provinces and evolving into anti-regime slogans such as “Death to the Dictator,” directed at Supreme Leader Khamenei, as well as calls for systemic change.

Iranian authorities blame the United States, Israel, and foreign interference for orchestrating the unrest, while independent estimates, for example from the Human Rights Activists News Agency, place the death toll above 3,000, with some reports citing thousands more. Over 22,000 arrests have been documented, and violence continues despite Supreme Leader Khamenei's rare public acknowledgment of “several thousand” deaths.