US President escalates rhetoric amid protests and clash with Supreme Leader Khamenei
January 18, 2026: US President Donald Trump on Saturday made his strongest statement yet calling for a change in Iran’s leadership, saying it was “time to look for new leadership” in the country. His remarks followed a sharp exchange with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who accused Trump of fuelling violence and unrest during weeks of nationwide protests. The comments signal a shift toward overt regime-change rhetoric as tensions between Washington and Tehran intensify.
The protests, which began on December 28, 2025, initially over economic grievances, quickly spread across Iran with demonstrators demanding an end to clerical rule. Human rights groups estimate that more than 3,400 protesters have been killed in the crackdown, prompting Trump to issue repeated warnings, including hints at possible military action and calls for Iranian authorities to halt executions. Tehran, however, has rejected claims of mass executions and dismissed Trump’s statements as misinformation.
Khamenei has accused the United States and Israel of orchestrating the unrest, describing the protests as foreign-backed “sedition” and vowing harsh punishment for those involved. Iranian officials continue to frame the demonstrations as terrorist activity, while opposition figures abroad, including exiled royal Reza Pahlavi, have renewed appeals for international support. As protests appear to be losing momentum, the war of words between Tehran and Washington shows no sign of easing.