Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has issued a strong warning to the United States, saying any attack on Iran would lead to the outbreak of a wider regional war. The remarks came as U.S.
President Donald Trump increases military pressure in the Middle East. Speaking at a public event in Tehran, the 86-year-old leader delivered the warning during a ceremony marking the anniversary of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s return from exile in 1979, a pivotal moment that led to Iran’s Islamic Revolution.
In his address, Khamenei accused the United States of attempting to seize control of Iran’s oil and natural gas resources, saying any military action against Iran would not remain limited to the country and would instead have serious consequences across the region.
Khamenei also commented on recent anti-government protests inside Iran, describing them as an attempted “coup” and an act of “treason.” He alleged that protesters attacked banks, mosques, and government buildings in an effort to destabilize the country.
Reacting to Khamenei’s warning, U.S. President Donald Trump said he still hoped to reach an agreement with Iran. Speaking to reporters, Trump said, “Hopefully we’ll have a deal. If we don’t have a deal, then we’ll see how accurate Khamenei’s warning really was.”
Protests, Casualties, and Conflicting Death Toll Claims
The protests in Iran began on December 28, driven by public frustration over economic hardship, corruption, and rising inflation. What started as scattered demonstrations later spread nationwide.
According to the United Nations and international human rights organizations, thousands of people have been killed during the security forces’ crackdown on the protests.
A UN special report has suggested the death toll could exceed 20,000, while some rights groups estimate more than 6,700 people have died. Iranian authorities dispute these figures, blaming the violence on “terrorists” allegedly backed by the United States and Israel. State-run Iranian media report that 3,117 people have been killed, most of them civilians.
President Masoud Pezeshkian has pledged to make public the accurate number of deaths linked to the unrest, though no timeline has been announced. Meanwhile, many ordinary Iranians continue to express distrust toward official accounts, saying the country remains in mourning amid ongoing uncertainty.
