Iran’s supreme leader says authorities must break the back of seditionists, blaming US President Trump for casualties after a deadly protest crackdown.
PARIS: Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Saturday that authorities “must break the back of the seditionists”.
He blamed US President Donald Trump for “casualties” following a crackdown on a major wave of protests against the country’s clerical authorities.
“We do not intend to lead the country to war, but we will not spare domestic criminals,” Khamenei told supporters during an address marking a religious holiday.
He added that “international criminals” would also not be spared punishment.
“By God’s grace, the Iranian nation must break the back of the seditionists just as it broke the back of the sedition.”
Iran was rocked by weeks of demonstrations sparked by anger over economic hardship.
The protests exploded into the biggest challenge to the Islamic republic in more than three years despite a deadly crackdown.
Rights groups say the crackdown left thousands dead under an internet blackout.
Iranian authorities have blamed the United States for the mass demonstrations they have called “riots” and “terrorist” operations.
Khamenei lashed out at Trump, who had threatened military action against Iran if protesters were killed.
He accused the US president of being “guilty for the casualties, damages and accusations he has levelled against the Iranian nation”.
“This was an American conspiracy,” Khamenei said.
He added that “America’s goal is to swallow Iran… the goal is to put Iran back under military, political and economic domination”.
