Trump Demands Regime Change in Iran

U.S. President Donald Trump has explicitly called for an end to the rule of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, marking a significant escalation in White House rhetoric even as widespread protests in the country appear to have subsided.

In a weekend interview with Politico, Trump stated, "It's time to look for new leadership in Iran." The statement represents his most direct call for a change in government since the crisis began.

Figure 1: Protests in Iran have featured calls for fundamental regime change, with demonstrators rejecting both past monarchical rule and the current clerical leadership.

Trump Escalates Rhetoric, Directly Targeting Khamenei

President Trump sharpened his personal criticism of the Iranian leader, describing him as a "sick man who should run his country properly and stop killing people." He added, "His country is the worst place to live anywhere in the world because of poor leadership."

This verbal attack follows an earlier decision to refrain from military action. Trump had indicated that he would hold off on strikes after Iranian leaders reportedly agreed not to execute protesters and the killings had stopped. Reports also suggested that the Pentagon could not guarantee a successful strike against Iran's top leadership, a factor that heavily influenced the President's decision.

Referencing the Ayatollah, Trump told Politico, "The best decision he ever made was not hanging more than 800 people two days ago." The origin of this 800 figure remains unclear, as it has not been referenced by Iranian officials or state media, which typically publicize executions as a public warning.

A War of Words: Khamenei Responds to US Pressure

Ayatollah Khamenei has pushed back against the accusations, blaming the U.S. and Israel for instigating the protests. He asserted that "thousands" were killed, including many police and security forces.

"We find the US President guilty due to the casualties, damages and slander he inflicted upon the Iranian nation," Khamenei stated.

Despite the strong words, some analysts believe Khamenei may be exercising a degree of restraint to avoid provoking a U.S. attack while Iran’s economy and currency are under severe strain.

Trump dismissed the Ayatollah's accusation, countering that Tehran's leadership relies on violence to govern. "What he is guilty of, as the leader of a country, is the complete destruction of the country and the use of violence at levels never seen before," Trump said. He argued that Iran's leadership should "focus on running his country properly... and not killing people by the thousands in order to keep control."

Military Posturing and Tentative Reopenings

While the diplomatic conflict intensifies, there are signs of a cautious return to normalcy within Iran. Recent reports indicate that internet access is slowly being restored after SMS messaging services resumed. However, authorities are expected to maintain a ban on certain Western-based applications and communication platforms.

Meanwhile, U.S. military assets are reportedly en route to the Middle East and the CENTCOM area of responsibility. A significant portion of the U.S. Navy's strike group had previously been in the Caribbean following the January 3rd operation related to Venezuela.