Attack on Khamenei would mean 'all-out war,' warns Iranian President Pezeshkian as death toll crosses 5,000

Iran says strike on Khamenei would trigger full-scale war, deaths exceed 5,000

• Iran's president warned attacks on Khamenei mean war against the Iranian nation
• Trump urged new leadership in Iran, accusing Khamenei of violence and destruction.
• Iran protests result in deaths, detentions, and internet restrictions

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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday warned that any attack on Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would be treated as a declaration of war, as tensions with the United States continue to escalate.

In a post on X, he said, “Any aggression against the Supreme Leader of our country is tantamount to all-out war against the Iranian nation.”

اگر سختی و تنگنایی در زندگی مردم عزیز #ایران وجود دارد، یکی از عوامل اصلی آن دشمنی دیرینه و تحریم‌های غیرانسانی دولت امریکا و هم‌پیمانان اوست. تعرض به رهبری معظم کشورمان به‌منزله جنگ تمام عیار با ملت ایران است.

— Masoud Pezeshkian (@drpezeshkian) January 18, 2026

His remarks followed sharp criticism from US President Donald Trump, who told Politico, “It’s time to look for new leadership in Iran,” accusing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei of relying on violence to stay in power.

Trump said, “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,” adding, “To keep the country functioning, even though that function is a very low level, the leadership should focus on running its country properly, as I do with the United States, and not killing people by the thousands to keep control.”

Iran’s leadership has blamed Washington and Israel for the unrest, with Khamenei calling Trump a “criminal” and acknowledging that “several thousand” people were killed during the protests.

Officials have also indicated that executions linked to the disturbances could still go ahead, while internet access has been repeatedly restricted in parts of the country.

Protests in Iran 

Protests in Iran began last month at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar over worsening economic conditions and quickly escalated into nationwide demonstrations against the clerical establishment, with an Iranian official reporting that at least 5,000 people have been killed in the unrest.

Shopkeepers, students, and ordinary citizens from different income groups took to the streets, openly demanding political change. As the unrest intensified, authorities restricted internet services and deployed large numbers of security personnel across major cities.

Although the protests have eased following a violent crackdown, reports of deaths, detentions, and alleged abuses continue to surface. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused US President Donald Trump of direct involvement, calling him a “criminal” and claiming the unrest led to “several thousand” deaths.