Washington – BETH

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei bears responsibility for the “complete destruction of Iran,” describing his rule as one based on repression and violence at unprecedented levels.

Commenting on recent posts by Khamenei addressed directly to him, Trump said “the time has come to look for new leadership in Iran,” in what is considered one of his most hard-line statements against the head of the Iranian regime in years, according to Politico.

In a sharply escalatory tone, Trump added that “the best decision Khamenei has ever made was not executing more than 800 people two days ago,” a direct reference to what he described as grave abuses accompanying the recent protests inside Iran.

Trump’s remarks came shortly after Khamenei’s online account published a series of messages accusing the U.S. president of being behind the violence and deadly unrest in the country, holding Washington responsible for casualties, material damage, and for tarnishing Iran’s image.

After reviewing those messages, Trump said Iran’s rulers “rely on repression and violence as tools of governance,” adding:
“What Khamenei has done as a leader is the complete destruction of his country… This man is sick and should be running his country instead of killing his people. Iran has become the worst place in the world to live because of bad leadership.”

In response, Khamenei accused the U.S. president of “criminality,” arguing that the latest incitement against Iran was different due to Trump’s direct personal involvement. He claimed that “actors linked to Israel and the United States caused severe damage and killed thousands during the protests.”

Khamenei stressed that the authorities “will not drag the country into war,” but at the same time warned that they “will not allow local or international criminals to escape accountability.”

BETH Forward Look (Concise)

From pressure to delegitimization
Trump’s rhetoric has shifted from criticizing Iranian behavior to directly questioning the legitimacy of the country’s leadership—an escalation with serious political implications.

Calculated verbal escalation, not war—yet
Despite the harsh language, there are no immediate indicators of a large-scale military action. The statements, however, pave the way for tougher political and economic measures, and potentially security actions by proxy.

A dual predicament for Tehran
Domestically: sustained protests and public pressure.
Externally: a U.S. president openly reopening the file of “leadership change.”

Weeks of high tension ahead
The coming period is likely to see further incendiary rhetoric. Any serious misstep or bloodshed on the ground inside Iran could push the standoff from verbal escalation into a far more dangerous phase.