Aggression against Khamenei would trigger all-out war, Iran president warns US

Amid ongoing unrest in Iran, President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned the United States to tread carefully, saying any aggression against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would trigger an all-out war.

In a post on X on Sunday, Pezeshkian accused Washington of being responsible for the economic hardship faced by Iranians, citing decades of sanctions.

“If the people of Iran face hardship and difficulties in their lives, one of the main reasons is the longstanding hostility and inhumane sanctions imposed by the United States and its allies,” he wrote.

“Any aggression against the Supreme Leader of our country is tantamount to an all-out war against the Iranian nation,” he added.

Pezeshkian’s warning followed remarks by US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly suggested possible intervention in Iran amid widespread protests. Last week, Trump said Iran had “crossed a red line” due to its violent crackdown on demonstrators.

“It looks like the line has been crossed,” Trump told reporters. “Some people who were not supposed to be killed have been killed. We and the military are looking at this very seriously, and we are looking at some very strong options.”

Iran has been shaken by mass protests since December, initially sparked by soaring inflation and the sharp decline of the national currency, the rial. The demonstrations later evolved into nationwide protests against the ruling establishment.

According to the US-based Human Rights News Agency (HRNA), nearly 4,000 people have been killed during the unrest, with 3,919 deaths verified so far. HRNA also reports that about 24,000 protesters have been arrested. Iranian authorities have not released an official death toll.

On Saturday, Supreme Leader Khamenei said the protests had left “several thousand” people dead and accused the United States of being responsible for the violence.