Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei attacked Donald Trump, accusing him of being responsible for the deaths in Iran during the protests of recent days: "We hold the president of the United States responsible for the victims, the damage and the slander he directed against the Iranian nation," the Ayatollah said on the occasion of the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Mab'ath.

The protests are the result of an "American plot," and the United States' goal "is the military, political, and economic domination of Iran," Khamenei added, before threatening the protesters. The authorities "must break the backs of the seditious. We have no intention of leading the country to war, but we will not spare domestic criminals, and even worse than domestic criminals, we will not spare international criminals," he declared. "By the grace of God, the Iranian nation must break the backs of the seditious, just as it broke the backs of sedition," he added.

Tehran's repression is becoming increasingly ferocious, as is the challenge to the United States. The protests sweeping the country are being repressed with intimidation, in addition to violence, with the Revolutionary Guard raiding the homes of the families of slain protesters .

And alarm is growing over the resumption of hangings: the head of the judiciary has promised "speedy trials," which could lead to the death penalty , despite Donald Trump's warning not to take this path.

Tehran authorities also called thousands of people onto the streets, who gathered for the funerals of over 100 members of the security forces and other "martyrs" killed during the protests. State television footage showed the crowd waving Islamic Republic flags during the ceremony, and banners reading "Death to America" appeared. Photos of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the US president appeared, their faces bloodied after the 2024 assassination attempt. The caption read: "This time they won't miss it."

(Unioneonline/L)