Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran
Tehran, Jan 19: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday issued a stark warning, saying that any attack on Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would amount to a declaration of “all-out war” against the Iranian nation. The statement comes amid a sharp escalation in rhetoric between Tehran and Washington, following remarks by US President Donald Trump calling for a change in Iran’s leadership.
Posting on social media platform X, Pezeshkian said that the Iranian people would view any threat to their supreme leader as a direct assault on the country itself. “Any attack on our great leader will be tantamount to an all-out war against the Iranian nation,” he wrote.
The Iranian President also accused the United States of being responsible for Iran’s economic difficulties, blaming decades of hostility and what he described as “inhumane sanctions” imposed by Washington and its allies. These measures, he said, have inflicted severe hardship on ordinary Iranians.
Tensions intensified earlier when Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei described Trump as a “criminal,” holding him responsible for deaths and destruction during recent episodes of unrest inside Iran.
Trump, speaking to Politico on Saturday, openly called for an end to Khamenei’s long rule, arguing that Iran needs new leadership as it grapples with persistent public protests. “It’s time to look for new leadership in Iran,” Trump said, referring to weeks of demonstrations driven by public anger over economic distress, political repression and alleged human rights violations.
The US President strongly criticised Iran’s ruling establishment, accusing it of maintaining power through fear and violence. He alleged that the leadership relies on harsh crackdowns to suppress dissent and blamed Khamenei for what he described as the country’s steady decline. Trump further accused the supreme leader of overseeing unprecedented levels of repression, including executions, to silence opposition.
Relations between Tehran and Washington have remained deeply strained since Trump’s return to the White House, marked by the continuation of the “maximum pressure” policy and frequent verbal exchanges between the two sides. The latest war of words underscores the fragile state of US-Iran ties and the risk of further escalation.