President Donald Trump has called for a change in Iran’s leadership as large-scale protests continue across the country, highlighting growing international attention on Iran’s internal unrest and the government’s response. The demonstrations, which began earlier this month, have been driven by rising inflation, economic instability, and long-standing frustration with clerical rule under Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In an interview with POLITICO on Saturday, Trump said “it’s time to look for new leadership in Iran” amid the ongoing protests. He directly criticized Khamenei, stating, “[Khamenei] is a sick man who should run his country properly and stop killing people,” and argued that Iran’s living conditions reflect what he described as poor leadership. Trump added that the country relies on repression to maintain control rather than effective governance.
According to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), the human toll of the protests has been severe. As of Sunday, the organization reported that 3,919 people have been killed, with investigations ongoing into thousands of additional deaths. HRANA also reported that 2,109 people have been severely injured and 24,669 individuals have been confirmed detained. The group noted “increased pressure on families, difficulties in handing over the bodies of those killed, and the continuation of a heavy security atmosphere in some regions.”
Despite efforts by Iranian authorities to restrict information by shutting down internet access, limited and unstable connectivity has allowed some reports and images to emerge. HRANA said materials from forensic medicine centers, morgues, and burial sites suggest that a significant number of bodies were not returned to families, raising further concerns among human rights observers.
The Trump administration has publicly voiced support for demonstrators. Earlier in the week, Trump encouraged protesters to continue their actions, telling them to “KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!!” However, his messaging has varied. On Wednesday, he said he had been informed “the killing in Iran is stopping — it’s stopped — it’s stopping.” In his later comments to POLITICO, Trump acknowledged that violence had continued, criticizing Iran’s leaders for what he described as widespread use of force to retain power.
Trump framed the unrest as a consequence of leadership failure, saying Khamenei is guilty of “the complete destruction of the country and the use of violence at levels never seen before.” He contrasted this with his own view of governance, arguing that leadership should focus on managing the country rather than “killing people by the thousands in order to keep control.”
Iran’s leadership has rejected responsibility for the unrest and casualties. Earlier on Saturday, Khamenei posted comments on X blaming Trump and the United States for the situation. “We find the U.S. President guilty due to the casualties, damages and slander he inflicted upon the Iranian nation,” he wrote. In a speech the same day, Khamenei acknowledged that thousands had died but attributed the violence to individuals “linked” to Israel and the U.S., according to the BBC.
As protests continue and casualty figures remain contested, the situation in Iran underscores the deep tensions between domestic dissent, state authority, and international rhetoric. The coming weeks are likely to determine whether unrest subsides or escalates further, and how both Iran’s leadership and foreign governments respond.
