According to a report by Iran International on January 17, 2026, US President Donald Trump urged a shift in Iran’s leadership on Saturday, directly advocating for the removal of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
This came as a sharp retort to Khamenei’s accusations that Trump bore responsibility for fatalities during recent protests in the country, while also labeling him as a criminal.
Trump declared that the moment had arrived for fresh governance in Iran.
He emphasized that the nation’s authorities depend heavily on suppression and aggressive tactics to maintain power.
This reaction followed Trump’s review of antagonistic messages on X from Khamenei, where the leader labeled Trump as a criminal and charged him with sparking unrest and disorder in Iran.
Trump asserted that Khamenei, in his role as head of the nation, bears responsibility for utterly devastating the country through extreme acts of force unlike anything witnessed previously.
He argued that to sustain even minimal operations within the nation, the leaders must prioritize effective management, similar to his approach in overseeing the United States, rather than resorting to mass killings to retain authority.
Trump further stated that true governance revolves around earning admiration, not instilling terror or causing fatalities.
He described Khamenei as an sick individual who needs to administer his nation appropriately and cease the slaughter of citizens.
He pointed out that under such deficient direction, Iran ranks as the most undesirable location globally for residence.
This exchange shows deepening rifts between Washington and Tehran, rooted in decades of strained relations. See More
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