Iran Threatens Retaliation After Trump Calls for Regime Change Amid Escalating Protest Crackdown
Updated (3 articles)
Trump’s Regime‑Change Call Provokes Iranian Retaliation Threat Former President Donald Trump told Politico that Iran needs new leadership, called Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei a “sick man,” and said the U.S. would strike if it could be sure protesters were not being killed [1][3]. In response, Iran’s armed forces spokesman Gen. Abolfazl Shekarchi warned that any aggression toward the Supreme Leader would be met with strong retaliation [1]. President Masoud Pezeshkian also posted that any attack on the leadership would trigger a full‑scale war [2].
Protest Crackdown Leaves Thousands Dead and Tens of Thousands Detained Rights groups report a death toll in the thousands and more than 20,000 arrests as the government suppresses protests over economic hardship [1]. HRANA cites roughly 4,000 deaths and nearly 9,000 people under investigation, while a Reuters‑cited Iranian official mentioned at least 5,000 dead [2]. Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi warned that the killings have not stopped, underscoring ongoing international concern [2].
U.S. Carrier Moves Toward Region While Iran Signals War Readiness The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group has passed through the Strait of Malacca and is heading west, placing it within range of potential Middle‑East action [1]. Iran’s president reiterated that aggression against the Supreme Leader would equal a full‑scale war, and Supreme Leader Khamenei added that the leadership does not seek war but will punish “criminals” inside and outside Iran [2].
Police Offer Leniency to Protesters Who Surrender Within Three Days National police chief Gen. Ahmad Reza Radan announced that protesters who turn themselves in within three days will receive more lenient treatment, though no details were given for those who wait longer [1].
Sources
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1.
AP: Iran warns Trump against aggression toward Khamenei as protests intensify: AP reports Shekarchi’s retaliation warning, Trump’s “sick man” comment, rising protest death toll, USS Abraham Lincoln’s westward move, and police leniency offer.
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2.
Newsweek (Jan 19): Iran warns US of full‑scale war after Trump calls for regime change: Newsweek details President Pezeshkian’s war warning, Khamenei’s claim leadership not seeking war, Trump’s regime‑change remarks, exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi’s claim killings continue, and divergent death‑toll figures.
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3.
Newsweek (Jan 17): Trump calls for new leadership in Iran after Khamenei criticism: Newsweek focuses on Trump’s Politico interview urging new leadership, Khamenei’s accusations of Trump as criminal, analysis of protest leadership’s diffuseness, Iran’s blame of U.S. and Israel, and diaspora calls for Reza Pahlavi’s return.
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Timeline
Jan 17, 2026 – Donald Trump tells Politico that it is time for new leadership in Iran, framing U.S. policy around regime change amid weeks of deadly protests [2].
Jan 17, 2026 – Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei posts on X accusing Trump of being a criminal responsible for Iranian casualties and repeats the accusation in a national broadcast, escalating rhetorical hostilities [2].
Jan 17, 2026 – Iran’s Foreign Ministry publicly blames the United States and Israel for stoking violence in the country, positioning external powers as the cause of the unrest [2].
Jan 17, 2026 – Iranian diaspora groups call for exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi to return and lead a democratic transition, though he lacks broad support from the United States or the Iranian public [2].
Jan 19, 2026 – President Masoud Pezeshkian posts that any aggression against Supreme Leader Khamenei will trigger a full‑scale war, linking protests and sanctions to national hardship and emphasizing the leadership’s centrality [1].
Jan 19, 2026 – Supreme Leader Khamenei states that Iran does not seek war but will punish “criminals” inside and outside the country, signaling a warning while avoiding an official war declaration [1].
Jan 19, 2026 – Donald Trump says he would be willing to strike Iran if he could be confident protesters are not being killed, and reiterates his call for regime change, indicating a possible U.S. military option [1].
Jan 19, 2026 – Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi declares that the killings in Iran have not stopped, underscoring ongoing international concern over the crackdown [1].
Jan 19, 2026 – Iranian authorities and rights groups report death tolls ranging from about 4,000 to over 5,000 and nearly 9,000 people under investigation, while arrests exceed tens of thousands, highlighting the scale of the crackdown [1].
Jan 20, 2026 – Armed forces spokesman Gen. Abolfazl Shekarchi warns that any aggression toward Supreme Leader Khamenei will meet strong retaliation, reinforcing Iran’s hard‑line stance after Trump’s remarks [3].
Jan 20, 2026 – Donald Trump describes Khamenei as “a sick man” and again urges Iran to pursue new leadership, intensifying personal attacks on Tehran’s top authority [3].
Jan 20, 2026 – The crackdown on protests intensifies, with HRANA reporting fatalities in the thousands and arrests surpassing twenty thousand, while internet blackouts hinder independent verification [3].
Jan 20, 2026 – The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group passes through the Strait of Malacca and heads west toward the Middle East, placing U.S. naval power within range of potential action despite official denial of a deployment [3].
Jan 20, 2026 – National police chief Gen. Ahmad Reza Radan announces a three‑day window for protesters to surrender in exchange for more lenient treatment, signaling a conditional amnesty strategy [3].
External resources (2 links)
- https://x.com/drpezeshkian (cited 2 times)
- https://x.com/khamenei_ir/status/2012563061828399158 (cited 1 times)