Khamenei Fires Back at Trump as Iran Protest Death Toll Climbs

On January 12, 2026, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blasted U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat of new strikes, posting a satirical image on X. Trump, aboard Air Force One, said Tehran may have crossed the U.S. red line after 544 protest deaths, noting it has "strong options." HRANA reports 10,681 arrests, 109 security fatalities, 585 protest locations across 186 cities in all 31 provinces, and an >84‑hour national internet blackout. The protests, sparked in late December over inflation and the rial’s collapse, have spread from Tehran to cities like Kazerun and even drew international protestors in Paris. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi labeled the unrest a “terrorist war.”