During a televised speech on Friday, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claimed that President Donald Trump would be “overthrown” due to his “arrogance,” despite ongoing mass protests against Khamenei and his regime across Iran.
Khamenei warned Trump, stating that historical tyrants like Pharaoh and Reza Shah faced downfall when they were at their most arrogant, suggesting Trump would meet a similar fate.
He asserted that the Islamic Republic was established through the sacrifices of countless honorable individuals and that it would not yield to challenges as anti-regime protests intensified nationwide.
Initially, Khamenei’s government attempted to address the demonstrators’ concerns regarding Iran’s failing economy. However, he later labeled them as harmful provocateurs working on behalf of Israel and the United States.
The Ayatollah expressed frustration, saying, “What they want is to please [Trump]. If he knew how to run a country, he would manage his own.”
Khamenei urged Iranians to disregard Trump, accusing him of having “hands stained with Iranian blood” from the conflict in June 2025, in which American bombers struck Iranian facilities, hampering the country’s illicit nuclear ambitions.
He encouraged young Iranians to “stay prepared and united,” suggesting that a cohesive nation could triumph over any adversary. Meanwhile, Khamenei continued to voice his opinions on social media, despite an internet shutdown affecting ordinary Iranians.
He highlighted perceived U.S. interventions in Latin America, dramatizing that actions were taken for oil. This commentary seemed ironic given his regime’s own reliance on illicit oil sales, amidst a poorly managed economy.
Interestingly, the Iranian administration seems to anticipate benefits from a potential change in leadership in Venezuela, as they reportedly aim to increase oil purchases from Iran to compensate for lost supplies from the South American country.
