Iran’s Judiciary Targets US President Trump and Israeli Leaders

Iran’s judiciary has declared its intention to “pursue” and “punish” President Trump and officials of the “Zionist regime” over alleged “crimes” tied to recent protests. This comes from Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei, the Islamic Republic’s attorney general, who accused both the U.S. and Israel of backing “terrorists.”

In a recent statement, Ejei accused American and Israeli leaders of complicity in the protests and strikes that have erupted throughout Iran, challenging the authority of the Islamic government.

The announcement, made in Farsi and posted on the judiciary’s official X account, indicated that Iran would pursue these actions both domestically and through international avenues. Ejei stated, “The President of the United States, the leaders of the accursed Zionist regime, and others who provide military and propaganda support to those involved in these recent events will be treated as criminals and will face consequences according to the gravity of their actions.”

He emphasized that pursuing and prosecuting those responsible for the recent unrest would not wane, insisting on using both national and international channels to address these matters.

This ultimatum follows almost three weeks of unrest in Iran, alongside a surge of anti-American sentiments from senior officials. Recently, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the U.S. of exacerbating the crisis with “inhumane” sanctions, while simultaneously warning that any challenge to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei equates to a declaration of “all-out war” against Iran.

Amid this backdrop, Khamenei directly placed blame on Trump for allegedly inciting violent protests that have led to numerous fatalities, stating that “the Iranian state has defeated the United States.” He urged that the U.S. must accept responsibility and predicted Trump would be “defeated.”

Since protests began with strikes in Tehran, over 16,000 individuals have joined, resulting in scores of deaths amidst a crackdown and mass arrests, alongside a complete internet shutdown. While the Iranian government attempts to blame external factors, many observers believe the unrest roots back to long-standing issues like economic mismanagement and political suppression.

On Saturday, Trump publicly criticized Iran’s leadership, suggesting it was time for new governance due to the regime’s failures. He attributed the turmoil more to internal mismanagement rather than outside influences.

As tensions heighten, the U.S. government has begun taking concrete actions. On Thursday, the Pentagon confirmed the redeployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group to the Middle East, part of an effort to bolster U.S. military readiness in light of regional threats and internal instability in Iran. This military strategy is coupled with an intensified economic campaign targeting Iran’s elite.

On the same day, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent revealed that new sanctions had been imposed on senior officials and associated financial networks, warning that Iranian leaders were akin to “rats fleeing a sinking ship” as they attempted to move money abroad while blaming the U.S. for their own failures.