Iran’s Ahmad Khatami Calls for Execution of Protesters

Ahmad Khatami, a prominent cleric in Iran’s theocratic regime and a member of several key governing bodies, has voiced strong demands for the execution of protesters. During a recent sermon, he also directed threats toward U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Khatami, regarded as a hardliner and close associate of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is a notable figure in Iran’s political landscape, having been appointed to several important positions. Notably, he is part of the Assembly of Experts, which is tasked with electing the Supreme Leader, and the Guardian Council, which regulates eligibility for candidates in Iran’s elections, often perceived as farcical.

Leading the Friday prayers in Tehran, Khatami’s recent sermon, broadcast on state media, included a vehement call for capital punishment against those who oppose the government.

“Any threat against the Supreme Leader amounts to waging war against God, and such an act deserves the death penalty,” he stated.

Khatami went on to refer to the protesters disdainfully as “butlers” for Netanyahu and “soldiers” for Trump, suggesting that the thousands of demonstrators in Iranian streets were merely tools of U.S. and Israeli agendas seeking to undermine Iran.

He warned, “They should expect severe retaliation from the regime. There will be no peace for Americans or Zionists,” while openly criticizing both leaders.

Khatami alleged that the protests resulted in significant damage, claiming that over 350 mosques, 126 worship sites, numerous homes of prayer leaders, as well as hundreds of emergency vehicles and hospitals were affected.

Reports indicate that many worshippers echoed Khatami’s comments during the prayers, chanting, “Armed hypocrites should be put to death!”

Mass protests erupted in December following the plunge of Iran’s currency, which the regime framed as a foreign plot aimed at destabilization. Protesters are often labeled as “terrorists” or foreign agents in the government’s narrative.

This week, the Iranian regime’s harsh response to the demonstrations has reportedly left thousands dead, but it appears to have temporarily subdued the protests. Meanwhile, unverified accounts mentioned a nurse’s death at the hands of security forces, arson at education offices, and scattered protests continued in various cities.