Iran warns attack on supreme leader would mean war

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned on Sunday that any attack on the country’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would amount to a declaration of war against Iran, amid rising tensions with the United States.

In a post on X, Pezeshkian said that an attack on Iran’s leader would be considered a full-scale war with the Iranian nation. His remarks appeared to be a response to comments by US President Donald Trump, who said it was time to look for new leadership in Iran.

The warning came as limited internet access was restored in parts of Iran, around 10 days after authorities imposed a communications blackout during widespread protests. The demonstrations began in late December over economic hardship and quickly grew into what observers described as the most serious challenge to Iran’s leadership in years.

Authorities imposed the blackout on January 8 as protests intensified. Iranian officials said the demonstrations were initially peaceful but later turned into riots, blaming foreign influence from the United States and Israel.

Trump, who backed Israel during its 12-day war with Iran in June, had earlier threatened military action if protesters were killed. Although Washington later appeared to step back, Trump renewed criticism in an interview with Politico, saying Iran needed new leadership.

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Iranian officials say calm has now returned. Security forces were seen deployed with armoured vehicles and motorcycles in central Tehran, while banners appeared depicting political figures as falling dominoes, symbolising the downfall of Iran’s enemies.

Schools reopened on Sunday after a week-long closure, and authorities said internet services would be gradually restored.

On Saturday, Khamenei said thousands of people had been killed by what he described as agents of the United States and Israel, while local media reported deaths among security personnel. He called for a tough response against what he termed sedition.

Iran’s judiciary said swift trials would be held for those arrested, warning that some actions could be treated as “moharebeh”, or waging war against God, a charge that can carry the death penalty.

Concerns have grown internationally over the threat of capital punishment for protesters, even as Trump claimed Iran had halted hundreds of executions.