A senior Iranian cleric closely aligned with the country’s leadership has called for the execution of detained protesters and issued direct threats toward the United States, further intensifying tensions as Iran continues a sweeping crackdown on nationwide unrest. Speaking during Friday prayers in Tehran, Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami delivered a forceful sermon that was broadcast on state radio and echoed by chants from worshippers gathered in the capital.
Khatami, known for his hardline positions, demanded the death penalty for individuals arrested during recent demonstrations that have shaken the Islamic Republic since late December. As his remarks were relayed to the congregation, sections of the crowd responded with chants calling for the execution of what they described as “armed hypocrites,” reflecting the increasingly severe rhetoric used by officials against protesters.
The demonstrations began on December 28, 2025, initially driven by public anger over Iran’s worsening economic conditions, including inflation, unemployment, and rising living costs. Over time, the protests evolved into broader expressions of dissent against Iran’s clerical leadership and political system. Authorities responded by imposing sweeping security measures, including shutting down internet access across large parts of the country on January 8 and deploying security forces to suppress gatherings.
According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 2,677 people have been killed since the crackdown intensified, a figure that underscores the scale of violence associated with the unrest. Iranian officials have not publicly confirmed casualty numbers but have repeatedly accused foreign powers of instigating and exploiting the protests.
In his sermon, Khatami accused demonstrators of serving the interests of external enemies, describing them as “butlers” of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and “soldiers” of US President Donald Trump. He warned that both leaders should expect what he called “hard revenge from the system,” adding that the United States and Israel should not anticipate peace. His comments marked one of the most explicit verbal attacks on a sitting US president by an Iranian cleric in recent years.
The remarks come amid heightened international scrutiny of Iran’s handling of the protests. The Trump administration has stated that executions or the killing of peaceful demonstrators would cross a red line and could trigger a military response. At a recent session of the United Nations Security Council, US officials warned that all options remained on the table to halt what they described as the slaughter of civilians.
Iran’s deputy ambassador to the United Nations, Gholam Hossein Darzi, rejected the accusations, claiming that the United States was directly involved in pushing unrest in Iran toward violence. Tehran has consistently portrayed the protests as a foreign-backed effort to destabilize the country.
Khatami also alleged that widespread damage had been inflicted on religious sites during the unrest. He claimed that 350 mosques, 126 prayer halls, and at least 20 other holy places had been damaged. As a cleric appointed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and a member of both the Assembly of Experts and the Guardian Council, Khatami is considered a trusted conduit for messaging approved by Iran’s leadership. His decision to disclose these figures during Friday prayers suggests an attempt to shape public perception without issuing a formal government statement.
The sermon has added to an already volatile situation, as regional and global actors continue efforts to prevent further escalation between Iran and the United States. With protests ongoing and international pressure mounting, Iran’s internal crisis shows few signs of easing.
