A senior Iranian cleric has delivered one of the strongest public threats yet against the United States and Israel since protests spread across Iran. Speaking during Friday prayers in Tehran, he openly warned US President Donald Trump and demanded death sentences for protesters who have been detained.

The comments reflect the hard-line stance taken by Iran’s leadership as authorities continue to suppress unrest linked to the country’s worsening economic crisis.

Call for executions during Tehran prayers

Ahmad Khatami, a powerful cleric appointed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, used his sermon in the capital to call for the execution of protesters arrested during weeks of demonstrations. His speech was broadcast live on state radio.

During the sermon, worshippers responded with chants, including calls for the execution of people Khatami described as “armed hypocrites.” The tone of the address marked a clear escalation in official language at a time of already strained relations with Washington.

Direct threat to Trump and Israel

Khatami directly named President Donald Trump in his remarks. He accused the United States and Israel of driving the protests and issued an explicit warning.

“Americans and Zionists should not expect peace,” he said. He claimed the unrest was an attempt to weaken Iran’s political system and described protesters as “Trump’s soldiers” and “butlers” of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He alleged they were trying to “disintegrate the country.”

According to Khatami, both leaders should now “wait for hard revenge from the system.”

Defying US warnings

The remarks come despite Trump previously stating that executions and the killing of peaceful protesters were red lines that could lead to US military action. Khatami’s speech appeared to directly challenge Washington at a moment of high regional tension.

Protests spread from economic anger

The protests began on December 28 and were first driven by public anger over Iran’s struggling economy. Rising prices, unemployment, and living costs pushed people onto the streets.

Over time, the demonstrations expanded into a broader challenge to Iran’s clerical leadership. Protesters in several cities openly criticised the country’s religious political system, prompting a forceful response from security forces.

Internet shutdown and rising death toll

As the unrest spread, Iranian authorities moved to restrict information. Nationwide internet access was cut on January 8, and security operations intensified.

According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 2,677 people have been killed during the crackdown. Iranian officials have not released official casualty figures. The Associated Press has said it cannot independently verify the reported numbers.

Claims of widespread damage

In his sermon, Khatami also gave the first nationwide estimate by an Iranian official of the damage caused during the unrest. He claimed protesters had damaged 350 mosques, 126 prayer halls, and 20 other religious sites.

He also said around 80 homes belonging to Friday prayer leaders were attacked. These clerics hold influential roles within Iran’s political system, and the attacks suggest deep anger toward symbols of state authority.

Influence of a powerful figure

Khatami is a member of both Iran’s Assembly of Experts and the Guardian Council, two of the most powerful bodies in the country. His statements therefore carry significant weight and reflect the views of Iran’s hard-line faction.

His remarks reinforce the official narrative that the protests are the result of foreign interference rather than domestic dissatisfaction.

No sign of compromise

While Iranian leaders continue to frame the unrest as an external plot, critics argue that this approach ignores real economic and political grievances raised by protesters.

The call for executions signals that authorities are choosing punishment over reform. Khatami’s warning to the US and Israel adds further uncertainty to an already tense situation and risks increasing Iran’s international isolation.

For now, the speech shows that Iran’s leadership remains set on confrontation, both at home and abroad, as the crisis continues.