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The bitter war of words between Donald Trump and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is reaching alarming levels.
07:31, Sun, Jan 18, 2026 Updated: 08:13, Sun, Jan 18, 2026
Donald Trump has launched a furious attack against Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (Image: Getty)
Donald Trump has launched a scathing attack against Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as fears over a possible World War 3 skyrocket. The former US president branded Iran the "worst place to live anywhere in the world", accusing its ageing leadership of plunging the nation into chaos, fear and bloodshed.
In an extraordinary personal insult, Donald Trump described Khamenei, 86, as a "sick man", claiming he had "destroyed his own country" and turned on his own people. Mr Trump blamed Iran’s rulers for the deaths of thousands during weeks of violent unrest, saying the regime had responded to protests with brutality rather than reform.
Iran has been rocked by its worst internal crisis in decades, with widespread demonstrations met by a sweeping security crackdown and mass arrests. Khamenei hit back angrily, branding Mr Trump a "criminal" and accusing the United States of orchestrating unrest and interference inside Iran.
Donald Trump unleashed a blistering attack on Iran’s leadership, condemning what he described as a brutal and deadly style of rule.
"The man is a sick man who should run his country properly and stop killing people," Trump told Politico on Saturday. "His country is the worst place to live anywhere in the world because of poor leadership."
Khamenei claimed Iran holds Mr Trump responsible for what he described as the "casualties, destruction and lies" seen across Tehran during the past three weeks of unrest.
Bodies outside the Forensic Diagnostic and Laboratory Center in Tehran on January 14 (Image: UGC/AFP via Getty Images)
Human rights activists say the official death toll in the capital has now reached 3,090, though they warn the true figure could be far higher, with some estimates suggesting it may be closer to 12,000.
Mr Trump told Iran’s embattled protesters that "help is on the way" following more than two weeks of deadly street violence.
Iran’s hardline regime had vowed to fast-track trials and carry out executions of those detained during the unrest.
Mr Trump has since said he received assurances that the killing had stopped, however.
"The best decision he ever made was not hanging more than 800 people two days ago," Mr Trump added.
Mr Trump went on to say Ayatollah Khamenei should concentrate on governing his own country instead of "killing people by the thousands to cling to power."
"Leadership is about respect," Mr Trump said, "not fear and death."
The former US president also called for an end to Khamenei’s 37-year rule, saying Iran was in urgent need of change and that "it’s time to look for new leadership."
Ayatollah Khamenei faces mounting international pressure as Iran reels from deadly protests (Image: KHAMENEI.IR/AFP via Getty Images)
Khamenei had reportedly gone into hiding after Mr Trump warned of possible strikes on Tehran over the deaths of protesters, before reappearing on Saturday during religious events in the capital.
The number of executions in Iran - many carried out by public hanging - has more than doubled over the past year as Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei intensified a crackdown following June’s 12-day conflict with Israel.
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Norwegian-based rights group Iran Human Rights confirmed at least 1,500 executions had taken place by the start of December, warning the true figure is likely far higher.
In 2024, the group verified 975 executions, though it said exact numbers remain unclear as Iranian authorities do not release official data.
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