World News
Iran’s Supreme Leader Confirms Thousands Died in Protests, Blames US for Bloodshed
Thousands of Iranians lost their lives during more than two weeks of nationwide unrest sparked by worsening economic conditions, in what has become one of the deadliest episodes in the country’s recent history.
The scale of the fatalities was publicly acknowledged on Saturday by Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who said the death toll ran into the thousands. However, he stopped short of accepting responsibility on behalf of Iran’s security forces, instead blaming foreign actors, particularly the United States, for the violence.
In a televised address cited by CNN, Khamenei accused US President Donald Trump of fuelling the unrest by “openly encouraging” protesters and promising them American “military support.” He described Trump as a “criminal” who bears responsibility for both the casualties and the destruction recorded during the protests, which erupted in late December.
For grieving families, the acknowledgement offered little solace, as it was not accompanied by any reference to how the demonstrations were suppressed. Khamenei made no mention of allegations by eyewitnesses and human rights organisations that Iranian security forces fired on unarmed protesters from rooftops and deployed drones over demonstration sites.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency estimated that more than 3,000 people were killed during the unrest, although CNN said it could not independently verify the figure.
An eyewitness in Tehran described scenes of unarmed civilians facing overwhelming force on the streets. Speaking anonymously for security reasons, the protester said security forces were “aiming with lasers and shooting people in the face.”
“They massacred people,” the witness said. “They killed our most beautiful, most courageous youths, our children.”
Khamenei classified those killed into two groups: individuals he claimed were “supported, funded and trained by the US and Israel,” and others he described as “naive individuals manipulated by ringleaders.” He accused the latter group of attacking power facilities, mosques, schools, banks, medical centres and grocery stores.
“By harming the people, they killed several thousand of them,” the Iranian leader said, adding that some victims were killed with what he described as “inhuman” and “savage” force. He claimed the violence followed a “pre-prepared blueprint” of sedition.
The Iranian government has repeatedly attributed deadly protests to foreign interference, often without presenting evidence. During the unrest, President Trump publicly urged demonstrators to continue and “take over” state institutions, assuring them that “help is on its way.”
“We consider the US President a criminal, both for the casualties and the damage, and for the slander he leveled against the Iranian nation,” Khamenei said, according to excerpts published on his official website.
As accusations and counter-accusations persist, the identities and personal stories of many of those killed remain largely unacknowledged, their deaths reduced to statistics in an escalating political confrontation. Across Iran, families continue to mourn lives cut short amid protests driven by economic hardship, policy failures and a deepening struggle to survive.
North Korea fired at least two ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan on Tuesday, Japanese and South Korean authorities confirmed, marking the country’s second missile test this month.
The launch came a day after a senior Pentagon official visited Seoul and praised South Korea as Washington’s “model ally.”
The Japanese Coast Guard, citing the Ministry of Defence, reported that the missiles were detected heading toward the Sea of Japan and landed outside Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff similarly confirmed that multiple ballistic missiles were fired toward the East Sea.
Analysts say Pyongyang has stepped up missile testing in recent years to enhance its precision strike capabilities, challenge Washington and Seoul, and evaluate weapons for potential export to Russia.
The tests follow increased military tensions on the peninsula, including joint US-South Korea exercises, which North Korea regularly condemns as preparations for invasion. Last month, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un criticized South Korea’s plan to develop nuclear-powered submarines with US support, describing it as a “threat” that must be countered.
The missile launches underscore ongoing regional security concerns, as the United States continues to station approximately 28,500 troops in South Korea to deter aggression from the nuclear-armed North.
United States President Donald Trump has warned Canada that it will face a sweeping 100 per cent tariff on all exports to the United States if it proceeds with a proposed trade agreement with China, escalating already strained relations between the two North American neighbours.
The warning followed recent comments by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who during a visit to Beijing last week announced what he described as a “new strategic partnership” with China, resulting in a preliminary trade agreement aimed at reducing tariffs. Trump reacted sharply, cautioning that any move positioning Canada as a gateway for Chinese goods into the US market would attract severe economic consequences.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said Canada would be “sorely mistaken” if it believed it could serve as a transit hub for Chinese products entering the United States. He further claimed that China would “completely devour” Canada’s economy, businesses and social fabric if such a deal were pursued. According to him, the conclusion of a Canada–China trade pact would trigger an immediate 100 per cent tariff on all Canadian goods crossing into the US.
Trump also referred to Carney as “Governor,” a recurring jibe reflecting his repeated suggestion that Canada should become the 51st state of the United States. The US president recently amplified that rhetoric by sharing a social media image depicting Canada, Greenland and Venezuela covered by the American flag.
Diplomatic tensions have intensified in recent days following Carney’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he warned of a “rupture” in the US-led global order, remarks widely interpreted as a veiled criticism of Trump’s foreign policy posture. Trump responded a day later with a speech of his own and subsequently withdrew an invitation previously extended to Carney to join his so-called “Board of Peace,” an initiative initially framed around post-war Gaza but now seen as having broader ambitions.
Trump went further by asserting that Canada’s survival depends on the United States, telling Carney to “remember that” when making public statements. The Canadian prime minister rejected the claim, responding that Canada does not exist because of the United States but thrives because of its own national identity, while still acknowledging the longstanding partnership between both countries.
The dispute comes against the backdrop of deep economic interdependence. More than 75 per cent of Canadian exports are destined for the US market, making Canada particularly vulnerable to trade disruptions. Key sectors such as automobiles, aluminum and steel have already been affected by Trump’s global tariffs, though the impact has been partially softened by existing North American free trade arrangements.
Negotiations to revise the current trade framework are expected to begin later this year, with Trump repeatedly insisting that the United States does not require Canadian products—an assertion that analysts warn could have far-reaching consequences for Canada’s economy.
Despite the rising tensions, the United States, Canada and Mexico are jointly scheduled to host the World Cup later this year, underscoring the complexity of a relationship increasingly defined by sharp rhetoric alongside enduring economic and logistical cooperation.
Turkey, Saudi Arabia and several other predominantly Muslim nations have agreed to join the United States–backed Gaza “Board of Peace,” following an invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Turkey and Saudi Arabia, alongside their counterparts from Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, confirmed their countries’ collective decision to participate in the initiative. Egypt and Pakistan had earlier announced their involvement separately.
The ministers reiterated their commitment to supporting the mandate of the Board of Peace as a transitional administrative authority for the Gaza Strip. They said the board’s mission is outlined in the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict and has received backing through United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803.
So far, invitations have been extended to 60 countries as part of what is described as the second phase of President Trump’s peace plan for Gaza, much of which has been devastated by the prolonged conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
However, several European countries, including Germany and France, have adopted a cautious stance toward the initiative.
Diplomats familiar with the board’s charter have described it as a direct challenge to the United Nations, an institution President Trump has frequently criticised as ineffective. There are also indications that the U.S. administration may seek to broaden the board’s scope beyond Gaza to address global crises and conflicts.