U.S. President Donald Trump officially said that the 37-year rule of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, should end.
On the 17th (local time), Trump said in an interview with Politico, "It is now time to find new leadership for Iran," adding, "As a leader of a country, Khamenei has completely destroyed the nation and used an unprecedented level of violence."
He continued, "You should not kill thousands of people to maintain control," and emphasized, "Leadership comes from respect, not from fear or death."
The remarks are seen as a response to earlier comments by Khamenei that appeared to pin the blame for the surge in casualties from anti-government protests on President Trump. Trump countered with what Khamenei would find most offensive: "regime change in Iran."
Earlier that day, Khamenei said in a speech, "Israel and U.S.-linked forces have caused massive damage and killed thousands," and accused, "We judge the U.S. president guilty of causing casualties and damage and of defaming the Iranian state."
Trump escalated his attack, saying, "Khamenei is a sick individual," and, "His country has become one of the worst places anywhere in the world to live because of that lousy leadership."
Meanwhile, the nationwide protests in Iran appear to have entered a lull amid indiscriminate crackdowns by authorities.
According to a New York Times (NYT) report the day before, large numbers of military and police were deployed across downtown Tehran, and streets once crowded with people were deserted. The internet was shut down for the ninth day as of that day, and a nighttime curfew was also in effect.
A resident living in central Tehran told the NYT in an interview, "There is a great sense of disappointment and disillusionment spreading (in the city)."