Iran’s Khamenei Warns Against ‘Deceitful Actions’ As Trump Weighs Airstrikes Amid 600+ Deaths

Last Updated:January 13, 2026, 02:52 IST

The warning from Khamenei comes as Trump keeps airstrikes among his options amid mounting deaths and pro-regime rallies in Iran.

The remarks from Ayatollah Khamenei and the White House come as Washington signals that airstrikes remain an option while Iran faces its deadliest unrest in years. (IMAGE: REUTERS FILE)

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned the United States to stop what he called “deceitful actions" and reliance on “traitorous hirelings" on Monday, as the White House said US President Donald Trump was keeping airstrikes on Iran among his options.

Khamenei’s remarks, posted on his official X account, came after Iran staged mass pro-government rallies across the country, which authorities said demonstrated public support for the Islamic Republic amid weeks of unrest.

“The great Iranian nation has asserted its resolve and identity in the face of the enemies," Khamenei said, describing the rallies as a warning to US politicians to halt what he called hostile actions and interference.

The statement was issued on the same day as comments from White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who said Washington was weighing a range of responses as reports of a deadly crackdown on protesters continued to emerge from Iran.

White House Says Airstrikes Remain An Option

Speaking to reporters outside the West Wing on Monday, Leavitt said Trump was “very good at always keeping all of his options on the table", adding that airstrikes were among the options available to the commander in chief.

“One thing President Trump is very good at is always keeping all of his options on the table. And air strikes would be one of the many, many options that are on the table for the commander in chief," Leavitt told reporters.

She stressed that diplomacy remained the administration’s preferred route but said public rhetoric from Tehran differed sharply from messages being conveyed privately to Washington.

Leavitt said Trump was interested in exploring those private communications, even as he remained unafraid to use military force if he deemed it necessary.

Trump had said a day earlier that Iran appeared to have crossed a previously stated red line with protesters being killed, warning that the US military was considering “very strong options". He also said Iranian leaders had reached out seeking talks but added that Washington “may have to act before a meeting".

Iran’s foreign ministry has acknowledged that a channel of communication remains open between Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations.

Protests, Crackdown And Pro-Regime Rallies

The standoff comes against the backdrop of Iran’s most serious unrest in years. According to rights groups, a violent crackdown on protests has killed at least 648 people, including minors, with thousands more injured and an estimated 10,000 arrested.

The demonstrations, initially sparked by economic grievances, have spread across major cities and evolved into a direct challenge to Iran’s clerical leadership. Authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign interference and imposed a days-long internet shutdown, which rights groups say has hampered efforts to verify the true scale of the violence.

On Monday, the government organised nationwide rallies in support of the Islamic Republic. State television showed large crowds in Tehran and other cities, with senior officials declaring the protests defeated. Khamenei hailed the turnout as proof that what he described as a foreign-backed plot had failed.

At a rally in Tehran’s Enghelab Square, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that Iran was facing a “four-front war", including what he described as military pressure from the United States and Israel. He said Iran’s armed forces would respond forcefully if attacked.

World Reacts To Tehran Protests

The European Union has voiced support for Iranian protesters and said it is considering additional sanctions over the repression. The European Parliament has also announced a ban on Iranian diplomats entering its premises.

France has condemned what it called indiscriminate state violence against protesters, while Russia has criticised what it described as foreign interference in Iran’s internal affairs.

Despite official claims that calm is returning, protests have continued in several cities, and rights groups warn that the death toll is likely far higher than confirmed figures.

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