17 hours ago
Last Updated:January 10, 2026, 09:08 IST
Referring to the seizure of Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro and his wife by American forces last weekend, Azghadi said Trump should face the same fate.
Iranian leader Hassan Rahimpour Azghadi and US President Donald Trump | File Image
A senior Iranian official issued a sharp threat against US President Donald Trump, calling for his capture in retaliation for Washington’s warnings to Tehran over its handling of nationwide protests.
Hassan Rahimpour Azghadi, a member of Iran’s Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, said on Friday that Iran should respond to Trump’s statements by taking action similar to the recent US operation against Venezuela’s leadership.
Referring to the seizure of Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro and his wife by American forces last weekend, Azghadi said Trump should face the same fate.
“Iran must do with Trump what they did to Maduro," Azghadi said, adding that the US president “must pay the price" for his stance on the protests in Iran.
He said such action could take place during Trump’s presidency or even after, and claimed he personally hoped Trump would be captured.
Azghadi also suggested that operations inside the United States should be considered permissible.
“Given Trump’s stance, any kind of operation inside US territory, in all its states and cities, including destructive operations like those they carry out here, would be permissible against American officials and those linked to them," he said.
The remarks come amid escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington over the unrest in Iran, where protests have intensified in recent weeks.
Earlier on Friday, Trump said the United States was closely monitoring developments in Iran and warned Iranian authorities against using lethal force on demonstrators.
“Iran is in big trouble," Trump told reporters at the White House during a meeting with oil and gas executives.
Claiming that protesters had taken control of areas previously thought unreachable, he said Washington would respond if demonstrators were killed.
“We’re watching very closely, and I’ve said very strongly that if they start killing people like they have in the past, we will get involved," Trump said.
He added that any US response would not involve deploying ground troops but would target pressure points. “That doesn’t mean boots on the ground. It means hitting them very hard where it hurts," he said.
Trump described the protests as unprecedented and said years of repression had pushed Iranians to the streets. He also said he hoped protesters would remain safe, warning Iranian leaders against opening fire on demonstrators.
According to the US-based Institute for the Study of War, protest activity in Iran has surged significantly since January 7, spreading across major cities including Tehran and parts of northwestern Iran.
The group said the scale and frequency of demonstrations have increased sharply, prompting a tougher response from Iranian authorities.
First Published:
January 10, 2026, 09:07 IST
News world Iranian Leader Urges For Maduro-Style Capture Of Trump: 'US President Must Pay The Price'
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Read More
