‘US Seeks To Restore Dominance In Iran’: Khamenei As Middle East Tensions Simmer

Last Updated:January 17, 2026, 15:42 IST

While Iran has returned to an uneasy calm with protests waning in several areas, the region remains on edge over possible US military action against the Islamic Republic.

Thousands have been killed in a bloody crackdown after a wave of protests in Iran. (Reuters/File)

The Middle East continues to remain on edge as the United States is mulling possible military action against Iran over killings related to widespread protests that have rocked the Islamic Republic since last month. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has alleged that the US is seeking to restore dominance in Iran.

Khamenei’s remarks came as Iran returned to an uneasy calm after over 3,000 people were killed in a harsh crackdown by Iranian security forces following a wave of protests. The Supreme Leader also called US President Donald Trump a “criminal" for the “casualties, damages, and the slander he inflicted on the Iranian nation", according to The Iran .

There have been no signs of protests for days in Tehran, where shopping and street life have returned to outward normality, though a week-old internet blackout continued. Authorities have not reported any unrest elsewhere in the country.

News world ‘US Seeks To Restore Dominance In Iran’: Khamenei As Middle East Tensions Simmer

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