Khamenei calls protests a ‘coup’

Iran’s supreme leader on Sunday compared the nationwide protests that challenged the country’s theocracy to “a coup”. The comments by 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei come as tens of thousands of people are reportedly detained in Iran after the protests. It further hardens the Government’s position on the demonstrations.

Seditious charges in Iran can also carry the death penalty, which again renews concerns about Tehran carrying out mass executions for those arrested. Iran’s conducting mass executions had been one of the red lines laid down by US President Donald Trump for potentially using military force against the country.