February 2, 2026 | 11:57 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, has warned the United States that any attack on the country could spark a “regional war,” as U.S. military assets continue to gather in the Middle East under President Donald Trump, according to Al Jazeera.
“TThey should know that if they start a war this time, it will be a regional war,” Khamenei said during an event in downtown Tehran on Sunday, February 1, 2026. The 86-year-old has held absolute power in Iran for 37 years.
Khamenei accused the United States of seeking to seize Iran and its extensive oil and natural gas resources. He also described recent anti-government protests as “akin to a coup,” citing attacks on government offices, banks, and mosques. The supreme leader referred to the unrest as another “sedition,” echoing his terminology from the 2009 Green Movement.
“Their goal was to destroy sensitive and effective centres involved in running the country, and for this reason, they attacked the police, government centres, [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or IRGC] facilities, banks and mosques and burned copies of the Quran.,” Khamenei added.
Responding to Khamenei’s remarks, Trump said he hopes Iran will negotiate a deal. “Of course he is going to say that.Hopefully we’ll make a deal. If we don’t make a deal, then we’ll find out whether or not he was right.,” Trump told reporters.
The protests, which began on December 28, started with Tehran shop owners expressing anger over Iran’s economic downturn, driven by mismanagement, local corruption, and the collapse of the rial amid U.S. and allied sanctions.
They quickly escalated into nationwide demonstrations over restrictions on personal freedoms, energy and water shortages, and worsening air pollution.
Human rights groups, the United Nations, and foreign observers reported thousands of deaths at the hands of security forces. A UN special rapporteur estimated the death toll could exceed 20,000, although the figures remain uncertain due to a weeks-long internet blackout.
U.S.-based activists reported 6,713 confirmed deaths, with another 17,000 under investigation, while other sources suggested even higher numbers.
Iranian authorities blamed armed “terrorists” allegedly backed by the U.S. and Israel. State media reported 3,117 fatalities, including 2,427 civilians and the remainder security personnel.
President Masoud Pezeshkian promised to release the names and details of those killed, though no timeline was given. The government has also sent text messages to citizens, describing the move as countering “fake claims and figures.”
“One-way text messages cannot wash away the blood. Many Iranians are in mourning,” said one woman in Iran.
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