Iranian Cleric Threatens Trump, Calls for Execution of Protesters Amid Unrest

• Hard-line Iranian cleric Ahmad Khatami issued a sharp warning to the US and Israel, threatening President Trump and demanding the execution of detained protesters.
• Khatami, appointed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, used his Tehran sermon to call for the death penalty for those arrested during weeks of unrest, labeling them "Trump's soldiers" and "butlers" of Benjamin Netanyahu.
• The protests, which began on December 28, were initially sparked by economic grievances but quickly evolved into a broader challenge against Iran's clerical leadership.
• Iranian authorities intensified their crackdown, restricting internet access and leading to an estimated 2,677 deaths, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency.
• Khatami claimed protesters damaged 350 mosques, 126 prayer halls, 20 other religious sites, and 80 homes of Friday prayer leaders, reflecting deep public anger against state authority symbols.

Why It Matters: An Iranian cleric threatened Trump and demanded protester executions, escalating tensions amid widespread unrest.