President Trump used Farsi, the language of Iran, to blast Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for killing his own people.
Trump responded to a tweet Khamenei sent out on Friday, the same day that he gave his first public sermon in eight years. The 80-year-old leader tweeted that America was “villainous” and accused the United States of wanting to stab the Iranian people “in the heart.”
Trump, writing in Farsi, responded, “The noble people of Iran, who love America, deserve a government that will help them achieve their dreams, rather than focusing on killing them for revenge. Instead of dragging Iran to ruin, Iran’s leaders must put aside the terrorists and magnify Iran again!”
مردم نجیب ایران، که آمریکا را دوست می دارند، سزاوار دولتی هستند که بیش از تمرکز بر کشتن آنها به جرم احترام خواهی، به آنها کمک کند تا به رؤیاهایشان دست یابند. رهبران ایران به جای آن که ایران را به سمت ویرانی بکشانند، باید هراس افکنی را کنار بنهند و ایران را دوباره باعظمت کنند! https://t.co/RLjGsC5WLc
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 17, 2020
Trump previously tweeted in Farsi, which became the most-liked tweet in that language. The tweet racked up more than 370,000 likes.
“To the brave and suffering Iranian people: I have stood with you since the beginning of my presidency, and my government will continue to stand with you. We are following your protests closely. Your courage is inspiring,” he said last week.
Friday’s tweet earned more than 15,000 likes less than 30 minutes after it was posted.
The messages come as Iranians across the country have taken to the streets to demand the Khamenei regime step aside. The protests swelled in response to the admission that the Iranian government shot down a commercial airliner, killing all 176 people on board, 82 of whom were Iranians.
The downing of the jet came just hours after Iran responded to the killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani by firing more than a dozen missiles at bases in Iraq housing U.S. troops.
Dozens of people have been arrested for protesting the regime. In at least nine cities on Friday, demonstrators tore down and burned images of Soleimani in anger over the escalation and abuse by Khamenei’s government.
