Khamenei dismissed the mass protests, documented in dramatic eyewitness videos spreading across social media, as “a handful of vandals” who “destroyed buildings” belonging to Iran so Trump would be “pleased” and “feel good,” according to his latest remarks published by Iranian state media, originally in Farsi.

At least 78 protesters have been killed in Iran and more than 2,600 arrested during two weeks of anti-government protests, according to a US-based human rights group.

Amnesty International, a rights group, said Thursday that at least 28 protesters and bystanders, including children, had been killed between Dec. 31 and Jan. 3.