Washington: US Sen. Lindsey Graham has issued a stark warning, stating that US President Donald Trump would 'kill' Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, if the Iranian government continues its crackdown on protesters demanding better living conditions. Graham made this declaration during an interview with Fox News on Tuesday.

According to Anadolu Agency - English, Graham emphasized that change is imminent in Iran, describing it as potentially the most significant shift in the Middle East's history aimed at dismantling what he termed the 'Nazi regime.' Addressing the Iranian populace directly, he assured them that assistance is forthcoming.

Iran has been engulfed in widespread protests recently, driven by a faltering economy and the rapid devaluation of the rial, which has plummeted to over 1,350,000 against the US dollar. The unrest has been marked by violence, with reports of multiple fatalities, including both protesters and police officers across various cities.

Senator Graham's warning coincides with Ayatollah Khamenei's acknowledgment of the legitimacy of the protesters' demands, although he firmly stated that rioting would not be tolerated. The Iranian government has engaged in several rounds of discussions with shopkeepers' representatives to address the escalating crisis, particularly in the capital, Tehran.

President Trump has declared that the US would 'come to the rescue' of protesters should Tehran resort to lethal force against them, a statement that has provoked vehement responses from senior Iranian officials.