US President Donald Trump on Saturday called for an end to the 37-year rule of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s regime, saying, “It’s time to look for new leadership in Iran,” as anti-government protests in Iran escalate, driven by soaring inflation, economic hardship and mounting public anger over governance.

The US President criticised Tehran’s leadership, saying they rely on violence and repression to maintain control. “What he is guilty of, as the leader of a country, is the complete destruction of the country and the use of violence at levels never seen before,” Trump said.