The country has faced sanctions, isolation, demands for political and social change, a recent war against Israel, and pressure from the United States.

Tehran warned Tuesday that any attack on Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah ​Ali Khamenei would result in a declaration of jihad, or holy war — as its military leader dismissed President Trump’s threat of strikes as “noise.

With his room for maneuver shrinking fast, he faces a climbdown on deeply held beliefs to bring relief to his country.

"You are an anti-Iranian criminal,” the crown prince said. “You have neither honor nor humanity. Your hands are stained with the blood of tens of thousands of Iranians."

Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, posted a cartoon image of Donald Trump in a coffin. The image, posted on X, depicts Trump in a coffin, surrounded by symbols of the United States,

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei issues warning to U.S. in Russian on social media, signaling Tehran's growing alignment with Moscow amid nationwide protests.

Whether by overthrow or old age, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, will soon need a replacement — but the Islamic Republic lacks an obvious successor.

Trump vowed that if Iran killed demonstrators, he would authorize military strikes against its leaders. Iran called his bluff. Now Trump appears to have backed down.