Hardline Iranian cleric Ahmad Khatami issued a direct threat to U.S. President Donald Trump on January 16, marking Iran’s third warning in just two days as tensions spiral amid deadly nationwide protests. Khatami warned that “Americans and Zionists should not expect peace,” called protesters “Trump’s soldiers,” and openly demanded executions, sparking chants for death from the crowd. The threats followed an earlier IRGC warning to “cut off Trump’s hand,” and Iranian state TV airing an image of Trump’s 2024 shooting with the caption, “This time it will not miss.” Even as alarms rose over Iran’s long-range missiles, Trump abruptly softened his tone, thanking Tehran for cancelling mass hangings.