USA: Ali Khamenei is definitely responsible for the actions of the Iranian government

Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, said on Thursday, May 2, to the Persian section of Voice of America: "Ali Khamenei is definitely responsible for the actions of the Iranian government." The spokesperson responded to a question from Gita Arian, a journalist from the Persian section of Voice of America, regarding whether the U.S. Department of State holds Khamenei accountable for the killing of protesting Iranians and the suppression of the general public, stating: "He is definitely responsible for the actions that the [Islamic Republic] government has taken." During the violent suppression of peaceful protests against the killing of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini in the custody of the morality police, over 500 Iranian citizens, including women and children, were killed by armed agents of the Islamic Republic, and thousands more were injured or arrested. In recent days, coinciding with the intensification of the crackdown on opponents of mandatory hijab, new revelations about the case of Nika Shakeri, a 16-year-old girl, and the manner of her murder by four members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have sparked a wave of reactions among prominent Iranian figures and around the world. Prince Reza Pahlavi reacted to a new report published by BBC World about the sexual assault and murder of Nika Shakeri on social media X, stating: "The perpetrators of the crime against Nika Shakeri, and the main responsible party, Ali Khamenei, will be brought to justice." He further stated: "We stand with Nika's dear mother and her brave sister Aida Shakeri, who, despite all threats and pressures, continue her fight for freedom." Hamed Esmaeilioun, a plaintiff in the case of the Ukrainian passenger plane that was shot down by missiles from the IRGC, reacted to the report on Nika Shakeri's murder, writing: "There is neither forgiveness nor forgetting. Your ruthless and criminal killers will be punished." Gohar Eshghi, the mother of the plaintiff Sattar Beheshti, a blogger who was killed in custody during interrogation, wrote on social media X: "Today I saw the report of the murder of my young daughter Nika Shakeri. The tears in my eyes do not dry, and my heart is shattered. It feels like Sattar (Beheshti) and Mohammad (Mohammad Hosseini) were killed before my eyes again! The hands of this regime are stained with the blood of Nika and my other children." Masih Alinejad, a journalist and human rights activist, emphasized: "Brave Nika, even when caught by Khamenei's savage guards, fought them alone, fought, fought. She did not beg the invading guards for mercy, she kicked, she screamed, and this is how they recognized the true leader of the battlefield and feared that she might incite a rebellion in the entire prison with her authority, and out of fear, they killed her." She stated that "the Islamic Republic is afraid of fighters and leaders who do not beg the Khamenei Guard for the rights of a nation," adding: "Shame on us if we forgive the killers of Nika and Sarina." Western countries, led by the United States, have imposed several sanction packages against individuals and entities responsible for the deadly crackdown on peaceful Iranian protesters following the killing of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini by the Islamic Republic government, promising to continue their strong support for the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly of the Iranian people, as well as the right of Iranian women to choose their attire. At least three media activists have been summoned in relation to comments made about Nika Shakeri's case. The United Nations: We will address the documents regarding the murder and assault on Nika Shakeri and stand against the death sentence of Tomaj Salehi. Reactions to the publication of details regarding Nika Shakeri's murder: Her killers will be punished. BBC World: Documents show that Nika Shakeri was sexually assaulted by agents and killed. The Deputy Speaker of Parliament defended the "correct path of the Noor plan"; Prince Reza Pahlavi: "Organized assault" against women. Aida Shakeri, Nika Shakeri's sister, was arrested for "not wearing mandatory hijab." The fifth day of the deployment of suppression forces for optional hijab; observers: Khamenei has given the "order for civil war."