Iran's Ayatollah will FLEE, Donald Trump says as crumbling Islamic Republic readies 'missile cities'

He has handed control of the crackdown to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps over concerns that regular police and military personnel may defect to join the legions of protesters.

Security services are reportedly tracking down officers who refused to open fire on demonstrators.

As many as 200 Iranian civilians are said to have been killed in the last few weeks alone.

The Norway-based Hengaw human rights group said the Islamic Republic had detained several security personnel who would not follow orders to shoot protesters.

Donald Trump has threatened to attack Iran if it keeps killing protesters.

The President said he would "be hitting them very hard where it hurts... that doesn't mean troops on the ground. We don't want that to happen".

And in response - speaking publicly for the first time since January 3, Mr Khamenei told Mr Trump to "focus on the problems in his country" and claimed the "arrogant" US leader could be "overthrown".

He insisted the Islamic Republic would "not back down" against the "domestic terrorists" taking part in protests.

But his officials fear American intervention could spark an "apocalyptic" war.

"The establishment has never felt as threatened by protests as it does now. But this is not only about the demonstrations themselves. The real concern is Donald Trump's threats. We have seen what he did in Venezuela," one panicked official told The Telegraph.

"Those film-style scenarios do not apply here. What has happened instead is that Venezuela has emboldened protesters. For the first time, they genuinely believe major change is possible."

The country's underground "missile cities" have been activated to counter potential external threats.

Iranian officials said the alert level now exceeds that of last year's "12-day war" with Israel.

"The leader has ordered the Sepah [IRGC] to remain on the highest level of readiness – even higher than during the June war," a senior Iranian official said.

"He is in closer contact with the IRGC than with the army or the police, because he believes the risk of IRGC defections is almost non-existent, whereas others have defected before. He has placed his fate in the hands of the IRGC."

Sir Keir Starmer joined France's Emmanuel Macron and Germaby's Friedrich Merz in condemning the killing of civilians on Friday evening.

"We are deeply concerned about reports of violence by Iranian security forces, and strongly condemn the killing of protesters," the three leaders said.

"The Iranian authorities have the responsibility to protect their own population and must allow for the freedom of expression and peaceful assembly without fear of reprisal. We urge the Iranian authorities to exercise restraint, to refrain from violence, and to uphold the fundamental rights of Iran's citizens."

Human rights groups report at least 62 people have died since demonstrations began on December 28 - though some individuals have said that number could be closer to 200.

Authorities have arrested more than 2,277 people, including 166 minors and 48 university students.

Friday marked the 13th day of unrest, with demonstrations spreading from Zahedan in the east to Tehran and more than 100 other towns and cities.

Authorities have deployed tear gas and shotgun pellets to disperse crowds.

The repressive regime's women joined protests in Zahedan after Friday prayers, chanting "death to the dictator", "death to Khamenei" and "poverty, corruption, inflation - we go until overthrow".

A state television presenter warned families to keep children indoors at night, extraordinarily saying they should not complain if loved ones were shot.

Some demonstrators have called for the return of Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the former Shah who was overthrown in the 1979 Islamic revolution.

Mr Pahlavi said "millions of Iranians demanded their freedom tonight" and described protesters as his "courageous compatriots".