Trump Vows US Action If Iran Harms Protesters
US President Donald Trump has warned Iran not to harm peaceful protesters, saying the United States “will come to their rescue” if they do.
In a post on Truth Social on Friday, Trump wrote: “If Iran shots [sic] and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go.” He did not provide specifics on any potential action.
The statement drew a quick response from Ali Larijani, a senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Larijani warned that any US interference would destabilise the Middle East and undermine American interests.
The warning comes amid ongoing protests across Iran sparked by worsening economic conditions. At least six people were reported killed on Thursday, according to semi-official media and human rights groups. Hengaw, a Kurdish rights organisation, said two of those killed in Lordegan were protesters, identified as Ahmad Jalil and Sajjad Valamanesh. Fars news agency reported additional deaths in Azna and Kouhdasht, though it did not clarify whether victims were protesters or security personnel.
Video footage circulating on social media shows clashes between protesters and security forces, with cars set on fire in several cities including Lordegan, Tehran, and Marvdasht. BBC Persian has verified some of these clips.
The protests began in Tehran on Sunday when shopkeepers demonstrated against a sharp drop in the value of the rial against the US dollar. By Tuesday, university students had joined in, and demonstrations spread to multiple cities, with many chanting against Iran’s clerical leadership. Some protesters have called for an end to Supreme Leader Khamenei’s rule, while others expressed support for a return to monarchy.
Iranian officials reported a security personnel death on Wednesday in Kouhdasht, though protesters claim the individual was shot by authorities.
The demonstrations are the largest since the 2022 nationwide uprising triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini in custody, though they have not reached the same scale.
President Masoud Pezeshkian said he is willing to listen to the “legitimate demands” of the protesters, while Prosecutor-General Mohammad Movahedi-Azad warned that any attempt to create instability would be met with a “decisive response.”
The situation has heightened tensions internationally, with Trump’s warning and Tehran’s response underscoring the risk of a wider conflict.
