President Donald Trump stated Friday the United States is “locked and loaded” to respond should Iran kill protesters, prompting a warning from Tehran that intervention would destabilize the region. Protests and clashes with security forces have occurred in several Iranian cities, with at least six reported deaths.
Iran Protests and US Response
Trump said on his Truth Social platform that the U.S. would “come to their rescue” if Iran “violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom.” He added, “We are locked and loaded and ready to go.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called Trump’s remarks “reckless and dangerous,” stating Iranian armed forces are “on standby” in the event of intervention. Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s top security body, warned that U.S. interference would destabilize the region and harm American interests, advising the American people to consider the safety of their soldiers.
Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said any U.S. intervention “be exposed to a response,” declaring Iran’s security a “red line.” Despite warnings of a firm response to instability, Iranian leaders, including Larijani and President Masoud Pezeshkian, have acknowledged the legitimacy of peaceful protests over the country’s economic hardship.
Iran’s economy has been severely impacted by international sanctions related to its nuclear program, resulting in high inflation and a declining currency. Pezeshkian stated Thursday that his government would be “damned to hell” if they failed to address the economic struggles of the people.
An Iranian police spokesman acknowledged the protests “express the will of the people to improve their living conditions,” but warned authorities would not allow the unrest to descend into chaos. The prosecutor of Lorestan province stated that participation in illegal gatherings and actions disturbing public order would be met with firmness.
UN human rights chief Volker Turk urged Iranian authorities to uphold the rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly. Venezuela expressed concern over Trump’s “confrontational” rhetoric and affirmed its solidarity with Iran, calling for an end to interventionist stances.
The protest movement comes as Iran faces challenges with weakened regional allies in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria. Iran also engaged in a 12-day war with Israel in June, with brief U.S. involvement in strikes on nuclear sites. The protests have affected at least 20 cities, primarily in the west, according to Iranian media reports.
The demonstrations are smaller in scale than the major unrest in 2022, which was triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini while in custody for allegedly violating dress code regulations. That event sparked nationwide anger and resulted in several hundred deaths, including security forces. Nationwide protests also occurred in late 2019 over rising fuel prices, leading to calls for the overthrow of the clerical rulers.
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