US President Donald Trump has warned Iran's authorities against killing peaceful protesters, saying Washington will come to their rescue if they employ violence. In a succinct social media post, Trump claimed, We are locked and loaded and ready to go, but did not elaborate on the specific nature of any potential intervention.
The warning comes as protests rage across Iran over deteriorating economic conditions, resulting in at least eight fatalities since demonstrations began. A senior advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has reacted to Trump's statements by cautioning him to be careful of the repercussions of US intervention, which they allege could lead to regional chaos.
Trump's comments were made following a week of protests that erupted after further declines in the value of the Iranian currency, the rial. The unrest has seen mass demonstrations, notably from university students and shopkeepers, expressing anger at the clerical regime, with calls for the end of Khamenei's rule.
In his message posted on Truth Social, Trump asserted, If Iran shots [sic] and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. Yet, the president's statement lacked detail regarding what specific actions the US might be prepared to take.
In light of previous US military actions against Iranian targets—such as the strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities issued on Trump's orders—concerns about further military involvement have been articulated by Iranian officials. Ali Larijani, a senior official in Khamenei's circle, underscored that US interference would threaten to destabilize the region and jeopardize America's interests.
Despite these concerns, some Iranian protesters welcome the prospect of US intervention, highlighting fears among security forces about potential American actions as a deterrent. A young protester in Tehran expressed a desire for US support, stating that a firm stance from Trump could deter oppressive tactics from security forces.
The ongoing unrest has drawn parallels to past uprisings in Iran, such as the protests following the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, though the scale of dissent currently appears less widespread.
As protests persist, Iranian officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, have expressed an intention to address the legitimate demands of demonstrators, while stern warnings have been issued by the Prosecutor-General regarding the responses to any attempts at unrest.
Amidst the turmoil, footage from the protests shows violent clashes, fires, and heightened tensions between demonstrators and authorities, marking a critical period in Iran's ongoing fight for reform and change.
