Trump Warns Iran Against Violence Amid Escalating Protests

President Donald Trump issued a warning to Iran, stating that if the nation "violently kills peaceful protesters," the United States would "come to their rescue." He added, "We are locked and loaded and ready to go."

This statement follows nearly a week of escalating protests across Iran, sparked by the collapse of the national currency and soaring inflation. Demonstrations have spread to major cities, including Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, and Mashhad, with shopkeepers and students participating. Protesters have voiced frustration over dire economic conditions and have chanted anti-government slogans.

In response to President Trump's remarks, Iranian officials have issued stern warnings. Ali Larijani, former speaker of Iran's parliament and current secretary of the National Security Council, stated that U.S. intervention in domestic issues would lead to "chaos in the entire region and the destruction of the U.S. interests." Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned that "any interventionist hand that gets too close to the security of Iran will be cut."

The protests began on December 28, 2025, with shopkeepers in Tehran's Grand Bazaar closing their businesses in response to the rial's depreciation, which reached a record low of 1.38 million to the U.S. dollar. The demonstrations have since expanded, with reports of at least seven demonstrators killed amid clashes with security forces.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has acknowledged the economic concerns fueling the unrest and suggested that foreign powers are behind elements inciting violence. He warned that Iran's response to any aggression would be "harsh and discouraging."

The situation remains tense as both the U.S. and Iranian governments exchange warnings, and protests continue to unfold across the country.