'Locked & loaded': Trump issues stark warning to Iran as protests rage; vows to ‘rescue’ protesters
Former US President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Iran, vowing American intervention if peaceful protesters are violently suppressed. This comes as widespread demonstrations, fueled by economic hardship and soaring inflation, grip the nation. Protesters are voicing strong dissent against the government, with chants targeting top leadership, marking the most significant unrest since 2022.
US President Donald Trump on Friday warned Iran against killing peaceful protesters, claiming that the United States of America would come to their rescue.In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, “If Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue.”
Iran On The Boil: 'DEATH TO KHAMENEI' Chants Echo, Riot Cops Fire; Trump Claims 'They Kill People'
“We are locked and loaded and ready to go. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” he added.This comes after at least seven people were killed as Iran faces widening protests over its ailing economy.The demonstrations, the biggest in the country since 2022, entered the fifth day on Thursday, spreading from Tehran to several rural provinces amid soaring inflation, record currency collapse, and growing civil disobedience.The protests began on Sunday in Tehran’s major bazaars after the rial plunged to record lows, sharply increasing prices and living costs. By Tuesday, unrest spread to students and residents in multiple cities, including Shiraz, Isfahan, Kermanshah, and Fasa. Videos showed protesters chanting slogans like “Death to the Dictator” and “Death to Khamenei” while clashing with security forces.According to the New York Post, additional footage from MEK shows crowds across Iran chanting slogans such as “Death to Khamenei!” and “Shame on you, shame on you!” as protests, particularly led by bazaar merchants in Tehran, continue to spread nationwide.
President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged public anger and promised to listen to the “legitimate demands” of protesters, while warning against attempts to create instability. Authorities also made economic and security adjustments, appointing a new central bank chief and tightening security around universities.The current wave of unrest is the largest since the 2022 protests following Mahsa Amini’s death in police custody, highlighting broader public frustration over inflation, unemployment, water shortages, and governance issues.