US President Donald Trump has threatened to intervene in Iran's cost-of-living protests, provoking a warning that he could destabilise the entire region.

In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Friday, Mr Trump wrote: "If Iran shoots [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."

At least seven people have been reported to have been killed in violence during protests sweeping parts of Iran, including capital Tehran. They have been sparked in part by the collapse of country's rial currency.

In response to Mr Trump's post, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali ⁠Larijani, wrote on X: "Trump should know that U.S. interference in this internal matter would mean destabilising the entire region and destroying America's interests.

"The American people should know - Trump started this adventurism. They should be mindful of their soldiers' safety."

Multiple people killed in Iran protests

America has a large wide military footprint in the region and tensions had already been rising with Iran. In June the Islamic republic attacked the US Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.

More on Iran

• [

  

  Several people killed in Iran as cost-of-living protests turn deadly

  ](https://news.sky.com/story/several-people-killed-in-iran-as-cost-of-living-protests-turn-deadly-13489294)

• [

  

  Iranian protesters attempt to break in to government building

  ](https://news.sky.com/story/iranian-protesters-attempt-to-break-in-to-government-building-13489061)

• [

  

  Iranian university students join protests over soaring cost of living

  ](https://news.sky.com/story/iranian-university-students-join-protests-over-soaring-cost-of-living-13488739)

The missile launches were a retaliation for US strikes on three nuclear sites during Israel's 12-day war on the Islamic Republic, also in June.