Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Jan 2: US President Donald Trump on Friday issued a stern warning to Iran, cautioning its leadership against the violent suppression of peaceful protesters, and claimed that the United States would step in if demonstrators were killed.
In a post on his social media platform 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.” He added, “We are locked and loaded and ready to go. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Trump’s remarks come amid widening protests in Iran, where at least seven people have reportedly been killed as demonstrations against the country’s worsening economic crisis entered their fifth day on Thursday. The protests are described as the largest since 2022 and have spread from Tehran to several rural provinces.
The unrest began on Sunday in Tehran’s major bazaars after the Iranian rial plunged to record lows, sharply driving up prices and the cost of living. By Tuesday, protests had expanded to students and residents in cities including Shiraz, Isfahan, Kermanshah and Fasa. Videos circulating on social media showed demonstrators chanting slogans such as “Death to the Dictator” and “Death to Khamenei,” and clashing with security forces.
According to reports, including footage cited by the New York Post, crowds across Iran have continued chanting anti-regime slogans, with bazaar merchants in Tehran playing a key role in spreading the protests nationwide.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged public anger and said the government would listen to the “legitimate demands” of protesters, while also warning against attempts to create instability. Authorities have announced economic and security measures, including appointing a new central bank chief and tightening security around universities.
The latest wave of unrest has once again highlighted deep public frustration over soaring inflation, unemployment, water shortages and broader governance issues, echoing the mass protests that followed the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody in 2022.