US President Donald Trump has issued a warning to Iranian authorities over the ongoing protests in the country, saying the United States would intervene if peaceful demonstrators are killed.
In a brief social media post, Trump cautioned Tehran against violent crackdowns, stating that Washington “will come to their rescue” if protesters are targeted. He added: “We are locked and loaded and ready to go.” However, the president did not provide further details on what form any potential intervention might take.
The statement drew a swift reaction from a senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Ali Larijani warned Trump to “be careful,” saying US involvement could destabilise the Middle East and harm American interests.
Reports indicate that at least six people were killed in Iran on Thursday, marking the fifth consecutive day of protests triggered by worsening economic conditions. The demonstrations, which began in Tehran, have spread to multiple cities across the country.
In a follow-up post on Truth Social on Friday, Trump wrote: “If Iran shots [sic] and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue.”
Responding shortly after, Larijani said: “Trump should know that US interference in this internal matter would mean destabilising the entire region and destroying America’s interests.”
While Trump did not specify possible actions against Iran, tensions between the two countries have remained high. In June, the US carried out airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities on Trump’s orders. American officials later claimed the strikes significantly delayed Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, a claim Iran has rejected. Iran subsequently launched missiles at a major US military base in Qatar in retaliation.
Inside Iran, clashes between protesters and security forces have been reported in several regions. According to semi-official sources and human rights groups, two people were killed in the south-western city of Lordegan, while additional deaths were recorded in Azna and Kouhdasht in the west. There have been conflicting accounts over whether those killed were protesters or members of the security forces, and independent verification remains difficult.
Videos shared online and verified by international media show protests in cities including Lordegan, Tehran, and Marvdasht, with footage depicting burning vehicles and confrontations with security personnel.
The protests were sparked by a sharp decline in the value of Iran’s currency, the rial, against the US dollar. What began as demonstrations by shopkeepers quickly expanded to include university students and broader segments of the population, with chants directed against Iran’s clerical leadership. Some protesters have called for the end of Ayatollah Khamenei’s rule, while others have voiced support for a return to monarchy.
Although the protests are being described as the most widespread since the 2022 unrest following the death of Mahsa Amini in custody, they have not yet reached the same scale.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said he is willing to listen to the “legitimate demands” of protesters. However, the country’s Prosecutor-General, Mohammad Movahedi-Azad, warned that any attempt to create instability would be met with a “decisive response.”
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