Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran on Friday, threatening U.S. intervention if Tehran uses violence against protesters participating in the largest nationwide demonstrations the Islamic republic has faced in several years.
“If Iran shots 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,” the U.S. president wrote in a post on Truth Social early Friday morning.
The warning comes as Iranians have taken to the streets since Sunday to protest economic grievances, with mounting frustrations over soaring inflation and collapsing living standards fueling the unrest.
Iranian media reports indicate that several people have been killed in the social unrest, while authorities have arrested dozens of people after some protests turned violent.
The demonstrations represent a significant challenge to the Iranian government as citizens express widespread discontent with deteriorating economic conditions.