President Donald Trump on Friday issued a blunt warning to Iran’s leadership, signaling that the United States could intervene if authorities use lethal force against demonstrators as unrest spreads across the country amid a deepening economic crisis.
In a late-night post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “If Iran ‘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 message marked one of the most explicit threats of U.S. action since protests erupted earlier this week.
The demonstrations, initially driven by economic grievances, have escalated into violent clashes in multiple provinces, with reports of deaths on both sides. Protesters first took to the streets in Tehran after the Iranian rial plunged to historic lows, fueling inflation and soaring commodity prices. Chants quickly broadened to target the clerical establishment and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei himself.
Iranian officials swiftly condemned Trump’s remarks. Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Khamenei, warned that “Any hand of intervention that comes close to Iran’s security under any pretext will be cut off before it can act.”
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf went further, writing on Twitter that Trump’s comments make “all American bases and forces across the region legitimate targets in response to any possible adventurism.”
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf:
Trump should know that, with this official admission, all American centers and forces throughout the entire region will be considered legitimate targets for us in response to any potential adventurism. pic.twitter.com/zQaa89PY3Y
— Clash Report (@clashreport) January 2, 2026
Another senior figure, Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and a former parliament speaker, claimed—without providing evidence—that foreign powers, including the United States and Israel, are fueling the unrest, according to NBC News.
The protests have spread beyond the capital to provincial towns, becoming the most extensive wave of dissent since the 2022–2023 demonstrations triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini. On Thursday, clashes turned deadly. A rights monitoring group reported seven demonstrators killed, while a semi-official Iranian outlet said three people died during an incident involving a police facility in the western city of Azna.
Verified online footage showed burning vehicles near security posts, crowds confronting police, and the sound of gunfire amid chants of “Shameless!”
Iran’s economy has been under sustained strain from long-standing international sanctions, compounded by the aftermath of a brief conflict with Israel last summer that included U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure. Chronic water shortages and energy disruptions have added to public anger.
President Masoud Pezeshkian has acknowledged the legitimacy of some grievances and expressed openness to dialogue. In an apparent effort to calm tensions, authorities announced an extended holiday period midweek. Analysts, however, expect a heavy security presence in the coming days as sensitive commemorations approach.
Trump’s warning follows recent discussions with Israeli officials and earlier statements about Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Pezeshkian, responding to the broader threats, said any external aggression would be met with a severe counteraction, underscoring the risk that internal unrest could further inflame regional tensions.
