U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday the United States would be “ready” to respond if Iran kills protesters, prompting Tehran to warn that intervention would destabilize the region.
Six people were reported dead on Thursday as protesters and security forces clashed in several Iranian cities, the first deaths since unrest escalated.
Shopkeepers in the capital Tehran went on strike on Sunday over rising prices and a stagnant economy, which has since spread into a protest movement with political demands that has swept the rest of the country.
“If Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, as is their wont, the United States of America will come to the rescue,” Trump said on his “Truth Social” platform.
“We’re locked, loaded and ready to go,” he added.
This prompted the head of Iran’s top security agency, Ali Larijani, to warn Trump that “U.S. interference in this internal matter would mean destabilizing the entire region and destroying U.S. interests.”
Larijani added on X that the US president “should pay attention to the safety of his soldiers”.
Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said any U.S. intervention would be “responsive” and that Iran’s security was called a “red line.”
Iranian leaders, including Larijani and President Masoud Pezeshkian, have said in recent days that peaceful protests against Iran’s struggling economy are legitimate and understandable.
Pezeshkian said on Thursday that if he and his government failed to resolve economic difficulties, they would “end up in hell” in a religious sense.
At the same time, officials warned of a firm response to any instability.
On Friday, the Mizan website of Iran’s judiciary quoted Lorestan District Prosecutor Ali Hasavand as saying that “any participation in illegal gatherings and any behavior aimed at disturbing public order, destroying property, disobeying law enforcement, inciting illegal gatherings… constitutes a crime and will be dealt with with the strictest severity by the courts.”
He added: “Some opportunistic and hostile elements try to undermine public security and peace by causing chaos, riots and murder. The judicial system and the police will resolutely crack down on rioters and those who undermine public security and will not show mercy.”
– Economic damage –
For years, Iran’s economy has been hit hard by international sanctions over its nuclear program, severe inflation and currency collapse.
The protest movement comes as Iran is weakened after major blows to its regional allies in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria.
Iran’s Fars news agency reported on Thursday that two people were killed in clashes between security forces and protesters in Lodgan cities in Chahamahal and Bakhtiari provinces, and three people were killed in Azna in neighboring Lorestan province.
State television earlier reported that a member of Iran’s security forces was killed overnight during protests in the western city of Kudasht.
According to Iranian media reports, protests affected 15 cities, mainly in the west of the country.
The demonstrations were smaller than the last major event in 2022, which was sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, who was arrested on suspicion of violating Iran’s strict dress code for women.
Her death sparked a nationwide wave of outrage that left hundreds dead, including dozens of members of the security forces.
Iran is also reeling from nationwide protests that began in late 2019 over rising fuel prices, eventually sparking calls for the overthrow of the country’s religious rulers.
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