President Trump Warns Iran of US Readiness Following Deadly Protests
President Trump Warns Iran of US Readiness Following Deadly Protests
President Donald Trump announced on Friday that the United States is “locked and loaded” and prepared to act if the Iranian government kills demonstrators, following reports of fatalities during nationwide protests over the rising cost of living.
Violent confrontations between citizens and law enforcement broke out in multiple Iranian cities on Thursday, resulting in six reported deaths—the first casualties since the latest wave of instability began to surge.
The movement started on Sunday when merchants in Tehran closed their shops to protest soaring inflation and a stagnant economy, a strike that has since gained momentum in various other regions of the country.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump stated that “the United States of America will come to their rescue” if the Iranian regime continues its “custom” of using lethal force against peaceful protesters.
“We are locked and loaded and ready to go,” the Republican leader emphasized in his social media post.
According to the Fars news agency, two individuals lost their lives on Thursday during clashes in Lordegan, located in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, while three others died in the city of Azna in Lorestan province.
Earlier, state-run media confirmed that one member of the Iranian security forces was killed during overnight demonstrations in the western city of Kouhdasht.
While these current protests are occurring on a smaller scale than the widespread 2022 uprising, they reflect deep-seated grievances similar to those following the death of Mahsa Amini, who died while in the custody of the morality police.
Amini’s death previously ignited a massive national movement that led to the deaths of hundreds of people, including many members of the state’s security apparatus.
