Former United States President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Iranian authorities, declaring the US military is prepared to intervene if peaceful protesters are violently killed. This comes as nationwide demonstrations in Iran, sparked by economic hardship, enter their fifth consecutive day.
Trump's Direct Threat on Social Media
Taking to his Truth Social platform, Trump delivered a pointed message aimed at Iran's leadership. "If Iran shots [sic] and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue," he wrote. The former president emphatically added, "We are locked and loaded and ready to go." This statement represents a significant escalation in rhetoric from a key US political figure regarding the internal affairs of Iran.
Roots and Scale of the Iranian Unrest
The current wave of protests was ignited by soaring living costs and the collapse of the national currency. Clashes with security forces have reportedly led to the deaths of at least five people, with authorities responding using tear gas and live ammunition. Demonstrators in several cities, including the capital Tehran, have been heard chanting slogans against the country's supreme leadership, with some even calling for the return of the monarchy overthrown in the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Online videos show crowds marching through Tehran chanting "Rest in peace Reza Shah," referencing the founder of the former Pahlavi dynasty. Observers note that the scale of these protests appears to be the largest since the nationwide movement triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody in 2022.
Government Response and International Tension
In an attempt to quell the unrest, Iranian authorities closed schools, universities, and public institutions on Wednesday. There has been a heavy police presence around Tehran's Grand Bazaar, believed to be an epicenter of the protests, and arrests have been reported in multiple locations. The protests have spread to major cities like Isfahan, Yazd, Zanjan, and Fasa, where footage showed demonstrators attacking a government building.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that he instructed the government to listen to the "legitimate demands" of the people. A government spokesperson mentioned plans to create a dialogue mechanism to engage with protest leaders. Despite these assurances, tensions remain critically high as the world watches how the situation will develop in the coming days.
