US President Donald Trump has warned that the United States could intervene if Iranian authorities kill peaceful protesters, escalating already high tensions between Washington and Tehran amid deadly unrest in Iran.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the US was “locked and loaded and ready to go,” warning Iran against the violent suppression of demonstrations. He added that if peaceful protesters were shot or killed, Washington would step in to support them, without specifying what form any action might take.
The warning drew a swift response from senior Iranian figures. Ali Larijani, a close adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, cautioned Trump against intervention, saying any US involvement in Iran’s internal affairs would destabilize the Middle East and damage American interests across the region.
The exchange comes as Iran faces its most serious unrest in years. At least six people were reported killed on Thursday during a fifth consecutive day of protests triggered by worsening economic conditions and the sharp fall of the Iranian rial against the US dollar. Demonstrations that began among shopkeepers in Tehran have spread to universities and cities across the country, with chants increasingly directed against Iran’s clerical leadership.
Iranian state-linked media reported deaths in several western and southwestern cities, while human rights groups said some of those killed were protesters shot during clashes with security forces. Footage verified by international media showed burning vehicles and running battles between demonstrators and police.
The protests are the most widespread since 2022, when nationwide demonstrations erupted following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody, though they remain smaller in scale. Many protesters are now openly calling for the end of Khamenei’s rule, reflecting deepening political frustration alongside economic hardship.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said he is prepared to listen to what he described as legitimate public demands. However, Iran’s prosecutor-general has warned that any attempt to create instability would be met with a decisive response.
Trump’s comments also revive memories of recent direct confrontation between the two countries. In June, the US carried out strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities on Trump’s orders, actions Washington said set back Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Tehran rejected that assessment and later retaliated with missile attacks on a major US military base in Qatar.
As protests continue and rhetoric hardens on both sides, analysts warn that miscalculation could further inflame an already volatile regional landscape.
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