Trump and top Iranian official exchange threats over protests in Iran

After rising cost-of-living demonstrations in Iran, US President Donald Trump has stated that Washington is “locked and loaded” to respond if the country kills more protesters.

Six people reported dead in the first fatalities since the unrest started in several Iranian cities on Thursday, according to reports of protesters and security forces.

Over high prices and stagnant economic conditions, which the capital’s residents were protesting on Sunday, which has since spread to other regions of the nation.

Trump claimed on Friday on his Truth Social platform that the United States of America would come to its aid if Iran shot and violently killed peaceful protesters.

The Republican leader continued, “We are loaded, ready, and locked.”

Trump’s comments were condemned by Ali Larijani, the Supreme National Security Council’s secretary, who argued that “American interference in this internal issue is equivalent to chaos across the entire region and the destruction of American interests.”

In a post on X, Larijani added, “We consider the positions of the protesting merchants distinct from those of the destructive elements.”

Trump should be aware that the US public was the adventurist. They ought to look after their own soldiers.

Larijani’s comments most likely made reference to the region’s extensive military presence. Following US strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites during Israel’s 12-day conflict with Iran, Iran attacked Al Udeid Airbase in Qatar in June.

In clashes between security forces and protesters in the cities of Lordegan and Azna, in the province of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, two people were killed, according to Iran’s Fars news agency on Thursday, and three more were killed in the nearby Lorestan province of Azna.

A security force member from Iran was killed overnight during protests in Kuhdasht, according to a report from state television earlier.

The authorities also reported numerous arrests in various cities.

Public dissatisfaction

Iranians are being put under a lot of pressure by Iran’s economic problems, according to Al Jazeera’s Tohid Asadi, who is based in Tehran.

He said, “These protests initially started sporadic, but later they have spread to smaller cities across.”

He continued, “We can see this public mood and dissatisfaction in the protests,” noting that the protests primarily took place in smaller cities.

Since Trump withdrew from an international nuclear agreement during his first term, Iran’s economy has struggled for years. In 2018, the US reimposed sanctions.

After a protracted series of negotiations involving Iran and other Western nations, his predecessor, Barack Obama, came to an agreement.

The most recent demonstrations date back to 2022, when Mahsa Amini was killed while she was being held for allegedly breaking Iran’s strict dress code for women.