US Stands Ready to Support Iranian Protesters, Trump Declares
In a bold statement on his social media platform, Truth Social, President Donald Trump has made it clear that if Iran resorts to violence against peaceful protesters, the United States is prepared to step in. Trump warned, “If Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue,” adding, “We are armed and ready.”
In response, Iranian officials expressed concern that American intervention would lead to chaos throughout the region. Ali Larijani, chief adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, shared this sentiment in comments made to Reuters on Friday.
Protests have erupted across Iran over the past several days, ignited by economic frustrations. What began as a peaceful demonstration in Tehran on Sunday, with shopkeepers striking against soaring prices and economic stagnation, rapidly expanded as university students joined the movement on Tuesday. By Thursday, reports of fatalities began to emerge, with local media indicating that at least six people have lost their lives amid the unrest.
Fars News Agency reported that two individuals were killed during clashes between security forces and protesters in the southwestern town of Lordegan. Additionally, three fatalities were confirmed in Azna, where the agency suggested that “rebels took advantage of a protest assembly to attack a police station.” Seventeen others were injured in that confrontation.
Also noteworthy is the reported death of a member of Iran’s security forces, a 21-year-old from the Basij paramilitary militia who was killed on Wednesday while “defending public order” in Kouhdasht, underscoring the escalating tensions on the ground.
In a bid to ease the situation, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has acknowledged the “legitimate demands” of the protesters. He emphasized the government’s responsibility to address the economic challenges facing the country and called for decisive action to improve the current conditions.
As the protests continue, the world watches closely, bracing for the potential ramifications of a situation that is far from resolved.