Donald Trump has warned that the United States would 'come to the rescue' of protesters in Iran if the government uses lethal force, prompting Iranian officials to caution that any foreign interference would cross a 'red line'. In a social media post, Trump said the US was 'locked and loaded, and ready to go', without specifying what action he would take.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described Trump's statement as 'reckless and dangerous', noting that the country's military was on standby. He added that while most protests had been peaceful, attacks on public property would not be tolerated. At least seven people have been killed in the demonstrations, which began after a sharp fall in the value of the Iranian rial.
Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Iran's supreme leader, warned that national security was a 'red line, not material for adventurist tweets'. He stated that any intervention would be met with a 'regret-inducing response'. Another senior official, Ali Larijani, accused the US and Israel of fomenting the unrest, saying Trump's actions risked destabilising the region and destroying American interests.
The protests have spread from Tehran to other cities, with shopkeepers closing stores and students occupying campuses. Economic grievances are central, but demonstrators have also chanted anti-government slogans. The Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, initially offered talks with protest leaders, but recent deaths suggest a harder line may be emerging.
The threats come amid heightened tensions over Iran's nuclear programme, with Trump recently saying the US could strike if it rebuilds. Iran has denied reconstituting its nuclear activities and has previously targeted American bases in the region.
