President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran, saying the United States is “locked and loaded” to act if the country’s authorities harm peaceful protesters. His remarks come amid a wave of demonstrations across Iran over soaring prices and economic hardship, which have already turned deadly.
Clashes between protesters and security forces erupted in several Iranian cities on Thursday, resulting in six reported deaths — the first fatalities since the recent unrest began. In Tehran, shopkeepers staged a strike on Sunday to protest high costs and stagnant economic conditions, a movement that has now spread to other regions.
Trump posted on his Truth Social platform: “If Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go.”
Iran’s Fars news agency reported that two people were killed in Lordegan, in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, and three in Azna, in neighboring Lorestan province. State television also reported that a member of Iran’s security forces died overnight in Kouhdasht during the protests.
While smaller than the nationwide uprising in 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini, these demonstrations reflect growing frustration among Iranians facing economic pressures and ongoing political unrest. In 2022, Amini’s death in custody after allegedly violating Iran’s strict dress code for women sparked nationwide protests, leaving hundreds dead, including security personnel.
As tensions rise again, the world watches closely, and voices like Trump’s underline the international spotlight on Iran’s handling of civil unrest. At the heart of these events are ordinary Iranians demanding a better future, whose courage echoes far beyond their borders.
