Trump and Iranian Officials Exchange Threats Over Protests

Protests in Tehran Turn Violent

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Washington is "prepared and armed" to respond if Iran kills more protesters, following deadly demonstrations against the rising cost of living in the country. Protesters clashed with security forces in several Iranian cities on Thursday, with six reported dead in the first fatalities since unrest escalated.

Protests Spread Nationwide

Merchants in the capital city of Tehran went on strike on Sunday due to high prices and economic stagnation, a move that later spread to other parts of the country. Trump declared on his Truth Social platform on Friday that "if Iran were to shoot and violently kill peaceful protesters, which is their habit, the United States of America will come to their aid." He added that they are "prepared and armed to act."

Threats and Reactions

Ali Larijani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, condemned Trump's statements, saying he should know that American intervention in this internal issue amounts to chaos in the region and destruction of American interests. Larijani noted that a distinction must be made between the merchants' protests and destructive elements. "The people of the U.S. should know that Trump has begun the adventurism. They should take care of their own soldiers," he added.

Concerns Over Economic Situation

Al Jazeera journalist Tohid Asadi, reporting from Tehran, stated that Iran's economic troubles are placing significant pressure on the population. "These protests initially started sporadically but later expanded into smaller cities," he said, adding that confrontations between protesters and security forces mainly occurred in smaller towns. Iran's economy has suffered for years due to sanctions reimposed by the U.S. in 2018, after Trump withdrew from an international nuclear agreement.