United States (US) President Donald Trump on Friday warned that the US will intervene if Iran violently suppresses peaceful demonstrations.
“We are locked and loaded and ready to go,” he said in a Truth Social post as Iran faces its largest protests in three years, sparked by economic hardship and a sharp currency slide.
The unrest began Sunday in Tehran, where shopkeepers went on strike over soaring prices and stagnation. Demonstrations quickly spread to other provinces, escalating into violent clashes between protesters and security forces.
On Thursday, six people were reportedly killed in confrontations across three cities, marking the first fatalities since the cost-of-living protests erupted.
Authorities described protesters in Lordegan as attacking administrative buildings including the governor’s office, a mosque, the Martyrs’ Foundation, the town hall and banks. Police responded with tear gas and arrested several alleged ringleaders. In Azna, it was reported that “rioters” targeted a police commissariat.
While state media has consistently labeled demonstrators as rioters during past protest movements, the demonstrations, though smaller than the 2022 unrest triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini in custody, have gained momentum as students from at least 10 universities joined earlier this week.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged protesters’ “legitimate demands” and urged the government to act on economic grievances.
“From an Islamic perspective, if we do not resolve the issue of people’s livelihoods, we will end up in hell,” he said on state television. At the same time, officials vowed a firm response to any attempt to exploit the situation.
Iran’s prosecutor general said peaceful economic protests were legitimate but warned that efforts to create insecurity or destroy public property would face a decisive response.
Local media coverage has varied, with some outlets highlighting economic struggles and others focusing on alleged troublemakers. Authorities declared Wednesday a bank holiday, citing energy-saving measures during cold weather, though no official link to the protests was made.
It may be noted that Iran’s economic crisis continues to fuel anger. Local currency has lost more than a third of its value against the US dollar in the past year while hyperinflation has eroded purchasing power.
Official figures show inflation at 52 percent year-on-year in December, underscoring the depth of the hardship driving the protests.