Iran’s foreign minister has condemned a warning from US President Donald Trump that Washington would intervene if peaceful protesters in Iran are killed, calling the statement “reckless and dangerous.”
Trump posted on social media Friday that the United States “will come to [the] rescue” of demonstrators taking part in protests over Iran’s faltering economy. He added, “We are locked and loaded and ready to go,” without specifying what form of intervention might occur.
In response, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that the country’s armed forces were on alert. “They know exactly where to aim in the event of an attack,” he said, adding that Iran would “forcefully reject any interference in their internal affairs.” He described Trump’s remarks as “reckless” and referenced the US deployment of the National Guard, saying the president should understand that attacks on public property cannot be tolerated.
The protests, which began in Tehran, have spread to multiple cities and towns amid clashes between demonstrators and security forces. The demonstrations were initially sparked by a sharp fall in the value of the Iranian rial against the US dollar, affecting shopkeepers and small business owners. By Tuesday, university students had joined, chanting against the country’s clerical rulers.
At least eight people have reportedly died since the protests began, though independent verification is limited. Semi-official sources and human rights groups report casualties in several cities, including two in Lordegan, three in Azna, and one each in Kouhdasht, Fuladshahr, and Marvdasht. Some reports indicate that victims were demonstrators, but official confirmation has been inconsistent.
Iranian authorities have stressed that unrest will not be tolerated. A police spokesman said officers would prevent “enemies” from turning protests into chaos, while Prosecutor General Mohammad Movahedi-Azad warned that any attempts to create instability would receive a “decisive response.” Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei acknowledged the legitimacy of economic protests but said rioters must be “put in their place.”
President Masoud Pezeshkian indicated the government would listen to the protesters’ “legitimate demands,” but the overall tone of the administration remains firm against any escalation.
Iran’s UN Ambassador Amir-Saeid Iravani has also called on the UN Security Council to condemn Trump’s comments. In a letter to the council and UN Secretary-General, he wrote that the United States “bears full responsibility for any consequences arising from these unlawful threats and any ensuing escalation.”
The protests are the largest since the 2022 unrest triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini, though they have not reached the same scale. The demonstrations reflect growing frustration over economic conditions, with falling currency value and rising costs affecting everyday life.
