President Donald Trump issued a stern warning on Friday, declaring that the United States is “locked and loaded” to act if Iran harms peaceful protesters, as deadly demonstrations over rising costs continue to grip the country.
The unrest began as shopkeepers in Tehran went on strike Sunday to protest high prices and a stagnating economy. Since then, similar protests have spread to other cities, escalating tensions between civilians and security forces.
Trump, posting on his Truth Social platform, said, “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.”
According to Iran’s Fars news agency, clashes on Thursday left two dead in Lordegan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, and three in Azna, Lorestan province. State television also reported that a member of Iran’s security forces was killed during overnight protests in the western city of Kouhdasht.
While smaller in scale than the 2022 protests triggered by the tragic death of Mahsa Amini, these latest demonstrations signal renewed frustration with the Iranian government’s economic policies and heavy-handed security response. Amini’s death, after her arrest over Iran’s strict dress code for women, had sparked nationwide outrage, resulting in hundreds of deaths, including members of the security forces.
As the situation continues to unfold, the world watches closely, highlighting the ongoing struggle of ordinary Iranians who are risking their lives to demand dignity, fair treatment, and basic economic stability. These protests are a stark reminder that the fight for human rights is far from over.
