Trump Warns U.S. Will Intervene if Iran “Violently” Suppresses Protests

President Donald Trump warned on Friday that the United States would intervene if Iran “violently” suppresses peaceful protests, stating the U.S. is “locked and loaded and ready to go.”

Unrest in Iran has been escalating since last week, triggered by a sharp fall in the national currency and soaring prices. Annual inflation reached 42.2% in December, with food prices surging 72%, fueling widespread anger among citizens.

“If Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Protests Spread Across Iran

The demonstrations began on December 28, 2025, in Tehran, where shopkeepers protested the worsening economy. The unrest quickly spread to other cities, drawing in students and activists. Reports indicate that at least six civilians have died amid escalating clashes.

A large anti-Israeli banner depicting a Palestinian fighter and the slogan “Endless Voice of Resistance” in Persian and Hebrew was erected in Palestine Square, Tehran, on December 31, 2025. According to reports, Israel’s Mossad issued a call on the same day encouraging Iranians to continue protesting, offering “on-the-ground support.”

Iranian protesters gather in Tehran amid rising economic hardship, as President Trump warns the U.S. will intervene if protests are violently suppressed.

Iran’s Response

Ali Larijani, an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, responded to Trump’s warning by stating that U.S. interference in Iranian protests would create chaos across the region. His comments were reported by Reuters on Friday.

Iran’s economic struggles are partly linked to the 2018 U.S. withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear deal and the subsequent re-imposition of sanctions. Tensions escalated last June after U.S. strikes targeted Iranian nuclear sites, pulling Washington deeper into regional conflicts, including Israel’s ongoing war with Iran-backed groups.

Calls for Change

Suzanne Maloney, vice president and director of foreign policy at the Brookings Institution, said the Iranian public is demanding not only economic relief but also political change.

“We’re hearing cries of ‘Death to the dictator,’” Maloney told CNBC’s Squawk Box. “Slogans juxtapose the regime’s support for regional militias with the real demands of the Iranian people.”

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, has been in power for 36 years, and many analysts suggest that the current unrest reflects deep-seated frustration with the regime’s long-standing governance and economic mismanagement.