US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran, saying that the United States will intervene if peaceful protesters are harmed during the ongoing demonstrations across the country. Trump’s brief post on social media stated:

“We are locked and loaded and ready to go.”

He did not specify what form the intervention might take, but the statement has prompted strong reactions from Iranian officials and global observers.

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Protests Erupt Across Iran

The protests began on Sunday, 28 December 2025, in Tehran, with shopkeepers demonstrating against a sharp decline in the Iranian rial against the US dollar. By Tuesday, university students had joined the movement, and demonstrations spread to several other cities, including Lordegan, Azna, Kouhdasht, Fuladshahr, and Marvdasht.

Protesters have been chanting against the country’s clerical rulers, with some calling for the end of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s rule and even advocating for a return to monarchy.

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Casualties and Clashes

Reports indicate at least eight people have died since the protests began:

• Lordegan: Two protesters, Ahmad Jalil and Sajjad Valamanesh, killed in clashes with security forces
• Azna: Three deaths reported
• Kouhdasht: One death
• Fuladshahr and Marvdasht: One death each reported

Footage shared on social media shows cars set on fire and running battles between demonstrators and security forces. BBC Persian has verified videos from Lordegan, Tehran, and Marvdasht.

Some reports suggest that even members of Iran’s security forces may have been casualties, illustrating the chaotic and violent nature of the protests.

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Trump’s Warning and Iran’s Reaction

Trump posted on Truth Social:

“If Iran shots [sic] and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue.”

The statement immediately drew condemnation from Iran. Senior adviser Ali Larijani, close to Supreme Leader Khamenei, warned that US interference could destabilize the Middle East and harm American interests.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described Trump’s comments as “reckless and dangerous”, emphasizing that Iran’s armed forces were on alert and fully capable of defending the nation. He stated Iran would reject any interference in its internal affairs.

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Protesters’ Perspective

Some protesters see potential US support as a source of hope. One anonymous young woman in Tehran told BBC:

“They [security forces] are afraid and they shake to the bones when Mr Trump says something. We have been asking for US support for years… they know if anything happens, they would have to take the consequences.”

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Political Responses Within Iran

• President Masoud Pezeshkian pledged to listen to the “legitimate demands” of protesters.
• Prosecutor-General Mohammad Movahedi-Azad warned that attempts to create instability would meet a “decisive response.”
• Iranian UN Ambassador Amir-Saeid Iravani called on the UN Security Council to condemn Trump’s threats, asserting that the US bears responsibility for any escalation.

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Context: Comparisons to 2022 Protests

The unrest is the most widespread since the 2022 protests triggered by Mahsa Amini’s death in custody, though it is not yet on the same scale. Economic frustration, political dissatisfaction, and calls for social freedoms are central to the current demonstrations.

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International Tensions

Trump’s warning adds to already heightened US-Iran tensions, following previous actions such as:

• US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites in June 2025
• Iranian missile retaliation against a US base in Qatar

Analysts warn that any direct intervention could escalate conflict across the region, complicating diplomatic efforts.