‘Locked and loaded’: Trump says US will act if peaceful protesters are killed in Iran

As massive protests continue to rock Iran, US President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning, saying the US would come to the rescue if peaceful protesters are killed.

“We are locked and loaded and ready to go,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social account.

At least seven people have been killed amid clashes between security forces and protesters since demonstrations began on Sunday. The protests first erupted in the capital Tehran, where shopkeepers took to the streets over the government’s handling of a sharp currency fall, economic stagnation and high inflation, which officially rose to 42.5 percent in December.

The unrest intensified after students from at least ten universities joined the protests on Tuesday. Markets have remained shut amid the demonstrations, while the government declared a holiday due to cold weather, effectively bringing much of the country to a standstill.

The protests have since spread to multiple provinces, with some demonstrations turning violent over the past 24 hours, CNN reported. Protesters reportedly clashed with police, hurled stones at security personnel and set vehicles on fire, according to Iran’s Fars news agency, which said some armed “disturbers” exploited the gatherings. Authorities later seized firearms from several individuals, the report added.

Iran’s civilian government, led by President Masoud Pezeshkian, has sought to signal openness to engagement. “From an Islamic perspective, if we do not resolve the issue of people’s livelihoods, we will end up in Hell,” he said at an event aired on state television.

Iran’s economy has been under prolonged strain due to US and western sanctions linked to its nuclear programme. The pressure has been compounded by regional tensions, including a 12-day conflict with Israel in June, which further weakened state finances.