President Trump says America is “locked and loaded” to protect demonstrators amid Iran’s escalating unrest over economic hardship.
US President Donald Trump on Friday vowed that the United States would intervene if Iranian authorities violently target peaceful protesters. In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote, “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,” signalling strong support for demonstrators.
The statement comes amid Iran’s largest protests in three years, triggered by economic hardship and a sharp slide in the national currency. Clashes between protesters and security forces have resulted in several deaths, marking a major escalation of unrest that began with shopkeepers’ demonstrations over soaring prices and inflation.
The semi-official Fars news agency reported that three protesters were killed and 17 were injured during an attack on a police station in Iran’s western province of Lorestan. “The rioters entered the police headquarters around 1800 (local time) on Thursday … they clashed with police forces and set fire to several police cars,” Fars reported.
The unrest reflects long-standing economic struggles in Iran, worsened since 2018 when Trump withdrew the US from the international nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions. The protests highlight growing public anger over the government’s handling of the economy and its response to citizens’ demands.
