Dubai, Jan 2 (AP) US President Donald Trump and a senior Iranian security official exchanged sharp threats on Friday as widening economic protests rocked parts of Iran, further escalating tensions months after US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump warned Tehran against the use of force on demonstrators, saying the US would intervene if Iran “violently kills peaceful protesters.” At least seven people have been killed in violence linked to the protests so far.
“We are locked and loaded and ready to go,” Trump wrote, without providing details.
Iran responded swiftly. Ali Larijani, former parliament speaker and current secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, accused the US and Israel of fomenting unrest, a claim Iranian officials have repeatedly made during past protest waves, though without evidence.
“Trump should know that intervention by the US in the domestic problem corresponds to chaos in the entire region and the destruction of the US interests,” Larijani wrote on X, which is blocked in Iran. “The people of the US should know that Trump began the adventurism. They should take care of their own soldiers.”
Larijani’s remarks appeared to reference America’s extensive military presence in the Middle East. In June, Iran struck the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar after US bombings of three Iranian nuclear sites during Israel’s 12-day conflict with Tehran.
The current demonstrations, now in their sixth day, mark Iran’s largest protests since 2022, when the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody triggered nationwide unrest. While significant, the protests have not yet reached the scale or intensity of those sparked by Amini’s death over alleged hijab violations.
The demonstrations were initially driven by economic distress, particularly the rapid collapse of Iran’s currency, with the US dollar now trading at around 1.4 million rials. Protesters have also been heard chanting against Iran’s theocratic system.
Reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian has sought to signal openness to dialogue with protesters but has acknowledged limited options amid the economic crisis.
Months after the conflict, Iran has said it is no longer enriching uranium at any site, signalling possible openness to negotiations aimed at easing sanctions. However, talks have yet to materialise as Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continue to warn Tehran against reviving its nuclear programme. (AP)
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