Iran Condemns Trump's Threat Amid Escalating Protests and Regional Tensions
Iran's foreign ministry condemned US President Donald Trump's threat of intervention, vowing that any aggression would be met with a swift, decisive, and comprehensive response. Trump posted on Truth Social that the US is 'locked and loaded' to intervene and pledged to 'rescue' protesters in Iran.
Hardline Iranian politician Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf responded by declaring that Trump's threat legitimizes all American bases and forces in the region as targets. The escalating tensions come amid widespread protests across Iran, the largest since Mahsa Amini's death in 2022.
Protests began in Tehran on Sunday, with demonstrators attempting to breach a government building on Wednesday. Violence intensified overnight into Thursday, and protests continued in three districts of Tehran on Friday. Since Wednesday, at least 10 people have died and approximately 132 have been arrested, including 12 women and 8 children, according to the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights.
The unrest is occurring against a backdrop of a battered Iranian economy, with the national currency at a record low against the US dollar due to sanctions. The US State Department has shared a video praising the protesters on X, reflecting broader tensions including a June US bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities and an ongoing Israeli campaign against Tehran's nuclear program.
