U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that the United States would intervene if Iran’s government fires on peaceful demonstrators. Protests that began in Iran on Sunday have increasingly turned violent, with police reportedly using live ammunition. International media reports say that at least seven protesters had been killed by Friday.
Clashes have erupted in several locations between protesters and security forces, leaving a number of police officers injured. Trump issued the warning in a post on his Truth Social account on Friday. “If Iran’s government fires on peaceful protesters and kills them, America will come to protect the demonstrators,” Trump wrote.
Tehran reacted sharply to the remarks. Iran’s Foreign Ministry released a statement condemning Trump’s comments, accusing him of openly interfering in the country’s internal affairs. The ministry described the statement as a continuation of what it called longstanding U.S. bullying and unlawful behavior.
The ministry said such conduct constituted a serious violation of the United Nations Charter and the fundamental principles of international law. “This kind of irresponsible behavior incites violence and terrorism against Iranian citizens,” the statement said.
Protests Spread Nationwide as Economic Crisis Deepens
Protests have been taking place across several Iranian cities for the past six days, driven by worsening economic conditions and rising inflation. With relations between the United States and Iran already strained, Trump’s latest warning has raised concerns that diplomatic tensions could escalate further.
The demonstrations, which began in the capital Tehran on Sunday, had spread by Friday to cities in provinces including Lorestan, Chaharmahal-and-Bakhtiari, Isfahan, Khuzestan, Kermanshah and Hamadan.
Merchants at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar initially launched the protests by shutting down shops in opposition to the government’s economic policies. The demonstrations later turned violent, according to international news agency Reuters.
The unrest was triggered by the rapid devaluation of Iran’s currency and sharp increases in the prices of basic consumer goods. As demonstrations intensified, fatalities were reported in several provinces.
Iranian media outlets and human rights groups said the number of dead and injured continued to rise as clashes between security forces and protesters escalated during what they described as the country’s largest protests in the past three years.
Clashes, Arrests, and Rising Casualties Reported Across Provinces
Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency reported that three protesters were killed and 17 others injured during an attack on a police station in western Lorestan province. According to Fars, protesters entered the police headquarters at around 6 p.m. on Thursday, triggering clashes during which several police vehicles were set on fire.
Earlier, deaths were also reported during clashes in Lordegan city in Chaharmahal-and-Bakhtiari province, according to Fars and Kurdish human rights group Hengaw. Authorities confirmed one death in the western city of Kuhdasht, while Hengaw said another protester was killed in Isfahan province.
Fars reported that two people were killed in Lordegan during clashes between security forces and what it described as “armed protesters.” Hengaw, however, alleged that several protesters were killed and injured by gunfire from security forces.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said one member of its Basij volunteer force was killed and 13 others injured in Kuhdasht, blaming the protesters. Hengaw said the deceased, Amirhosam Khodayari Fard, had been participating in the protests and was killed by security forces.
Protests were also reported on Thursday in other cities, including Marvdasht in southern Fars province. Human rights website HRANA said dozens of protesters were arrested in western Kermanshah, Khuzestan and Hamadan provinces.
Amid the ongoing unrest, the government declared a public holiday in many parts of the country on Wednesday, citing cold weather conditions. In recent years, protests in Iran over inflation, drought, women’s rights and political freedoms have repeatedly been met with heavy security crackdowns and mass arrests.
Iran’s economy has been under strain for years due to sanctions imposed by the United States and Western countries over its nuclear program. Economic pressure has also intensified following a 12-day aerial conflict with Israel in June.
In 2025, Iran’s rial lost nearly half its value against the U.S. dollar, while official inflation reached 42.5 percent in December.
