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Trump Threatens Intervention in Iran if Protests Turn Violent
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Former President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran on Friday, stating that the United States would intervene if the Iranian government violently suppresses ongoing peaceful protests. The protests, sparked by a sharp decline in the country’s currency and soaring inflation, have intensified recently, with reports of at least six civilian deaths.
“If Iran shots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding, “We are locked and loaded and ready to go.”
The unrest comes as Iran’s economy continues to struggle under the weight of sanctions reimposed after the U.S. withdrew from the Iranian nuclear deal in 2018.
Ali Larijani, an advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader, responded by condemning any U.S. interference in the protests, calling it tantamount to causing regional chaos.
Experts like Suzanne Maloney from the Brookings Institution point to deeper issues driving the demonstrations. She notes that the protesters’ demands extend beyond economic grievances and indicate a desire for regime change, with chants of “Death to the dictator” echoing through the streets. The protests also highlight the Iranian public’s discontent with the government’s focus on supporting regional militia groups at the expense of domestic needs.
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