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Trump Threatens Military Intervention in Iran Amid Protests, Prompting Backlash
Washington, D.C. – Former President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran on Friday, suggesting the United States would intervene militarily if the regime violently suppresses ongoing protests.
In an early morning post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “If Iran shots 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.”
The post, marking the first official statement from the Trump administration on the recent deadly protests, drew immediate condemnation from Iranian officials who warned that American troops in the region could become targets should the U.S. intervene. Despite the provocative language, officials indicate there have been no immediate changes to troop deployments or preparations for military action. “At this point, it was a strong warning, no action has been taken that I’m aware of,” a White House official told CNN.
The U.S. has multiple options to support Iranian protesters short of full military intervention, including reinstating measures taken during similar protests in 2022. These could include bolstering internet connectivity to bypass regime censorship, imposing new sanctions on key Iranian figures and economic sectors, or pursuing covert cyber operations to disrupt Iranian activities.
Trump’s threat has elicited mixed reactions from Republican lawmakers. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a critic of Trump who is retiring from Congress this month, criticized the threat, stating it was everything they voted against in 2024. Senator Lindsey Graham, a frequent Trump ally, praised the former President’s approach to Iran, saying he surpassed Ronald Reagan in dealing with evil. “On the peace and standing up to evil front, President Trump is on pace to surpass the great Ronald Reagan,” he posted to X.
Tensions between the U.S. and Iran have been elevated since Trump’s recent meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida, during which renewed military action against Iran was discussed. Trump vowed to “knock the hell out of” Iran if they attempted to rebuild their nuclear program.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian responded that “any cruel aggression” toward his country would be met with a “harsh and discouraging” response.
Trump has been publicly commenting on the unrest in Iran, referencing the country’s economic struggles and the regime’s violent crackdown on dissent.
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