On 9/1, US President Donald Trump issued a stern warning from the White House, stating, "I have sent a very strong message that if Iran kills protesters like in previous instances, the US will intervene. We can deal very strong blows, hitting where it hurts. But I truly do not want that to happen," referring to the ongoing demonstrations in Iran.
Trump asserted that Iran's leadership faces "major trouble" amidst the rapidly unfolding wave of protests. He noted that Iranian protesters are currently in an "extremely dangerous" situation, and the US will closely monitor all upcoming developments.
"Iran had better not start shooting, because then we will also shoot," President Trump declared. He emphasized, however, that "this does not mean US military personnel will directly deploy" to Iran.
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US President Donald Trump speaks in Washington on 6/1. *Photo: AFP* |
Trump also retweeted a social media video depicting "over 1 million people" protesting in Mashhad, claiming Iran's second-largest city was "in the hands of protesters." In recent days, the US State Department has amplified messages on its Farsi-language X account, sharing protest images and reiterating support for the Iranian people.
On 9/1, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei stated the government would not yield to the protests. He attributed the past two weeks of unrest to agitators seeking to appease US leaders. Khamenei mocked President Trump's warnings of intervention, suggesting US leaders should focus on domestic issues.
Iran's Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei warned of "severe, maximal, and unforgiving" punishment for those causing unrest. Concurrently, the intelligence branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared it would not allow the wave of protests to persist.
The protests, which began on 28/12, were sparked by small business owners dissatisfied with the economic situation and the depreciating rial. They have since spread across the capital, Tehran, and several other cities over the past few days. Iranian officials accuse "terrorist agents" from Israel and the US of inciting the protests to escalate into violence. The US State Department, however, refuted these claims, stating that Tehran is "distracting public opinion from internal issues."
International organizations, citing local sources, reported that the Iranian government has blocked information nationwide, cut internet access, and restricted international communication, making it difficult to ascertain the scale of the protests. Some overseas human rights organizations have stated that dozens of protesters have been killed and over 2,000 arrested since late 12/2025.
