Iran warns of swift response after Trump says US is 'locked and loaded' over protests

Iran has warned of a "swift, decisive and comprehensive" response if the US intervenes after President Donald Trump said he was "locked and loaded" and would "rescue" protesters if they were killed while demonstrating. On Friday evening Iran's foreign ministry condemned the "intimidating remarks" and accused the United States of "escalating tensions in the region." A senior Iranian politician said the comments made American bases and forces across the region legitimate targets in response to any adventurism.

The warnings follow days of unrest across Iran, with state media and rights groups reporting at least 10 people killed and hundreds of arrests. The Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights verified 132 arrests during the recent unrest, including at least 12 women and eight children. Protests erupted in Tehran and spread to other cities over economic grievances, marking the largest demonstrations since the nationwide unrest after Mahsa Amini's death in 2022.

Clashes have been concentrated in western provinces, and authorities said two of the dead were members of the Basij paramilitary force.

Key Topics

World, Iran, United States, Protests, Trump, Diplomacy