Amid ongoing economic protests in Iran, tensions between the United States and Iran escalated further as President Donald Trump and Iranian officials engaged in a war of words on Friday. The protests, fueled in part by the devaluation of Iran’s currency, have led to at least seven deaths.
President Trump took to his Truth Social platform to caution Iran that the U.S. would intervene if peaceful protesters were harmed. He stated that the U.S. was prepared to assist if necessary. Meanwhile, former Iranian parliament speaker Ali Larijani accused Israel and the U.S. of instigating the demonstrations without providing evidence to support his claim.
Larijani warned of potential chaos in the region if the U.S. interfered in Iran’s internal affairs. He emphasized that such intervention could have negative repercussions for U.S. interests. Additionally, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s adviser Ali Shamkhani issued a stern warning against any threats to Iran’s security.
The current wave of protests, the largest since 2022, has seen demonstrators expressing discontent not only over economic issues but also against Iran’s theocratic government. The Iranian government, led by President Masoud Pezeshkian, has signaled a willingness to engage in dialogue with protesters as the country grapples with economic challenges.
Iran had previously halted uranium enrichment at its facilities as a gesture of openness to negotiations regarding its nuclear program. However, talks with Western powers, including the U.S. and Israel, have not materialized as warnings against Iran’s nuclear ambitions continue to be issued.