US President Donald Trump has warned that Washington might intervene to support protests in the Islamic Republic
Tehran would view U.S. forces in the Middle East as legitimate targets if Washington attempts to interfere in Iran’s management of the ongoing large-scale protests, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf has cautioned. His remarks followed President Donald Trump’s statement that the U.S. was “locked and loaded” and could intervene at any time.
Widespread protests erupted in the Islamic Republic in late December, sparked by Tehran merchants going on strike after the national currency, the rial, plummeted to a historic low. The demonstrations rapidly expanded to other cities and took on political and violent overtones.
“The disrespectful U.S. president should … know that … all American centers and forces throughout the region will become legitimate targets for us in reaction to any possible adventurism,” Ghalibaf stated in a post on X on Friday, responding to Trump’s earlier Truth Social message that same day.
These protests are the most severe since the 2022 upheaval caused by the death in police custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman accused of wearing her hijab improperly. The incident sparked weeks of violent unrest, leading to over 200 deaths nationwide and thousands of arrests.
Online-circulated videos indicated that crowds have targeted government buildings and facilities associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Casualties were reported among both protesters and security forces.
The U.S. president warned that Washington might intervene if Iran “shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters.”
Foreign intelligence agents attempted to turn legitimate protests into violent urban conflicts, the Iranian official noted, adding that these efforts were foiled. Tehran can distinguish between protesters and “foreign mercenaries” and will never mistreat its own people, the parliament speaker asserted.
Previously, Iran’s arch-foe Israel publicly backed the unrest. Its Mossad intelligence agency also claimed to have operatives in the country. Tehran warned on Friday that any interference in Iran’s security would be met with a “regret-inducing response.”