In a stark and provocative message, prominent Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has directly threatened Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stating that United States President Donald Trump would "kill" him and other Iranian leaders if they continue to inflict violence on their own citizens. Graham sharply contrasted Trump's approach with that of former President Barack Obama.
Graham's Direct Threat on Fox News
The fiery remarks were delivered during an interview with Fox News, where Graham expressed strong support for the protestors taking to the streets across multiple Iranian provinces. The demonstrations are fueled by severe economic distress, skyrocketing inflation, and widespread public anger against government policies.
Addressing the Iranian people, Graham said, "We stand with you tonight. We stand for you taking back your country from the Ayatollah, who kills you and terrorises the world. Donald J. Trump is not Barack Obama. He has your back." His message to the Iranian leadership was even more blunt.
"To the Ayatollah: you need to understand, if you keep killing your people who are demanding a better life, Donald J. Trump is going to kill you," Graham warned. He added a grim ultimatum for the regime's officials: "To the Ayatollah and his thugs: if you keep killing your people in defiance of President Trump, you are going to wake up dead."
Trump's "Locked and Loaded" Post and Escalating Protests
Graham's comments amplify the rising tensions following President Trump's own warning on his Truth Social platform. Trump had declared that the U.S. was "locked and loaded" and ready to intervene if Iranian authorities used violence against peaceful demonstrators.
His post read: "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."
On the ground in Iran, the situation remains volatile. CNN reported that people continue to protest rising prices and economic hardship, with demonstrations spreading across several provinces. These protests have, in some cases, escalated into deadly clashes with security forces, with protesters confronting police, throwing stones, and setting vehicles ablaze.
Broader Context: Venezuela Action and Warnings to Cuba
This heightened rhetoric from Trump allies comes in the wake of a major U.S. operation in Venezuela. Over the weekend, the U.S. conducted what it called a "large-scale strike" in Caracas, leading to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. They face charges of drug trafficking and narco-terrorism in a New York court.
Following this event, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez assumed the role of Venezuela's acting president. Seizing on this momentum, Senator Graham also issued a warning to Cuba's leadership, stating "help is on the way" to its people, echoing concerns voiced by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The combined statements from Graham and Trump represent a significant escalation in U.S. rhetoric towards the Iranian regime, directly linking the fate of its leadership to their treatment of citizens during the ongoing domestic unrest.
