The United States has issued a direct and unusually sharp warning to Iran's leadership as widespread civil unrest, driven by economic hardship, grips the nation. The US State Department, in a pointed message aimed at Tehran, underscored President Donald Trump's readiness to take decisive action.
Unprecedented US Warning in Persian
On Monday, the US State Department took to its Persian-language account on X, formerly Twitter, to deliver a blunt message. The post stated, "President Trump is a man of action. If you didn't know before, now you do. Don't mess with President Trump." This direct communication in Farsi is seen as an unambiguous signal to the Iranian regime's leadership amid the escalating domestic crisis.
The warning followed President Trump's own comments on his Truth Social platform, where he threatened US intervention. "If Iran violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue," Trump wrote. He added a stark military posture, declaring, "We are locked and loaded and ready to go." However, the former President did not specify the exact nature of any potential US actions.
Nationwide Protests Rock Iran
The current wave of demonstrations marks the largest public outcry in Iran since the 2022 protests. The unrest is fueled by a combination of soaring inflation, a record collapse of the national currency, and growing civil disobedience. Several fatalities have been reported in clashes between security forces and demonstrators.
Videos circulating on social media show protesters in various cities chanting slogans such as "Death to the Dictator" and "Death to Khamenei," directly targeting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Additional footage, reportedly from groups like the MEK (Mujahedin-e-Khalq), captures crowds shouting "Shame on you!" as the protests, notably spearheaded by bazaar merchants in Tehran, continue to spread across the country.
Background of US-Iran Tensions
Washington has maintained extensive financial sanctions on Tehran for years. While US presidents have typically avoided direct military engagement in Iran, Trump ordered airstrikes against Iranian nuclear facilities in June, illustrating a willingness to escalate military pressure. The latest warnings add a new layer of volatility to an already tense relationship, raising questions about the potential for a more direct confrontation if the Iranian government cracks down violently on its own citizens.
The situation remains fluid, with the world watching how Iran's leadership responds to both internal dissent and external warnings from a US administration that has positioned itself as a vocal critic of the regime.
