In a new escalation of rhetoric between Washington and Tehran, US President Donald Trump issued a direct and strongly worded warning to Iranian authorities, threatening severe repercussions should Tehran resort to excessive force or killings against protesters in the country. This statement comes at a time of unprecedented tension between the two countries on various political and military fronts.
In a press interview, excerpts of which were carried by international news agencies on Thursday, Trump said, "I told them very clearly that if they start killing people, which they tend to do during riots and protests—and they have a lot of riots—if they do that, we will hit them very hard and very hard." This statement reflects the US administration's strategy of using human rights and support for popular protests as a tool of maximum pressure against the Iranian regime.
Context of tension and history of sanctions
The US president's statements cannot be separated from the general context of US-Iranian relations, which have deteriorated sharply since the US unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear agreement (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) in 2018. Since then, Washington has adopted a policy of "maximum pressure," imposing successive rounds of crippling economic sanctions targeting Iran's oil, banking and trade sectors, leading to a deterioration of the local currency and a rise in inflation rates, which has been a key driver of the frequent popular protests within Iranian cities.
Protests in Iran and the international stance
Historically, Iran has witnessed multiple waves of protests, most notably the 2009 Green Movement protests, the late 2017 protests, and the November 2019 fuel protests. Each time, international human rights reports and organizations have documented the security forces' use of force to suppress demonstrators, including internet shutdowns and widespread arrests. Trump's use of the phrase "they tend to do it" alludes to this historical pattern of dealing with domestic dissent.
Regional and international repercussions
This American threat carries serious strategic dimensions that extend beyond Iran's borders. Any direct US military action against Iran in response to internal repression could ignite the entire region. International and regional powers are watching these statements with concern, as the Arabian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz are vital arteries for global energy supplies. Observers believe that Trump is attempting, through these statements, to send a preemptive message of deterrence, emphasizing that Washington will not stand idly by if scenarios of bloody violence against civilians are repeated, thus placing the Iranian regime under intense international scrutiny.
