The strained relations between the United States and Iran witnessed a new chapter of verbal escalation that portends open possibilities, as US President Donald Trump issued a strongly worded warning to the Iranian authorities, hinting at the possibility of direct US intervention if casualties continue to fall among the demonstrators, against the backdrop of the bloody protests taking place in several Iranian cities.
Trump: Ready to act
In a tweet on his personal platform, Truth Social, the US president affirmed that the United States is closely monitoring the situation and will not stand idly by. This warning came a day after reports confirmed the deaths of six people in violent clashes between protesters and Iranian security forces. Trump wrote unequivocally: “If Iran shoots and kills peaceful protesters, the United States of America will intervene to save them,” adding firmly, “We are ready and waiting.”.
Tehran vows: The response will be harsh
The Iranian response was swift. Ali Shamkhani, political advisor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, declared that any American intervention would cross a red line. On his Twitter account, Shamkhani stated, “Iran’s national security is a red line, not a subject for reckless tweets.” He added, threateningly, “The Iranian people know all too well the experience of American intervention. Any meddling hand that touches Iran’s security under flimsy pretexts will be met with a regrettable response and will be cut off before it can even reach its target.” This was a clear indication of Tehran’s readiness to respond militarily or through security measures to any American action.
Field details and casualties
On the ground, the Iranian news agency Fars reported an escalation of violence, confirming the deaths of two civilians in Lordegan and three others in Azna, in the neighboring province of Lorestan, during clashes with security forces. Meanwhile, Iranian state television announced the death of a member of the Basij militia (a paramilitary force affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard) during protests in the western city of Kuhdasht, indicating a widening of the confrontations to include tit-for-tat attacks.
Context of the conflict and history of tension
These developments come within a long history of hostility between Washington and Tehran. The United States accuses the Iranian regime of human rights abuses and suppressing freedoms, while Tehran accuses Washington of exploiting popular protests to destabilize the country and bring about regime change. Protests in Iran have long been a point of international friction, with the United States and Western countries imposing stringent economic sanctions on Tehran, exacerbating the already dire living conditions that often ignite these protests.
Potential regional repercussions
Observers believe that Trump's threat to intervene "to save the protesters" carries implications beyond mere moral support and could be interpreted as a veiled threat of airstrikes or special operations, potentially plunging the entire region into a new cycle of violence. Iran wields considerable influence in the region through its proxies, and any direct military confrontation could jeopardize maritime security in the Arabian Gulf and global energy markets, leading the international community to cautiously anticipate the consequences of this escalating rhetoric between the two sides.
