Former U.S. President Donald Trump escalated geopolitical tensions on Friday by issuing a direct military threat against Iran through his Truth Social platform. The controversial statement warned that American forces stand “locked and loaded” to intervene if Iranian authorities intensify their crackdown on ongoing domestic protests.
Trump’s social media post explicitly stated: “If Iran shots [sic] and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue.” This declaration came shortly after his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during which Trump reportedly expressed openness to supporting additional military strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities.
The Iranian government responded swiftly through Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, who cautioned that American interference would “destroy America’s interests” and create “chaos in the entire region.”
Policy experts from the National Iranian American Council (NIAC) expressed grave concerns about Trump’s rhetoric. President Jamal Abdi characterized Netanyahu’s visit as strategically aimed at “moving the goalposts for military action on Iran” and warned that Trump’s comments represent “a dangerous signal” that could lead the United States into another Middle Eastern conflict.
The current protests in Iran originated from economic grievances, particularly the catastrophic collapse of the national currency. What began as strikes by technology merchants in Tehran has evolved into widespread demonstrations incorporating overt anti-government sentiments. Reports indicate several protesters have been killed by security forces during the unrest.
NIAC analysts Etan Mabourakh and Ehsan Zahedani emphasized that the Iranian people’s struggle for economic justice and freedom deserves genuine solidarity rather than Western “salvation” through military intervention. They cautioned against external actors co-opting legitimate domestic grievances to advance agendas of militarism and regime change.