US President Donald Trump has threatened to hit Iran “very hard” if authorities kill additional demonstrators amid ongoing cost-of-living protests, escalating tensions only days after Washington’s military operation in Venezuela drew global scrutiny.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One late Sunday, Trump said the United States is “watching very closely,” adding: “If they start killing people again like before, I think they’re going to get hit very hard by the United States.” He did not specify what actions Washington might take.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Monday condemned the comments, accusing Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and “hardline” US officials of fueling “terrorism and violence” by commenting on Iran’s internal situation. The ministry said “Zionist groups” are seeking to exploit unrest to undermine national unity.
The warning follows Trump’s earlier statement on Friday that the US would intervene if Iranian forces opened fire on peaceful protesters. Iran has faced sporadic demonstrations over surging prices and economic hardship, with authorities blaming foreign interference.
While the US president framed his remarks as a human-rights stand, Tehran’s response underscored the risk of further deterioration in already fraught relations, as both sides traded barbs over protests and regional security.