‘Chaos And Destruction’: Iran Warns US After Trump Threatens Intervention Amid Protests | World News

A senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has issued a harsh response to US President Donald Trump’s warning, warning that any US intervention in the ongoing protests in Iran would trigger chaos across the region.

As demonstrations continue to spread across Iran, President Trump said the United States would intervene if Iranian authorities use lethal force against peaceful protesters. “We are locked, loaded and ready to go,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account.

According to reports, at least seven people have died in clashes between security forces and demonstrators since the protests began on Sunday. The unrest stems from growing public anger over worsening economic conditions, including a sharp decline in the national currency, weak economic growth and rising prices.

Protests began in Tehran, where shopkeepers took to the streets to criticize the government’s approach to combating the economic crisis. Official data show that inflation was at 42.5 percent in December. The movement gained momentum on Tuesday as students from at least ten universities joined the demonstrations. As the protests continued, markets were closed in many cities, and authorities declared a public holiday due to the cold weather, bringing much of the country to a virtual standstill.

In the last 24 hours, demonstrations have spread to many provinces. Some gatherings turned violent, leading to deadly clashes between protesters and security forces, CNN reported.

Iran’s Fars news agency reported that protesters clashed with police, threw stones at officers and set vehicles on fire. The agency also claimed that some armed “disturbances” took advantage of the situation and that security forces later seized firearms from several people.

Meanwhile, Iran’s civilian government, led by President Massoud Pezeshkian, has expressed willingness to engage in dialogue and address protesters’ concerns.

Iran’s economy has been under constant pressure for years due to US and Western sanctions linked to its nuclear program. The situation has been exacerbated by regional tensions, including the 12-day conflict with Israel in June, which have put additional pressure on state finances.