U.S. President Donald Trump and high-ranking Iranian officials engaged in a war of words on Friday amidst widespread economic protests in Iran, intensifying tensions following American airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June.
Trump issued a warning on his Truth Social platform, cautioning Iran that the United States would intervene if peaceful protesters were harmed. The ongoing demonstrations, triggered in part by the devaluation of Iran’s currency, have resulted in at least seven fatalities.
In response, Ali Larijani, a former parliament speaker and current secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, accused Israel and the U.S. of instigating the protests without presenting any evidence. Larijani emphasized the potential regional chaos and threatened U.S. interests if American intervention persisted.
Referencing the significant U.S. military presence in the area, Larijani likely alluded to the June attack by Iran on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar following U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites during Israel’s military campaign against Iran.
Ali Shamkhani, an advisor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned against any threats to Iran’s security, stating that any intrusive actions would be met with severe consequences. He highlighted past experiences of American intervention in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Gaza, cautioning against similar actions.
The current protests, now entering their sixth day, mark the largest demonstrations in Iran since 2022 when the death of Mahsa Amini sparked nationwide unrest. Despite efforts by Iran’s civilian government to negotiate with protesters, the rapid depreciation of Iran’s currency has fueled the ongoing unrest.
The demonstrations, primarily fueled by economic grievances, have also seen calls for reform within Iran’s theocratic system. Although Iran declared a halt to uranium enrichment post-war, signaling openness to negotiations, talks with Western powers have not materialized due to warnings from Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against Iran’s nuclear ambitions.