WEB DESK: On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the United States stands ready to intervene if Iran resorts to shooting or violently suppressing peaceful demonstrators. He emphasized America’s readiness with the declaration, “We are locked and loaded and ready to act,” in a post on Truth Social.
His comments come amid escalating protests across Iran—the largest in three years—spurred by economic challenges that have erupted into violence in multiple provinces.
Clashes between security forces and citizens signal a sharp intensification in the unrest that began earlier in the week, initially led by shopkeepers protesting the government’s handling of soaring prices and the rapid decline of the national currency.
Iran’s economic struggles have been exacerbated by U.S.-imposed sanctions since 2018, following Trump’s decision during his first term to withdraw from a key international nuclear accord.
