US President Donald Trump declared America’s readiness to assist Iran in achieving “freedom” amid escalating protests against the regime, as Tehran’s supreme leader accused demonstrators of seeking to appease Washington in a bid to undermine the Islamic Republic.
Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform, signaled support for the unrest that has gripped Iran for 14 days since December 28, resulting in at least 65 deaths and over 2,000 arrests amid a nationwide internet blackout and security crackdowns.
“Iran is looking at freedom, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!” Trump wrote.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed the sentiment on social media: “The United States supports the brave people of Iran.”
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, addressing the turmoil in a televised speech from Tehran, lambasted the protesters: “There are people whose job is only about destruction,” adding that his government “will not back down.”
He directly blamed external influences, stating: “Last night in Tehran and in some other places, a group of vandals came and damaged buildings belonging to their own country just to please the president of the United States.”
The demonstrations, fueled by an economic crisis with inflation at 42 percent and the rial currency hitting a record low of 1.4 million per dollar, have seen merchants, traders, and students disrupt commercial and public activities across the country.
Trump warns Iranian leaders that US “will start shooting, too”
President Donald Trump on Friday said the US is closely watching the situation in Iran and again warned leadership against using violence on demonstrators.
“And again, I tell the Iranian leaders, you better not start shooting, because we’ll start shooting too,” Trump said during a meeting with oil executives at the White House.
But he added that wouldn’t mean US “boots on the ground.”
“If they start killing people like they have in the past, we will get involved,” Trump said. “That doesn’t mean boots on the ground, but it means hitting them very, very hard where it hurts.”
Commenting on the protests, Trump said, “Iran’s in big trouble.”
“It looks to me that the people are taking over certain cities that nobody thought were really possible just a few weeks ago,” Trump said.
Trump did not specify which cities he was referring to. It is unclear whether protesters have taken control of any Iranian city.
