Voices against Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's rule are growing louder by the day. Human rights groups have reported that at least 16 people have died amid a week of unrest in Iran. In light of this development, U.S. President Donald Trump has once again issued a warning to the Iranian regime. He stated that if there are more deaths among the protesters, Iran would face severe consequences.
On January 5, 2026, during his flight on Air Force One, President Donald Trump warned Iran. He stated that if more people die during the protests, the U.S. will take 'very tough action.'
Speaking to reporters, Trump expressed, 'We are closely monitoring the situation. If they continue to kill people as they have done before, I believe the U.S. will deliver a strong response.'
Previously on Friday, Trump had made a similar threat to Iran. He declared that if the Khamenei regime uses force against protestors, the U.S. will not shy away from intervening in Iran.
On Truth Social, Trump had warned Iran, writing, 'If force is used against peaceful protestors, the U.S. will intervene. If protesters are shot and killed, America is fully prepared to act.'
In response, senior advisor to Supreme Leader Khamenei, Ali Larijani, retaliated via social media.
On X, he wrote, 'The statements from Israeli officials and Donald Trump reveal the underlying agendas. We genuinely differentiate between protesting citizens and disruptive elements. Trump must understand that American intervention in this domestic affair will destabilize the entire region and harm U.S. interests.'
He further added in a threatening tone, 'Americans should realize that Trump initiated this campaign, and they should care for the safety of their soldiers.'
The recent protests in Iran began in response to escalating inflation and have now taken on a broader scope. Over the two weeks of ongoing demonstrations, there have been violent clashes between protestors and security forces.
The recent protests in Iran are deemed the largest in three years. This time, Ayatollah Khamenei’s regime has taken a relatively restrained approach towards the protestors compared to previous instances. These demonstrations are occurring when the Islamic Republic's economy is in severe turmoil, with the Iranian currency, the rial, experiencing a historic depreciation. The value of Iran's currency has plummeted to 42,000 rials against the U.S. dollar.
