Overview
- President Donald Trump warned that if Iranian authorities kill peaceful demonstrators, the United States would come to their rescue and is “locked and loaded.”
- Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi thanked Trump, said he has a plan for a stable transition, and pledged to seek improved ties with the United States if the current regime falls.
- Senior Iranian officials denounced the U.S. stance, with Ali Shamkhani threatening a harsh response to interference and Ali Larijani accusing the U.S. and Israel of stoking unrest.
- Iran’s UN envoy urged the Secretary-General and Security Council to condemn Trump’s “unlawful threats,” as the UN human rights chief called on Tehran to protect freedoms of expression and assembly.
- Protests continued across multiple cities after the rial hit a record low near 1.42 million per dollar, with state media citing at least nine dead and 44 arrests.