Overview
- President Donald Trump warned Tehran that if it “violently kills peaceful protesters,” the United States would “come to their rescue” and said Washington is “locked and loaded.”
- Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi thanked Trump on X, saying the message gives Iranians “greater strength and hope,” and he promoted a plan for a stable transition that would restore ties with the United States.
- Demonstrations over economic hardship have stretched across multiple cities for six days, with officials and media reporting at least seven people killed.
- Iranian officials condemned the U.S. stance, with adviser Ali Shamkhani calling national security a “red line” and former speaker Ali Larijani accusing the United States and Israel of stoking unrest while warning Americans to “take care of their own soldiers.”
- Iran’s currency has plunged to roughly 1.42 million rials per U.S. dollar as prices surge, while no U.S. military action has been announced or confirmed.