Trump warns United States is 'locked and loaded' in late night Truth Social tirade
The United States is "locked and loaded and ready to go" according to Donald Trump, who raged at Iran in a late night Truth Social post.
The president made it clear that the US will "rescue" peaceful protestors, with many in Iran calling for an end to the current supreme leader's rule. Protests have been ongoing since Sunday, with a further two deaths reported by the BBC. It is believed two people died during a clash between protestors and government forces in Lordegan.
Three other deaths were reported in Azna, and another in Kouhdasht. This is according to Fars, a semi-official news agency and human rights group. Protests have been ongoing since Sunday as people take to the streets to show their disgruntlement at the cost of living crisis in Iran.
Trump has since had his say on the protests, suggesting if Iran had shot any peaceful protestors, the US would take action. He wrote, "If Iran shots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J.TRUMP."
Protestors told the BBC a man killed in Kouhdasht on Wednesday was shot dead by security forces, but this has not been verified.
President Masoud Pezeshkian had previously suggested he and his administration could go to "hell" if people's problems were not successfulyl dealt with.
He told The Jerusalem Post, "According to the Quran, if we fail to solve the people’s problems, we will end up in hell."
Saeed Pourali, a deputy governor in the Lorestan province of Iran, told Iran's Student News Network that protests were taking place across the country due to economic woes and inflation.
The governor said, "The protests that have occurred are due to economic pressures, inflation and currency fluctuations, and are an expression of livelihood concerns. The voices of citizens must be heard carefully and tactfully, but people must not allow their demands to be strained by profit-seeking individuals.”