On January 9, the president also warned Iranian authorities of possible consequences if they open fire on protesters. He stated that if force is used, the U.S. may intervene.
“I strongly urge Iranian leaders: do not open fire. Otherwise, we will also start shooting. We are closely monitoring the developments. If they start killing people, as they did in the past, we will intervene and deliver a significant blow,” Trump added.
The president pointed to the complexity of the situation in Iran, noting that authorities are losing control over several cities. “People seem to be starting to take control of certain areas – just a few weeks ago, this seemed impossible,” he said.
Mass protests in the country began in late December due to the devaluation of the Iranian currency, which led to a sharp rise in prices. As a result, the head of the Central Bank, Mohammad Farzin, resigned.
The protests initially spread in Tehran but soon expanded to other major cities, escalating into riots. Tehran Mayor Alireza Zakani reported that more than 50 banks and several government institutions were set on fire on the night of January 9, and over 30 mosques were destroyed.
According to the Iranian human rights agency HRANA, 65 people have died as a result of the protests, of which 50 were participants in the demonstrations and 15 were security personnel. Dozens of people were injured, and 2,311 were detained across the country. Protests have affected 31 provinces of Iran.
The Iranian authorities have not provided official data on the number of dead and injured during the protests.
