Trump, 79, Fires Off 3 A.M. Post Threatening New War

President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social at about 3 a.m. Washington time, warning the United States would step in if Iranian forces opened fire on protesters.

“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!” he wrote.

The message landed amid growing unrest across Iran that officials say has left multiple people dead. Reports from major news outlets said at least 6 or 7 people died as protests spread from Tehran to other cities.

The protests started with shopkeepers angry at a collapse in the value of the rial and higher prices. Students from more than 10 universities soon joined the rallies, and footage shared on social platforms showed crowds in several city centers.

The scenes evoked the mass protests of 2022 after Mahsa Amini died in custody, though analysts say this wave looks driven first by money and daily hardship. Still, the risk of violent crackdowns is real, and both protesters and security forces have already faced tense street fights.

Mr. Trump’s post followed a year of sharp words and military moves aimed at Tehran. In June, the United States carried out air strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, and early intelligence assessments suggested the hits did not fully destroy Iran’s core nuclear work. The result, analysts say, was delay but not defeat of that program.

At a separate news briefing, Mr. Trump warned that the United States would act if Iran rebuilt its nuclear capacity. “If they are, we’re going to have to knock them down,” he told reporters. “We’ll knock the hell out of them.”

Iran’s leaders answered quickly and sharply. Senior officials said foreign interference would cross a red line and vowed to defend the country. State statements called outside meddling unacceptable and warned of consequences for those who try to steer events from abroad.

The exchanges make a tense mix. A president who says he wants peace also promises force when he sees a threat. Iranian officials who point to sovereignty also warn they will not let outsiders decide what happens on their streets.

U.S. officials said there has been no immediate change in military posture following the post, though they acknowledged heightened monitoring. The Pentagon maintains tens of thousands of troops across the Middle East, placing U.S. forces within close range of any rapid escalation.

That proximity is critical given Iran’s volatile history. During the 2022 unrest, security forces killed hundreds of protesters, according to human rights groups, while Tehran blamed the bloodshed on foreign interference. With economic pressure now rising and diplomatic channels stalled, analysts warn the margin for error is narrowing as rhetoric hardens on all sides.

Feature image via X screengrab