US President Donald Trump issued a fresh warning to Iran, saying that Washington was closely monitoring the situation in the country, where anti-government protests have been raging for over two weeks.
While responding to media questions during a meeting with top oil and gas executives at the White House, Trump stated that if the Iranian government uses force against the protesters, the US will intervene and hit the country where it hurts.
"Iran's in big trouble. It looks to me that the people are taking over certain cities that nobody thought were really possible. We're watching the situation very carefully. I made the statement very strongly that if they start killing people like they have in the past, we will get involved. We will be hitting them very hard where it hurts, and that doesn't mean boots on the ground, but it means hitting them very hard where it hurts so we don't want that to happen,” said the president.
#WATCH | US President Donald Trump says, "Iran is in big trouble. People are taking over certain cities that nobody thought were really possible... We are watching the situation carefully... If they (governemnt of Iran) start killing people as they have in the past, we will get… pic.twitter.com/w7FZNZHnVP
— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2026
Trump said the Iranian government is now facing consequences for treating its people very badly.
"I just hope the protestors in Iran are going to be safe because it is a very dangerous place right now, and again I tell the Iranian leaders you better not start shooting because we'll start shooting too," he said.
Meanwhile, in a televised address, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed not to back down, accusing demonstrators of acting on behalf of opposition groups abroad and the United States.
"The Islamic Republic came to power through the blood of hundreds of thousands of honourable people. It will not back down in the face of vandals," he said, accusing those involved in the unrest of seeking to please Trump.
As the protests continued, the government shut down the internet on Friday. Iran's Ministry of Information and Communications Technology stated that the decision to block access was made "by the competent security authorities under the prevailing circumstances in the country."
According to the Iranian rights group HRANA, at least 62 people—14 security personnel and 48 protesters—have died since the demonstrations began on December 28.
