1:00Donald Trump holds a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago club on December 29, 2025 in Palm Beach, Florida.Joe Raedle/Getty Images
President Donald Trump indicated overnight that the United States is "locked and loaded" as he cautioned Iran against harming peaceful demonstrators amidst widespread unrest in Tehran.
In a post shared on his social media platform early Friday, Trump declared that "if Iran [shoots] and violently kills peaceful protestors," the U.S. would intervene and "rescue" them.
The president did not clarify how such a "rescue" would be executed, but asserted that the U.S. is "locked and loaded and ready to go."
Donald Trump holds a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago club on December 29, 2025 in Palm Beach, Florida.Joe Raedle/Getty Images
This statement follows reports of several fatalities on Thursday amid the protests in Iran.
Iran’s leading security official, Ali Larijani, reacted to Trump's remarks with a threat of his own.
“Given the positions taken by Israeli officials and Trump, the underlying reality has become evident. We regard the views of the protesting merchants as distinct from those of the destructive factions, and Trump must understand that American involvement in this domestic affair equates to chaos throughout the entire region and the jeopardizing of American interests. The American populace should be aware that it was Trump who initiated this adventurism. They ought to take care of their soldiers," Larijani posted on X.
Thousands commenced protesting in Iran on Sunday over the country’s inflation and record-low currency value, but the discontent has broadened to include dissatisfaction with the Iranian government.
Protesters march in downtown Tehran, Iran, Dec. 29, 2025.Fars News Agency via AP
On Monday, Trump chose not to comment on whether he would endorse an overthrow of the Iranian regime, but he did discuss the country’s "issues" and acknowledged the public discontent.
"They’ve got a multitude of problems they are facing," Trump stated on Monday. "They are experiencing significant inflation. Their economy is failing, it’s not good. And I recognize that the populace isn’t particularly pleased."
Trump also cautioned Iran on Monday against rearming or revamping its nuclear program.
"Now I hear that Iran is attempting to rebuild, and if they are, we will have to take them down. We’ll take them down. We’ll hit them hard," the president said during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida.
ABC News' Joseph Simonetti contributed to this report.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com