Tehran ramps up tensions with counterwarning to US

'Don't cross our red line', Iranian leaders warn Trump, after president vows to defend those protesting for regime change

- OWEN SCOTT

Iran threatened American interests across the Middle East yesterday after Donald Trump warned that the US army is “locked and loaded” if Tehran kills protesters.

As the country continues to be rocked by the most significant demonstrations since 2022, President Trump said the US military would “come to the rescue” of Iranian protesters if they are “violently killed”.

At least seven people have died so far in violence surrounding the demonstrations, sparked in part by the collapse of Iran’s currency. Protestors have been heard calling for the overthrow of the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

"If Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue," Mr Trump warned. “We are locked and loaded and ready to go”. It was not clear from his comments what assistance the US would offer the protesters.

Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to the ayatollah, said Iran’s national security was a “red line, not material for adventurist tweets”.

"Any intervening hand nearing Iran security on pretexts will be cut off with a regret-inducing response,” he said in a post on X.