Trump Issues Threat to Iran Over Protest Crackdown: 'We Will Hit Them Very Hard'
Internet access and telephone services were cut almost immediately after the protests began. | World News
US President Donald Trump has warned Iran's authorities that they will face severe consequences if they harm protesters taking to the streets in response to the country's economic crisis. In an interview, Trump said he has made it clear that if Iranian authorities 'start killing people', the US will respond with force.The warning comes as protests have spread nationwide in Iran, with thousands of people taking to the streets to express their discontent. The demonstrations, which began on Wednesday, have been marked by widespread outages of internet and telephone services, allegedly due to government interference.According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 41 people have been killed and over 2,270 detained so far. The protests have been sparked by Iran's struggling economy and have seen chants of 'Death to the dictator!' and 'Death to the Islamic Republic!' Among the protesters are some who have voiced support for the shah, a symbol of the pre-1979 Islamic Revolution. The protests have largely remained leaderless, with the call to action coming from Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, who has been exiled since the 1979 revolution.Pahlavi's statement, which urged the Iranian public to take to the streets and demand change, has been seen as a significant moment in the protests. While it remains unclear how much impact Pahlavi's call will have, the international community is closely watching the situation. Trump's warning has added to the pressure on Iran's civilian government and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who have faced mounting criticism over their handling of the crisis.
