President Donald Trump has sounded his most direct warning to the Iranian leadership to this point, declaring that the violent crackdown on anti-government protests nationwide has "crossed a red line." Amid reports from human rights monitors the death toll has crossed over 500 in the last two weeks, and the President indicated the United States was “locked and loaded” to respond.
"You Better Not Start Shooting"
Speaking from the White House over the weekend, President Trump addressed the escalating violence in Iran, where a currency crash and soaring inflation are the reasons some of the largest protests have erupted since 2022. “I tell the Iranian leaders — you better not start shooting because we'll start shooting, too,” Trump cautioned in a meeting with the energy executives.
“If they start killing people like they have in the past, they’re going to get hit very hard by the United States. They are crossing my red line.” The President, who subsequently went on Truth Social to reaffirm his support for the protesters by saying that "Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before.
The USA stands ready to help!!!" A Nation in Turmoil
The unrest, which started on December 28, 2025, stemmed from the rapid collapse of the Iranian rial. But the movement has swiftly grown into an explicit challenge to the clerical elite. At least 538 people have been killed, including nearly 50 security personnel, as reported by the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA). Following a nationwide internet blackout intended to close down communication, over 10,600 arrests have been made. Current Situation at a Glance:
- Death toll: 538+ (verified by activists).
- Arrests: 10,600+.
- Economic Trigger: Rial trade at 1.4 million to $1.
- State Response: Iranian Attorney General Mohammad Movahedi Azad warned that demonstrators will be charged as “enemies of God,” a crime carrying the death penalty.
The U.S. Response: Military and Cyber Options
On Sunday, senior administration officials emphasized that President Trump had been briefed on both "kinetic and non-kinetic" options. Though the President said he is not looking for “boots on the ground,” the White House is said to be contemplating:
- Targeted Military Strikes: They are focused on IRGC infrastructure and regime assets.
- Cyber Operations: Focused on Iranian military communications.
- Starlink Deployment: Coordinating with Elon Musk to provide satellite internet to bypass the regime's blackout.
Tehran's Counter-Warning
Tehran is still defiant: in response to being hit by the United States, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has pointed out that any American strike would make American military bases and Israel "legitimate targets." Moreover, Iran has continued to blame the unrest on “foreign agitators” and called for a nationwide mass demonstration against “U.S. and Zionist interference.”
