4 weeks ago
Last Updated:January 09, 2026, 07:06 IST
Iran is witnessing its most serious wave of protests since 2022, with demonstrations on Thursday seeing a nationwide internet blackout and dozens of deaths.
US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened to take severe action against Iran if its authorities “start killing people" who are protesting in the country.
“I have let them know that if they start killing people, which they tend to do during their riots — they have lots of riots — if they do it, we are going to hit them very hard," Trump said during an interview.
Iran is witnessing its most serious wave of protests since 2022, with demonstrations on Thursday seeing a nationwide internet blackout, dozens of deaths and growing international scrutiny.
Meanwhile, exiled Iranian prince Reza Pahlavi is expected to visit former US President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence next week.
People in Iran’s capital shouted from their homes and rallied in the street Thursday night after a call by the country’s exiled crown prince for a mass demonstration. Internet access and telephone lines in Iran were cut out immediately after the protests began.
The protests, triggered by rising living costs and a collapsing currency, has spread across large parts of the country, with clashes reported in several locations and mounting concern over the scale of the crackdown by security forces.
At least 41 people have been killed so far and more than 2,270 others have been detained, said the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency.
The growth of the protests increases the pressure on Iran’s civilian government and its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Trump, last week, had also issued a stark warning to Iran amid escalating unrest, and said, “We are locked and loaded and ready to go," in a post on his Truth Social platform. However, following Trump’s comments, Iran wrote to the UN and protested against Trump’s warning.
Iran’s UN Ambassador, Amir-Saeid Iravani, wrote a letter to the UN Secretary-General and members of the UN Security Council, protesting President Trump’s post on the demonstrations in Iran and stressing that Iran will “exercise self-defence decisively and proportionately" if the US attacks.
First Published:
January 09, 2026, 06:59 IST
News world 'We Will Hit Them Very Hard': Trump Threatens Iran If Protesters Are Killed
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Read More
