by Sharon Rondeau
(Jan. 2, 2026) — In a Truth Social post very early Friday morning responding to public demonstrations against the Iranian regime launched on Sunday, President Donald Trump promised a U.S. “rescue” operation would unfold if government forces “shots [sic] and violently kills peaceful protesters.”
“We are locked and loaded and ready to go,” Trump added, with his signature closing, “Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
He did not elaborate on how he might command the U.S. military to intervene.
Various sources have reported “at least” a half-dozen deaths, though it remains unclear how many protesters and/or government military are among them.
The protests erupted on economic grounds and has progressed to movement to replace the nation’s theocracy with the Shah, who ruled the country until its 1979 revolution, or a “nationalist” solution.
Some protesters are demanding “freedom,” Wikipedia‘s reportage states.
On June 22, the U.S. carried out three high-precision strikes on Iranian sites known to be developing nuclear materials. In a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, Trump indicated he believes the regime has resumed enriching uranium and warned that if true, the U.S. will “knock them down.”
In response to Trump’s warning, two regime spokesmen accused the U.S. and Israel of instigating the protests and termed any intervention as a “red line” not to be crossed.