President Donald Trump warned Iran on Sunday that it would get “hit very hard” by the United States if more protesters die during demonstrations that have entered a second week.
“We’re watching it very closely. If they start killing people like they have in the past, I think they’re going to get hit very hard by the United States,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.
Sparked by a cost-of-living crisis, the protests began with a shopkeeper’s strike in Tehran on December 28.
At least 12 people, including members of the security forces, have been killed since, according to a toll based on official reports.
The demonstrations are the most significant in Iran since a 2022-2023 movement sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, who had been arrested for allegedly violating Iran’s strict dress code for women.
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© Agence France-Presse
