American military installations across the Middle East have been placed in Iran’s crosshairs following President Trump’s warning about potential US intervention in response to the deadly protests sweeping Iran. The parliament speaker’s Friday statement marks a dramatic escalation in the war of words between Washington and Tehran.
At least seven people have died in violent confrontations between Iranian security forces and protesters since demonstrations erupted Sunday over the country’s economic catastrophe. Trump had previously stated that the United States would take action if Iranian authorities respond with lethal force to peaceful demonstrators expressing frustration with economic conditions.
Senior Iranian officials have warned that American involvement would have devastating consequences extending far beyond Iran’s borders. An adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei predicted regional chaos would follow any US interference, a threat that resonates given Iran’s influence through proxy forces operating in neighboring countries and its capacity to disrupt maritime traffic in strategic waterways.
The root cause of the current unrest is Iran’s economic freefall. Protests began when Tehran shopkeepers openly criticized government policies following the rial’s dramatic devaluation and persistent inflation that reached 42.5 percent in December. The currency has weakened so severely that one dollar now equals approximately 1.4 million rials, making imported goods unaffordable for many citizens while domestic prices surge.
President Pezeshkian’s civilian government has sought to appear responsive to public anger while operating under severe constraints. In televised comments, Pezeshkian invoked Islamic teachings to argue that neglecting citizens’ economic welfare carries grave consequences. Despite this rhetorical sympathy, he has admitted having limited tools to address the currency collapse. The prosecutor general has attempted to validate peaceful economic protests while promising a “decisive response” to security threats, though this distinction may blur as demonstrations intensify.