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Donald Trump has said that the US will come to the “rescue” of protesters in Iran if Tehran responds violently to the largest nationwide demonstrations the Islamic republic has faced in years.
In a post on Truth Social early on Friday, Trump said: “If Iran shots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go.”
Iranians have in recent days been protesting over the country’s dire economy, with frustration over soaring inflation and the collapse in living standards spilling out on to the streets.
The protests have become a crucial test for Masoud Pezeshkian, the moderate president who came to power about 18 months ago vowing to reform the economy and make life easier for ordinary Iranians.
It is unclear what Trump’s offer of help for protesters could mean in practice.
This is a developing story