Earlier, on January 9, Trump warned Iranian authorities against using force against protesters, emphasizing that if firearms were used, Washington might intervene. "I am telling the Iranian leaders directly: do not even think about opening fire. Otherwise, we will start shooting too. We are closely monitoring the situation. If they start killing people, as they have done in the past, we will intervene and deliver a very painful blow," he said.
In his opinion, a complex situation is developing in Iran, and the authorities are losing control over some cities. "It seems that people are taking control of individual cities - just a few weeks ago this seemed impossible," Trump added.
Mass protests in Iran began in late December due to the devaluation of the national currency, which caused sharp fluctuations in exchange rates and their impact on prices. As a result, the head of the country's Central Bank, Mohammad Farzin, resigned.
Demonstrations started in Tehran and soon spread to other major cities, escalating into riots. Tehran's mayor, Alireza Zakani, reported that more than 50 banks and several government institutions were set on fire on the night of January 9, and over 30 mosques were also damaged.
According to the Iranian human rights agency HRANA, 65 people have died during the protests, including 50 participants in the demonstrations and 15 security personnel. Dozens of people were injured, and 2,311 individuals were detained across the country. Protests have spread to 31 provinces of Iran.
The Iranian authorities have not yet published official data on the number of dead and injured during the protests.
