A senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned that any US interference in the ongoing protests in Iran would cross a “red line”, leading to “chaos in the entire region and the destruction of US interests”, according to state media and international reports. This statement came in response to US President Donald Trump’s threat in which he had said that he would intervene if the Iranian army kills peaceful protesters.
Trump posted on Truth Social on January 2, 2026, that the US is “fully prepared,” and stressed that it would intervene if lethal force was used against protesters. The confrontation escalated as economic protests, which began in Tehran on December 28, 2025 over rising inflation and the falling rial, reached their sixth day.
At least seven people have been killed in clashes between security forces and protesters, according to human rights groups such as the Abdorrahman Boroumand Center and the Hangaw Organization. Reports indicate that there have been deaths, as well as several injuries and arrests, in cities including Azna (Lorestan province) and Loredegan. Protests spread to provinces such as Isfahan, Mashhad and Tabriz, involving shopkeepers, students from more than 10 universities and workers. According to Iran’s Fars News Agency, demonstrations turned violent in some areas, with protesters throwing stones, setting vehicles on fire and clashing with police, who confiscated weapons from alleged armed agitators.
Inflation reached 42.5% in December 2025, adding to economic troubles due to US sanctions and a brief conflict with Israel in June 2025. Authorities declared a public holiday citing cold weather, effectively halting activities in major cities.
President Massoud Pezeshkian has expressed willingness for talks to resolve grievances amid demands for economic reforms. The unrest is Iran’s largest since 2022, highlighting deep public frustration with the regime and the impact of sanctions.
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