Iran’s efforts to quell protests complicated by Trump intervention threat
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Iranian authorities are struggling to contain a fresh wave of anti-government protests as pressure mounts from both domestic unrest and explicit warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump, officials and insiders said.
The situation intensified after Trump warned that Washington would intervene if Iranian leaders used lethal force against demonstrators who have been protesting since December 28 over economic hardship and broader political grievances. His warning was underscored days later by the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, an action that Iranian officials said sharpened fears Tehran could be next.
At least 17 people have been killed in the unrest, according to rights groups. While the protests remain smaller than the nationwide demonstrations of 2022–23, chants targeting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei signal a shift from economic demands to direct political challenge.
Officials told Reuters that Iran’s room for manoeuvre has narrowed amid a deep economic crisis, the collapse of the rial, and lingering fallout from Israeli-U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites last June. Sanctions, inflation above 40%, and widening inequality have fuelled public anger, even as the leadership seeks to preserve national unity forged during the conflict.
Authorities have combined limited dialogue with force, deploying security personnel and tear gas in some areas. Khamenei has accused foreign enemies of stoking unrest and warned against disorder.
President Masoud Pezeshkian has promised economic reforms and announced modest subsidies for low-income households, though officials privately acknowledge there is no quick fix. With nuclear talks stalled and U.S. rhetoric hardening, Tehran faces what one official described as “high risk on every path” as it seeks to maintain stability.
