The President of the United States, Donald Trump, sent a message to the Iranian people on Saturday amidst the largest anti-government protests in years.
“Iran is contemplating FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The United States is willing to help!” he wrote on his network Truth Social.
The statement came when lIranian authorities warned on Saturday that they might escalate the repression against the unrest, while the Revolutionary Guard described security as a “red line,” attributed the events to “terrorists,” and pledged to safeguard the system of government, according to a Reuters report included in the document.
Reuters reported that, one day after Trump issued a new warning that the United States could intervene, episodes of violence were again reported in the country, although an internet blackout made it difficult to assess the true extent of the unrest.
On the ground, Iranian state media reported the burning of a municipal building in Karaj (west of Tehran) and blamed "rioters."
State television broadcast images of the funerals of security force members who, according to that media outlet, died during protests in Shiraz, Qom, and Hamedan. Meanwhile, images shared on social media showed crowds in Tehran and bonfires in the streets at night.
Days earlier, in the capital, the Grand Bazaar had remained "practically closed," while scenes of tension were unfolding in other cities, marked by a significant deployment of security forces and ongoing protests.
From Washington, in addition to Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed support for the "brave people of Iran," in the context of U.S. calls in favor of the protesters.
Trump did not specify what kind of assistance the United States would offer or under what conditions, but he had already warned that the United States could intervene in Iran if the ayatollahs' regime escalated its repression against the protesters.
He added that his government is closely monitoring the events and was explicit in drawing a red line.
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