In the midst of one of the most intense social crises Iran has faced in years, President Donald Trump issued a direct warning to the Tehran government, promising that the United States would respond "very vigorously" if Iranian authorities carry out hangings against anti-government protesters, according to an exclusive interview with CBS News.
The protests, which erupted more than two weeks ago, started as expressions of desperation in the face of a deep economic crisis, with a free-falling currency, relentless inflation, and an increasingly harsh daily life, and transformed into a collective outcry against the regime that has ruled the country for decades.
Testimonials and videos circulated on social media speak of lines of body bags and thousands of fatalities, although amid the internet blackout, it is difficult to verify the exact numbers. Sources consulted by CBS News fear that the deaths may be at least 12,000, and possibly exceed 20,000.
In light of this situation, Trump expressed both his concern and his support for the citizens risking their lives in the streets of Iran. During the conversation with CBS Evening News, the president stated that “a lot of help is on the way,” including economic assistance, and that he has canceled all meetings with Iranian officials until the violence against the population stops.
"If they do something like that, we will take very strong measures," Trump reiterated, referring to the possibility of executions for this Wednesday. "We don’t want to see what is happening in Iran, and when thousands of people are killed... we will see how they fare. It’s not going to turn out well."
In his response, Trump evoked past military operations and emphasized that "the ultimate goal is to win," a term he linked to actions such as the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro or the death of extremist figures in Syria and Iraq.
From Iran, the Minister of Defense, Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh, responded defiantly, warning that his country is prepared to confront any aggression. “If these threats become reality, we will defend the country with all our might and to the last drop of blood,” he stated after a meeting with the National Security Commission of Parliament, according to remarks gathered by the agency EFE.
Nasirzadeh also assured that Iran is currently better prepared than during the so-called "12-day war" against the United States and Israel last June, and that the country has "surprises in store" that would be "very effective" in the event of a new attack, according to state television Press TV, as reported by EFE.
The statements from the Iranian minister come after Trump also threatened to impose a 25 percent tariff on countries that continue doing business with Iran, in retaliation for the crackdown on protesters.
Although the American media Axios reported recent contacts between Iranian Foreign Minister Abás Araqchi and Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, seemingly intended to ease tensions, the exchange of threats suggests a new deterioration in the diplomatic climate.
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