Trump warns Iran of being 'hit very hard' if protester deaths continue

WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran on Sunday, saying the country would be “hit very hard” by the United States if more protesters are killed during demonstrations that have entered a second week.

Trump’s comments add a new layer of pressure on Tehran as it confronts some of the most serious internal unrest it has faced in years.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said Washington was “watching Iran very closely” and that the US response would be severe if authorities continued to use lethal force against demonstrators.

“If they kill protesters, if they kill more protesters, we will respond and Iran will be hit very hard,” Trump said, framing the unrest as a test of the Iranian government’s respect for basic human rights and popular will.

The warning comes against a backdrop of demonstrations that have spread across several Iranian cities, triggered by widespread anger over economic hardship, corruption, and political repression. Protesters have chanted slogans against the ruling establishment and demanded greater freedoms, drawing a heavy security response.

Rights groups and opposition sources have reported casualties and mass arrests, though the exact number of deaths and detentions is difficult to verify due to restrictions on media and internet access. Iranian officials have typically described the protesters as “rioters” or agents of foreign powers, a narrative Tehran has used in previous waves of unrest.