United States President Donald Trump has issued renewed warnings to Iran, saying the country is facing “serious trouble” as anti-government protests expand across multiple cities and security forces move to contain the unrest by shutting down internet access.
Speaking on Friday, Trump said developments inside Iran had accelerated rapidly, suggesting that protesters were gaining control of areas previously considered secure.
“Iran is in big trouble,” Trump told reporters. “It looks like people are taking over parts of cities that no one thought possible just weeks ago.”
Trump, who authorized military strikes against Iran in June and warned last week that Washington could support demonstrators, escalated his rhetoric further. He cautioned Iranian authorities against using lethal force, saying that any shooting of protesters could provoke a US response.
“You better not start shooting, because we’ll start shooting too,” he said.
Human rights organizations report that the unrest has already claimed dozens of lives. Nearly two weeks of demonstrations have resulted in the deaths of both protesters and members of the security forces. Iranian state television has aired images of street clashes and fires, while the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that several police officers were killed overnight.
Trump also expressed concern for civilian safety, describing the situation as increasingly dangerous for those participating in protests.
Iranian leadership calls for unity
Earlier on Friday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei addressed the nation in a televised speech, urging unity and condemning what he described as “terrorist actions” linked to the ongoing demonstrations.
Khamenei accused foreign powers—particularly the United States—of orchestrating the unrest and warned that authorities would not tolerate continued protests. He alleged that demonstrators were acting as agents for outside interests and damaging public property.
The supreme leader also accused Trump of bearing responsibility for violence against Iranians, claiming his hands were “stained with blood.”
According to the overseas-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 62 people have been killed since protests erupted on December 28, including security personnel and demonstrators.
While Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for restraint and dialogue over legitimate grievances, other officials have warned that leniency will not be shown, citing alleged foreign involvement.
Internet blackout and rising unrest
Authorities cut nationwide internet access on Thursday, a move widely seen as an attempt to curb protest coordination. The shutdown continued into Friday, with phone networks disrupted and commercial flights cancelled.
Internet monitoring group NetBlocks confirmed that connectivity remained at roughly one percent of normal levels more than 24 hours after the blackout began.
Despite restrictions, videos circulated online showing crowds chanting against the government around fires in Tehran and other cities.
Reporting from Tehran, Al Jazeera correspondent Tohid Asadi said residents had received warnings from police to avoid areas where violence was likely to erupt. Officials, he added, had signaled that a forceful response was imminent.
In Zahedan, a city with a large Baluch minority population, rights group Hengaw reported that security forces fired on demonstrators following Friday prayers, injuring several people.
Foreign interference claims rejected
Iranian state media accused the United States and Israel of fueling the protests, alleging that foreign “terrorist agents” were responsible for arson and violence.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking during a visit to Lebanon, echoed those claims but downplayed the likelihood of direct military intervention.
US officials dismissed the accusations, calling them an attempt to divert attention from internal challenges facing Iran.
Meanwhile, exiled opposition figure Reza Pahlavi appealed to Trump on social media to intervene urgently, claiming protests had gained momentum. Trump later ruled out meeting Pahlavi, signaling caution over backing any opposition leader at this stage.
In his televised address, Khamenei condemned the demonstrations once more, accusing protesters of destroying their own cities to please foreign leaders. State TV audiences were heard chanting anti-American slogans as the speech concluded.