American President Donald Trump stated that Iran will be hit "very hard" if the Iranian authorities start killing protesters.

These comments were made in the context of the protests that began on December 28 in Tehran, initially for economic reasons, but which also expanded to political demands. The protests have led to the deaths of at least 12 people, including members of the security forces. These demonstrations are the most significant since those in 2022, when the death of Mahsa Amini sparked a national uprising. Although the current dissent is on a smaller scale, Trump emphasized that the United States is closely monitoring the situation.