Tensions between the United States and Iran have sharply escalated as President Donald Trump openly backed anti-government protesters in Iran, while Tehran issued stark warnings that demonstrators could face the death penalty. The parallel developments come as protests spread across major Iranian cities, turning into one of the most serious challenges to the country’s clerical leadership in recent years.
The demonstrations, which began over economic distress and the collapse of Iran’s currency, have now evolved into direct political dissent. Protesters have openly called for the overthrow of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, prompting a fierce response from Iranian authorities and drawing strong reactions from Washington.
Trump Warns Iran, Says US Is ‘Ready to Help’ Protesters
President Trump took to social media to issue a clear message of support for Iranian protesters. He wrote: “Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help.”
The statement followed an earlier warning from Trump, in which he said the US military was “locked and loaded” if Iran’s leadership killed protesters. The remarks mark one of Trump’s strongest public interventions on Iran since returning to office and signal Washington’s readiness to exert pressure as unrest grows.
Iran Issues Death Penalty Warning for Demonstrators
Iran responded by sharply escalating its rhetoric and legal threats. On Saturday, Attorney General Mohammad Movahedi Azad warned that anyone involved in protests could be treated as an “enemy of God,” a charge that carries the death penalty under Iranian law. State television reported that even individuals who “helped rioters” could face the same charge.
Authorities also claimed they had arrested around 100 “armed rioters” and accused foreign powers of fueling the unrest. Iran’s military urged citizens to remain alert to what it described as “enemy plots,” while the Revolutionary Guards said they detained a foreign national suspected of spying for Israel.
Iran Protest Death Toll and Arrests Continue to Rise
Human rights groups have claimed that at least 116 people have been killed since the protests began, though Iranian officials have not confirmed the figure. Security forces have deployed heavily across urban centers, and the government has imposed a sweeping internet blackout to curb the spread of information and videos from protest sites.
Despite these measures, demonstrations have continued into a second week, with crowds returning to the streets in Tehran, Mashhad, Tabriz, and the holy city of Qom.
What Does Iranian Law Say About ‘Enemy of God’ Charges?
Under Iranian law, Article 186 states that if a group engages in armed opposition to the Islamic Republic, supporters who knowingly assist may be deemed mohareb, or “enemies of God,” even if they do not take part in violence. Article 190 lists four possible punishments for moharebeh: execution, hanging, amputation of the right hand and left foot, or permanent internal exile. Article 191 allows judges discretion in choosing the punishment.
Protests Across Iran Show No Signs of Slowing
Footage verified by international agencies has shown protesters chanting slogans against Ayatollah Khamenei and openly rejecting government authority. In Tehran’s Sa’adat Abad district, residents banged pots and honked car horns in a show of defiance, contradicting official claims that calm had returned.
The protests mark the largest wave of unrest since the 2022–23 demonstrations sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in custody. What began on December 28 as anger over rising living costs has now become a nationwide political movement challenging Iran’s clerical system
As Trump’s warnings and Iran’s death penalty threats collide, the crisis continues to deepen, raising fears of further bloodshed and international fallout.
