US President Donald Trump speaks with reporters aboard Air Force One on his way back to Washington on January 5, 2026. Photo: AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - US President Donald Trump warned Iran on Monday that it could get "hit very hard" if more protesters are killed, as nationwide demonstrations over soaring inflation entered their second week. Iranian authorities have acknowledged the worsening economic conditions and used a soft tone in their remarks despite deadly clashes, with the parliament speaker calling for dialogue with protesters.
"We're watching it very closely. If they start killing people like they have in the past, I think they're going to get hit very hard by the United States," Trump told reporters early Monday (Erbil time).
Trump’s remarks came amid mounting international scrutiny of Iran’s handling of the protests, which have spread from Tehran to several other provinces following a sharp decline in the value of the Iranian rial and rising living costs. Inflation is believed to have soared to about 50 percent.
Iranian officials have responded to the demands of protesters by mostly using a soft tone, with President Masoud Pezeshkian last week tasking the interior minister to listen to "legitimate demands" of the demonstrators.
Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Monday emphasized the need for dialogue with demonstrators.
"We must dialogue with the protesters; their protests are legitimate, and every effort must be made to establish economic stability," Ghalibaf said during a speech at an open parliamentary session, according to Iran’s state-affiliated ISNA news agency.
"Protests must be heard and serve as the basis for changes in favor of the people," he added while drawing a distinction between protesters and what he described as individuals linked to intelligence services and seek to incite chaos. "Those who are directly or indirectly connected to intelligence services - and are tasked with hijacking protests and inciting chaos - are a separate matter," he said.
Referring to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ghalibaf said that "the Wise Leader of the Revolution’s emphasis on separating the ranks of protesters from rioters and agitators is enlightening and serves as a guide." He also said the government’s determination to address economic grievances was serious, expressing hope that "by implementing the planned measures, the legitimate demands of the protesters will be addressed."
This is not the first time Trump has threatened Tehran over the latest protests. On Friday, he warned Tehran that the United States would come to the “rescue” of demonstrators if Iranian authorities used lethal force. "If Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, adding, "We are locked and loaded and ready to go."
Despite the death of nearly 20 people since the protests began on December 28, the US has not acted against Iran.
Iranian officials swiftly rejected the US president’s statements. Khamenei has hinted that Tehran would target US troops in the region if attacked. He said on Saturday that protesters’ demands are “completely fair,” but added that rioters “must be put in their place,” echoing officials’ claims that “hostile entities” are seeking to exploit the unrest.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described Trump’s comments as "reckless and dangerous," warning that Tehran’s forces know "where to aim" if Iran’s sovereignty is violated. Araghchi acknowledged that "those in Iran impacted by transient exchange rate volatility have recently been peacefully protesting, as is their right," while also pointing to "isolated incidents of violent riots."
The Oslo-based Hengaw Human Rights Organization has said that it has documented at least 20 deaths among protesters as of Monday morning. The rights group said over 170 people have been arrested, including women and children, as demonstrations continue across multiple cities.
The United Nations has urged Iranian authorities to respect the right to peaceful assembly and to refrain from using excessive force.
The protests are unfolding against a backdrop of severe economic strain. The Iranian rial has fallen to nearly 1.40 million to the US dollar, compared with about 650,000 a year ago.
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