Iranian officials warn Trump not to cross 'red line' over threats to intervene in protests

[riversedge]

Source: the guardian



US president’s posts that US will come to the rescue of protesters prompt warnings of ‘regret-inducing response’
William Christou Fri 2 Jan 2026 08.10 EST

.............

In a social media post on Friday, Trump said that if Iran were to shoot and kill protesters, the US would “come to their rescue”. He added: “We are locked and loaded, and ready to go”, without explaining what that might mean in practice.

Protests in Iran are in their sixth day, and are the largest since 2022, when the death in police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini triggered demonstrations across the country. The current unrest was triggered by an unprecedented decline in the value of the national currency on Sunday. The Iranian rial dropped to about 1.4m to the US dollar, further harming an already beleaguered economy.

Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, called Trump’s statement “reckless and dangerous”, and said the country’s military was on standby. He also said the protests had been mostly peaceful, but that attacks on public property would not be tolerated.

“Given President Trump’s deployment of the National Guard within US borders, he of all people should know that criminal attacks on public property cannot be tolerated,” he said.

.......

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/02/iranian-officials-warn-trump-not-cross-red-line-threats-intervene-protests

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**NOTE-this was yesterday...

Spoken message from Crown Prince @RezaPahlavi
to Iranian people:
"My compatriots, at this moment, the Islamic Republic has reached its end and is in the process of collapse. Khamenei has gone into hiding underground like a scared rat, and has completely lost control of the situation. What has begun cannot be reversed. The future is bright, and together we will break through this dark wall."

Link to tweet

?s=20








In response to Trump’s threat of intervention, Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned that Iran’s national security was a “red line, not material for adventurist tweets”.

“Any intervening hand nearing Iran security....

www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...

In response to Trump’s threat of intervention, Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned that Iran’s national security was a “red line, not material for adventurist tweets”.

“Any intervening hand nearing Iran security....

www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...

— (@oceancalm.bsky.social) 2026-01-02T18:26:34.837Z

[riversedge]

1. Reza Pahlavi, the rightful heir to Iran's throne, is greeted with roaring applause in Egypt while waiting for the chance

Reza Pahlavi, the rightful heir to Iran’s throne, is greeted with roaring applause in Egypt while waiting for the chance to return home as monarch.

Link to tweet

?s=20

[Smilo]

2. So many countries

so little time (hopefully) to threaten them.

This delusional power hungry mad-man is going to bring about WWIII, and then he will golf while the world burns.

[WmChris]

3. From this guy

He wanted to shoot our own protesters " can't we just shoot them in the knees".

[LudwigPastorius]

4. "...without explaining what that might mean in practice."

He means bombing Tehran, which would kill some of the very people protesting that he wants to "rescue".

...which is insane.

...which he absolutely is.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

5. Oh boy

Cadet Bonespurs wants to get in a dick measuring fight with the Ayatollahs.

[riversedge]

6. People are shouting "Long live the king" and "Pahlavi will return" as they burn the flag of the mullahs' terrorist regim

People are shouting "Long live the king" and "Pahlavi will return" as they burn the flag of the mullahs' terrorist regime.
#KingdomWithPahlavi #KingRezaPahlavi

Link to tweet

?s=20

[riversedge]

16. Map of the growing Iranian protests, via Faytuks Network. Orange are ones that started today.

Map of the growing Iranian protests, via Faytuks Network. Orange are ones that started today.

Map of the growing Iranian protests, via Faytuks Network. Orange are ones that started today.

— Mark Chadbourn (@chadbourn.bsky.social) 2026-01-01T16:39:47.077Z

[riversedge]

7. 🚨 Tehran Jan 2, 2026 Protesters in Tehran are building barricades as the uprising intensifies on its 6th day.

🚨 Tehran | Jan 2, 2026

Protesters in Tehran are building barricades as the uprising intensifies on its 6th day.

Link to tweet

?s=20

[riversedge]

8. Massive anti-regime protests are breaking out across Tehran on the 7th day of nationwide protests in Iran.

Visegrád 24 @visegrad24
·BREAKING:

Massive anti-regime protests are breaking out across Tehran on the 7th day of nationwide protests in Iran.

The largest crowds of protesters tonight have been seen in the neighbourhoods Tehranpars, Narmak and Naziabad in the south

Link to tweet

?s=20

[riversedge]

9. @AlinejadMasih Message from Iran: People are in the streets. The Islamic Republic is brutally crackin

@AlinejadMasih
Message from Iran:
This is Marvdasht. People are in the streets. The Islamic Republic is brutally cracking down.
With every young person the Islamic Republic kills, our anger grows stronger.
We must win, otherwise Khamenei will slaughter us all and hang us.
Let the world hear our voice.
They have slowed down the internet and may cut it off completely, so they can kill us more easily.
Friday, January 2nd, 2026
#Iran

Link to tweet

?s=20

[riversedge]

10. The newly installed statue of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi toppled in Ardabil, northwest Iran, just days after its un

The newly installed statue of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi toppled in Ardabil, northwest Iran, just days after its unveiling.

Link to tweet

?s=20

[riversedge]

11. In Marvdasht, Iran, crowds stormed toward a police station.

In Marvdasht, Iran, crowds stormed toward a police station.

Link to tweet

?s=20

[riversedge]

14. Iranian protesters in Zahedan are burning down vehicles belonging to the Islamist regime's IRGC terrorist organization.

Iranian protesters in Zahedan are burning down vehicles belonging to the Islamist regime’s IRGC terrorist organization.

Link to tweet

?s=20

[riversedge]

12. The Islamic regime's security forces are now dragging women off the streets and into prisons for demanding a free Iran.

Visegrád 24
@visegrad24
·
50m
The Islamic regime’s security forces are now dragging women off the streets and into prisons for demanding a free Iran.

Where are all the Western feminists?

Any protest marches planned in London this weekend?

No? Why not?

Link to tweet

?s=20

[riversedge]

13. A brave woman in Iran publicly removes her hijab, defying her country's oppressive Islamic regime that kills women for n

Link to tweet

?s=20

[fujiyamasan]

15. After seeing Iran's inability to counter Israeli and US bombardment last summer

I don’t think anyone fears what the regime has to say.

I’d rather the US not get involved here (at least militarily), but I’d imagine covert support for the protestors was standard policy anyways even before this administration.

Of course we can’t trust anything coming out of this administration, so I’d imagine they’ll screw this up anyways. I find it laughable that the same lunatic that wanted to see the military cracking down on protesters at home is threatening another authoritarian regime over their abuses.

[riversedge]

17. Iranians, acting in unity, brought down the flag of the Islamic Republic regime.

Robin 🇮🇱
@Robiiin_Hoodx
·
2h
Iranians, acting in unity, brought down the flag of the Islamic Republic regime.

Link to tweet

?s=20

[riversedge]

18. TEHRAN RIGHT NOW ‼️ Thousands have taken to the streets and are calling for Crown prince Reza Pahlavi to return from ex

TEHRAN RIGHT NOW ‼️

Thousands have taken to the streets and are calling for Crown prince Reza Pahlavi to return from exile and lead Iran

Link to tweet

?s=20

[Polybius]

19. Amazing!

I never would have imagined that the Shah would have a chance to return to power.