“We Are Locked And Loaded” – President Trump Issues Warning To Iran

President Trump said the United States would come to the rescue of peaceful protestors shot or killed by Iran.

“If Iran shots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go,” Trump said on Truth Social.

“If Iran shots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” – President DONALD J. TRUMP pic.twitter.com/ctNbfJD9jv

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 2, 2026

Fox News has more:

Trump’s warning comes as demonstrations triggered by Iran’s deteriorating economy expand beyond the capital and raise concerns about a potential heavy-handed crackdown by security forces. At least seven people — including protesters and members of Iran’s security services — have been reported killed during clashes, according to international reporting.

Ali Larijani, a former parliament speaker who serves as the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, pushed back on Trump’s post, writing on X that, “With the statements by Israeli officials and Donald Trump, what has been going on behind the scenes is now clear. We distinguish between the stance of the protesting shopkeepers and the actions of disruptive actors, and Trump should know that U.S. interference in this internal matter would mean destabilizing the entire region and destroying America’s interests.”

“The American people should know — Trump started this adventurism. They should be mindful of their soldiers’ safety,” Larijani added.

The threat came after Iran launched an attack on Al-Udeid, the American airbase in Qatar, in June 2025. The base is home to 10,000 American forces and is the U.S.’s largest military installation in the Middle East. Located southwest of Doha, it serves as a hub for logistical operations for the U.S. mission to fight ISIS in Iraq and Syria.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) criticized Trump for his comment, saying it would be a waste of military resources.

“1) We have problems at home and shouldn’t be wasting military resources on another country’s internal affairs. 2) Military strikes on Iran require Congressional authorization. 3) This threat isn’t about freedom of speech in Iran; it’s about the dollar, oil, and Israel,” Massie said.

1) We have problems at home and shouldn’t be wasting military resources on another country’s internal affairs.

2) Military strikes on Iran require Congressional authorization.

3) This threat isn’t about freedom of speech in Iran; it’s about the dollar, oil, and Israel. pic.twitter.com/820E6HMoMk

— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) January 2, 2026

The Hill shared further:

Iran was the fourth-largest crude oil producer among OPEC nations in 2023, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Protests kicked off over the weekend in Iran, where economic conditions are worsening. The Hengaw Organization for Human Rights said Thursday that Iranian authorities have detained at least 29 demonstrators amid the protests.

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That same day, at least three protesters were killed and 17 others wounded during an attack on a police station in Iran’s western province of Lorestan, according to the semi-official Far News Agency.

After meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida earlier this week, Trump threatened Iran against boosting its production of ballistic missiles and conducting tests, saying, “If it’s confirmed, look, there will be consequences.”

The president also backed an Israeli attack on Iran if Tehran further expands its nuclear program.

Iranian leaders pushed back on Trump’s warning, saying any military action by the White House would make U.S. troops “legitimate targets.”

In June, the Trump administration authorized strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites in June, without congressional authorization. Massie in an interview with CBS opposed the operation, arguing that the country posed “no imminent threat.”