Trump warns Iran against violent crackdown as US targets drone and weapons networks

Washington: US President Donald Trump on Friday issued a stern warning to Iran, cautioning that Washington would respond if Iranian authorities used deadly force against protesters, even as the United States announced fresh sanctions targeting Tehran’s weapons and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) networks linked to Venezuela.

In an early-morning social media post, Trump said the US would intervene if Iranian security forces “shot and violently kill peaceful protesters,” declaring that Washington was “locked and loaded and ready to go.”

The warning came amid reports of rising unrest in Iran, where clashes between demonstrators and security forces have reportedly resulted in multiple deaths during nearly a week of protests triggered by the country’s worsening economic crisis.

According to media reports, the demonstrations began after merchants took to the streets following a sharp fall in the value of the Iranian rial. Protests have continued for several days, with reports of violence and casualties. Analysts have linked the economic turmoil to international sanctions imposed over Iran’s refusal to scale back its nuclear programme, which have contributed to soaring inflation and currency devaluation.

Reacting strongly to Trump’s remarks, Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s National Security Council, warned the United States against interference. In a post on social media, Larijani said Trump was responsible for escalating tensions and cautioned that any US intervention in Iran’s internal affairs could destabilise the region and harm American interests.

Meanwhile, earlier this week, the US State Department announced sanctions against entities and individuals accused of supporting Iran’s UAV and ballistic missile programmes. The measures target ten entities and individuals based in Iran and Venezuela, including a Venezuelan firm allegedly involved in selling Iranian-designed combat drones worth millions of dollars.

US officials said the sanctions also cover procurement networks that have assisted Iran’s drone and missile development. The State Department described Iran’s weapons cooperation with Venezuela as a threat to US interests in the region and said the action underscored the need to enforce United Nations Security Council restrictions on Tehran.

The latest developments unfold against the backdrop of long-standing tensions between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, missile programme, and regional activities, with the United States continuing to rely on sanctions and diplomatic pressure to curb Iran’s military capabilities.

With inputs from IANS