Shopkeeper Protests Trigger Deadly Clashes and US-Iran Confrontation

Iranian officials have threatened to target American military installations and personnel throughout the Middle East following President Trump’s warning about intervention over the ongoing protests. The parliament speaker’s Friday declaration came hours after a Supreme Leader adviser cautioned that US interference would destabilize the entire region.
Nationwide demonstrations have claimed seven lives since erupting Sunday over Iran’s economic catastrophe. The protests began in Tehran with shopkeepers voicing frustration over government policies but have spread as economic grievances intensify across the country.
Trump’s threat to intervene if Iranian forces use deadly force against peaceful demonstrators has drawn fierce backlash from Tehran’s power structure. An adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei warned that American meddling in Iran’s internal affairs would trigger widespread chaos across the Middle East.
Economic grievances are driving citizens into the streets in unprecedented numbers. The rial has weakened to approximately 1.4 million per US dollar, while official statistics show inflation reached 42.5 percent in December. Combined with anemic economic growth, these conditions have severely eroded citizens’ purchasing power and created widespread economic distress.
President Pezeshkian’s administration has attempted to demonstrate willingness to engage with public concerns. In remarks broadcast on state television, Pezeshkian invoked Islamic teachings to emphasize the moral importance of addressing livelihood issues. However, he has admitted his government faces severe constraints. The prosecutor general has sought to validate peaceful economic protests while threatening decisive action against security threats, though maintaining this distinction grows more challenging.