Donald Trump's warning that the US will intervene if peaceful protesters are killed was 'reckless and dangerous', Iran's foreign minister has said.
Abbas Araghchi's comments came after the US president said Washington 'will come to their rescue' of demonstrators taking part in protests over Iran's economy, writing in a brief social media post: 'We are locked and loaded and ready to go.'
Araghchi indicated Iran's armed forces were on standby and 'know exactly where to aim' in the event of an attack.
At least eight people are reported to have died during the week-long protests, as of Saturday morning.
Trump wrote on Friday: 'If Iran shots [sic] and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue.'
The US president did not specify what action Washington might take. Previously, it has carried out strikes on Iran's nuclear sites, which elicited a retaliatory strike on a US base in Qatar.
'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,' Araghchi wrote on X.
Iran would 'forcefully reject any interference in their internal affairs', he added.
On Saturday Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei addressed the wave of protests, saying that 'rioters must be put in their place'.
The protests have extended to several cities and towns, sparked by the depreciation of the Iranian currency and broader economic frustrations. Conflicts between demonstrators and security forces have reportedly resulted in casualties on both sides.
The EU has expressed its concern regarding the military response to protests and urged the Iranian government to uphold freedoms related to expression and assembly.
The demonstrations have been the most widespread since the 2022 protests following the death of Mahsa Amini, bringing back memories of unrest against the regime as citizens push back against economic hardship and authoritarian governance.
