Washington/Tehran: The United States has openly expressed support for the protests that have been continuing across Iran for the past 20 days, with President Donald Trump warning that Washington is prepared to launch military action against Tehran if necessary. Trump has urged the Iranian people to continue their demonstrations until the country’s Supreme Leader steps down, even as reports indicate the US is making preparations for a possible strike.
Amid the escalating rhetoric, Iran has issued what international media describe as a direct threat against President Trump. Iranian state television reportedly aired images related to an earlier assassination attempt on Trump, accompanied by a message warning that “this time the bullet will not miss.” The broadcast has drawn global attention, marking a shift from verbal warnings to what is seen as an explicit threat.
The reference was to an assassination attempt during the US presidential election campaign, when a bullet grazed Trump’s ear before passing by. The rebroadcast of visuals from that incident, coupled with the warning, has intensified international concern and debate.
War Preparations Intensify
Meanwhile, reports suggest that President Trump has ordered preparations for military action against Iran within the next 24 hours. The United States has already begun evacuating personnel from several military installations across West Asia, including the strategically significant Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. The US and its regional allies have also activated an air defence operations cell at the base as tensions rise.
In response, Iran announced the closure of its airspace, allowing only flights with special permission to operate to and from the country.
Death Toll Mounts Amid Crackdown
At the same time, the death toll from the ongoing protests in Iran has risen to 2,571, according to reports. Fear and uncertainty prevail across the country, with citizens anxiously watching developments. Iranian authorities are accelerating investigations into arrested protesters, and reports claim that the Khamenei-led government has carried out executions of nearly 2,000 people during the unrest.
However, President Trump has disputed these claims, stating that while there were reports Iran was preparing to execute another protester, the executions and killings were halted due to his warnings.