Washington, Jan 5 (NationPress) US President Donald Trump cautioned Iran against resorting to violence to quell protests, asserting that the United States is closely observing the circumstances and would respond decisively if Iranian officials begin harming civilians.

While aboard Air Force One returning to the White House from Mar-a-Lago, Trump addressed inquiries regarding reports of protesters being killed in Iran and reiterated his earlier statement that the US was "locked and loaded."

“We’ll take a look,” Trump stated. “We’re watching it very closely.”

Trump made it clear that the use of lethal force by Iranian authorities would not be tolerated. “If they start killing people as they have in the past, I believe they will face significant consequences from the United States,” he remarked.

The president did not elaborate on what a US response might entail, nor did he specify any immediate military or economic actions. It’s noteworthy that the US has considerable military assets stationed in the region.

Trump’s remarks were part of a broader context linking instability in various regions to US national security interests. Throughout the conversation on Air Force One, he consistently portrayed unrest, drug trafficking, and authoritarian violence as interrelated threats necessitating firm responses.

Though Trump did not make direct comparisons during his remarks on Iran, his warning followed strong rhetoric aimed at Venezuela, Cuba, and other nations he labeled as destabilizing forces in their respective regions.

Previously, Trump has accused Iran of violently suppressing dissent during earlier protest waves and has employed economic sanctions and military deterrence as leverage. In this dialogue, he refrained from announcing new measures, instead highlighting the importance of vigilance and readiness.

“If they start killing people,” Trump reiterated, emphasizing the conditions under which US action might be warranted.