US President Donald Trump on Friday issued a strong warning to Iran, saying the United States would respond if Iranian authorities used deadly force against peaceful protesters, even as Washington announced a fresh round of sanctions targeting Iran’s weapons and drone networks linked to Venezuela.

In a social media post published at 2:58 a.m. local time, Trump said the US was prepared to intervene if Iranian security forces “shot and violently killed peaceful protesters,” adding that Washington was “locked and loaded and ready to go.” The remarks came amid reports of escalating unrest in Iran following days of demonstrations over economic conditions.

According to media reports, protests erupted after a sharp fall in the value of the Iranian rial, prompting merchants and citizens to take to the streets. The Wall Street Journal reported that clashes between demonstrators and security forces during the fifth consecutive day of protests left at least five people dead. The newspaper said the unrest was driven by economic hardship linked to international sanctions, high inflation, and currency devaluation.

Trump’s warning drew a sharp response from Iranian officials. Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s National Security Council, cautioned Washington against intervention, saying such actions would destabilise the region and endanger US interests. In a post on X, Larijani said Trump had initiated the confrontation and warned that any US involvement in Iran’s internal affairs would have serious consequences.

Meanwhile, the US State Department announced new sanctions earlier this week targeting entities and individuals accused of supporting Iran’s Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and ballistic missile programmes. Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the sanctions apply to ten entities and individuals based in Iran and Venezuela, including a Venezuelan firm involved in selling Iranian-designed combat drones worth millions of dollars.

Pigott said the designated networks had supported Iran’s procurement of missile-related items and contributed to the proliferation of combat UAVs in violation of United Nations restrictions. He added that Iran’s provision of conventional weapons to Venezuela posed a threat to US interests in the region.

The State Department said the measures underscored the need to reimpose and enforce international sanctions on Iran, citing continued violations of UN Security Council resolutions. The developments come amid a prolonged standoff between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear programme, missile development, and regional activities.