Protests in Iran Enter Sixth Day as Trump Warns Against Crackdown and Tehran Rejects “Foreign Interference”

Iran’s latest wave of nationwide protests stretched into a sixth consecutive day on Friday, with fresh demonstrations reported from the southeastern city of Zahedan and renewed unrest surfacing at funerals for people killed in recent clashes, as an unusually blunt warning from U.S. President Donald Trump triggered sharp responses from Iranian officials. 

Over the past several hours, videos and eyewitness accounts shared with Iran International showed crowds in Zahedan, capital of Sistan and Baluchestan province, chanting slogans including “Death to the dictator” and “Death to Khamenei,” joining a protest movement that began as an economic revolt over the rial’s collapse but has increasingly taken on openly anti-government demands. 

Funerals Become Protest Rallies

Anger also spilled into mourning ceremonies. In the city of Marvdasht (Fars province), mourners at the funeral of Khodadad Shirvani, described as a protester killed during recent unrest, chanted “Death to Khamenei,” according to footage published by Iran International. 

In Kuhdasht (Lorestan province), Iran International reported that government forces present at the funeral of Amir-Hessam Khodayarifard were forced to retreat after mourners confronted them; his father publicly denied state-linked claims that his son had belonged to the Basij militia. 

Separately, reports from Iranian and international outlets said funerals and memorial gatherings in other cities have similarly turned into flashpoints, highlighting how deaths in custody or during clashes can reignite street mobilization even when daytime protests are dispersed. 

Reports of New Deaths and Arrests

Human-rights monitors and multiple news organizations reported additional deaths as protests spread beyond Tehran. Iran International said it verified the death of Ahmad Jalil, a 22-year-old from Lordegan, who was allegedly killed by direct gunfire from security forces during demonstrations; it also reported claims of pressure on his family over public statements about his death. 

The Norway-based Hengaw Organization for Human Rights likewise reported that at least two protesters in Lordegan were shot with live ammunition, naming Ahmad Jalil and Sajjad Valamanesh. 

More broadly, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and DW reported at least several deaths across multiple provinces during the week, though casualty figures vary by source and the Iranian state has not consistently provided detailed public accounting. 

Alongside the fatalities, activists and rights groups have reported arrests in multiple cities. (The information you provided also cites recent detentions of several individuals, including a cultural activist in Kermanshah and others in cities such as Sabzevar and Rasht; those claims could not be independently verified in the sources cited above.) 

Trump’s Warning and Tehran’s Pushback

The protests drew direct commentary from President Trump, who wrote on Truth Social that if Iranian authorities “violently kill peaceful protesters,” the United States would “come to their rescue,” adding that Washington was “locked and loaded.” 

Iran’s senior officials responded with warnings of their own. Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said U.S. interference would lead to “chaos” across the region and harm American interests, while Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, warned that any “intervening hand” approaching Iran’s security would be “cut off” with a “regret-inducing response.”

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei also rejected Trump’s remarks, saying Iranians would resolve problems through internal dialogue and would not allow foreign intervention—comments echoed by Iranian state media.

In parliament, lawmaker Alireza Soleimi was quoted by Iranian media as saying any outside “action and interference” would be met with a “regret-inducing” response, reflecting the establishment’s effort to frame the crisis as vulnerable to foreign exploitation. 

Economic Anger at the Core, Political Demands Rising

The current unrest erupted after the Iranian rial hit new lows and merchants in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar launched closures and strikes—an unusual opening act in a country where bazaar networks have historically been politically influential. 

While inflation and the currency’s rapid depreciation remain central grievances, multiple reports note that chants have shifted from economic demands toward direct rejection of the political system, including calls targeting Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and slogans invoking Iran’s pre-1979 monarchy. 

Iranian authorities have offered a mix of limited acknowledgment and threats. Earlier this week, Iran’s prosecutor general said “peaceful livelihood protests” are legitimate but warned that any attempt to create insecurity would be met with a decisive response—a stance mirrored in state narratives that distinguish “protesting shopkeepers” from alleged “saboteurs.” 

What Happens Next

With protests continuing into a sixth day, observers are watching whether the movement sustains momentum in major commercial centers and whether funerals and nighttime gatherings continue to function as rally points when street pressure is heavy. 

For now, the political temperature is rising: Trump’s intervention warning has sharpened the international dimension of the crisis, while Iranian officials are signaling deterrence and emphasizing “red lines” on sovereignty—an exchange that could further polarize the situation as demonstrations persist.  

Photo: Iran International