U.S. ‘locked and loaded’, Trump threatens Iran

January 5, 2026

U.S. ‘locked and loaded’, Trump threatens Iran

On Monday, Mossad, the Israeli spy agency, wrote on social media in Farsi encouraging Iranians to protest against the government.

“Go out together into the streets. The time has come,” the Mossad wrote. “We are with you. Not
only from a distance and verbally. We are with you in the field.”

Iran’s economy has encountered continuous strain since Mr. Trump, in his initial presidential term, unilaterally withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 nuclear agreement and reinstated sanctions on Tehran. In June 2025, Israel targeted Iran’s nuclear sites with airstrikes, igniting a 12-day conflict between them

The U.S. had joined Israel in striking the nuclear plants, and Iran retaliated by attacking an American base in Qatar on June 23 before a ceasefire. Since then, Iran’s economic situation has become worse.

In October, food inflation in Iran hit 64.2%, making it the second-highest globally after South Sudan, as reported by the World Bank. Since the June war, the rial has decreased in value by 60%

Mr. Trump, who asserted in June that he had “destroyed” Iran’s nuclear sites, issued fresh threats of attacks against Iran earlier this week following his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida. Mr. Trump stated on December 29 during a joint press conference with Mr. Netanyahu that if Iran restocked ballistic missiles and revived its nuclear program, “we will have no alternative but to swiftly eliminate that build-up.”

The U.S. President’s latest threat of intervention in Iran over protest crackdown has escalated tensions between the two countries.

“The American public needs to understand —Trump initiated this recklessness.” “They ought to prioritize the safety of their troops,” Mr. Larijani stated in his reply. Ali Shamkhani, a trusted associate of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stated that any meddling hand “will be severed.” “Iranians are fully aware of the U.S. ‘rescue’ history —from Iraq and Afghanistan to Gaza. Any external action threatening Iran’s security for any reason will be met with a response that causes remorse. “Iran’s national security is a boundary that shouldn’t be subjected to reckless tweets,” he stated. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Parliament Speaker, declared that Tehran would take military action in response to any attacks from the U.S.

“The disrespectful President of America must understand that with this official acknowledgment, all American installations and forces throughout the region will become valid targets for us in retaliation against any possible recklessness,” he stated