Trump's week in review: Warning to Iran, Zelensky meeting, HHS probes Minn. daycare fraud
3. Trump vows to ‘knock the hell’ out of Iran if it restarts nuclear program; State Department condemns country’s treatment of protesters
As he greeted Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago ahead of their meeting Monday, Trump addressed concerns that Iran was restarting its nuclear program.
“Now I hear that Iran is trying to build up again,” he said. “If they are, we’re going to have to knock them down. We’ll knock them down. We’ll knock the hell out of them. But hopefully that’s not happening.”
Trump’s remarks didn't go unnoticed by the Iranian regime.
In a statement posted to X Tuesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian vowed that “The response of the Islamic Republic of Iran to any oppressive aggression will be harsh and regrettable.”
Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department released a statement Tuesday noting it was “deeply concerned by reports and videos showing that peaceful protesters in Iran are facing intimidation, violence, and arrests.”
“Demanding basic rights is not a crime. The Islamic Republic regime must respect the rights of the Iranian people and end the crackdown,” the State Department added.
A video accompanying the State Department’s post shows protesters clashing with security forces.
Trump weighed in on the protests and the Iranian government’s treatment of protesters in a Truth Social post on Friday. “If Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go,” he warned.
Ryan Foley is a reporter for The Christian Post. He can be reached at: ryan.foley@christianpost.com
