Donald Trump sparred online with top Iranian officials on Friday as protests raged across the Islamic Republic. Tensions between the two countries have escalated steadily over the past year — amplified by the US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites in June 2025. At least seven people were killed in clashes with security this week as the currency depreciated sharply and traders took the streets in fury. The economic protests have also expanded to include calls for political change and growing criticism of the regime led by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Protesters have reportedly begun chanting “death to the dictator” in recent days — clashing violently with security forces in many areas. Dozens have also been arrested as the police push back against the protests in Tehran and other major cities.
This is the biggest agitation to rock Iran since the ‘Women. Life. Freedom’ movement that followed Mahsa Amini’ death in 2022. But it is yet to attain the countrywide intensity of the previous protests. Political opponents of the Islamic Republic also remain scattered with no clear leadership and limited ability to direct the protests.
Where does Trump fit into this scenario?
The US President inserted himself squarely into the discourse on Thursday — assuring that America would come to ‘rescue’ the protesters from Iranian attacks.
“If Iran shots 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. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” he assured via Truth Social.
Iran appoints new central bank governor
Iran appointed a new governor for its central bank on Wednesday after a record currency fall and widespread outrage prompted his predecessor to resign. The Rial had plunged to 1.39 million against the dollar on Monday — prompting multi-day protests in most major cities. Hundreds of traders and shopkeepers shut their shops to lead rallies while others refused to continue transactions. According to the official IRNA news agency, former economics minister Abdolnasser Hemmati has been appointed as the new governor of the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Mohammad Reza Farzin had resigned from the post on Monday amid growing calls for a solution.
The rial was trading at around 430,000 to the dollar when Farzin took office in 2022. Several factors have contributed to the current situation — including the unravelling of a nuclear accord under President Donald Trump. The rapid depreciation has also compounded inflationary pressure and pushed prices of food and other daily necessities higher. The growing strain on household budgets can soon worsen due to a gasoline price change introduced in recent days. Iran’s currency was trading at 32,000 rials to the dollar at the time of the 2015 nuclear accord that lifted international sanctions in exchange for tight controls on Iran’s nuclear programme.