Trump’s Strong Warning to Iran Over Protester Executions

On Tuesday, President Trump issued a warning about taking “very strong action” against the Iranian regime if they proceed with executing anti-government protesters.

During an interview in Detroit with CBS Evening News host Tony Dokoupil, Trump remarked on the situation. “I haven’t heard about the hanging,” he said. “If you were hanged, I don’t know who you are, but I would know some things about where you came from, what your mindset is, and you would probably be very happy.”

When prompted by Dokoupil for clarification, Trump reiterated, “If they do something like that, we will take very strong action.”

According to the US-based Human Rights Defenders News Agency, the regime’s harsh crackdown has led to over 2,000 deaths among protesters. Some reports suggest that the count may be far higher, estimating between 12,000 and 20,000 deaths, as noted by CBS News.

Trump articulated that the “ultimate goal” of taking decisive action against Iran is “to win,” and when pressed on what victory would entail, he mentioned military operations. He cited examples like the elimination of al-Baghdadi and Soleimani, saying, “Within about 15 minutes of the B-2’s arrival, we eliminated the Iranian nuclear threat.”

He emphasized, “We don’t want to see what’s happening in Iran happen,” adding that while protests are one thing, if the regime starts killing thousands of individuals, then it changes the conversation. “That won’t work,” he stated.

In response to concerns about focusing more on international issues than domestic ones, Trump argued that while he’s focused on the U.S. economy—which he claims is booming—he can’t ignore threats like Iran’s nuclear capabilities. “We need peace all over the world,” he insisted.

Trump also reiterated his stance on morality influencing his actions abroad. “I’m a moral person. I don’t like to see death. I don’t like to see my own people hurt. I don’t like to see others hurt,” he said. He added that when the U.S. engaged in Venezuela, no Americans died, although many on the opposing side did. “That’s not something I support,” he reflected, concluding that his decisions are indeed shaped by his moral standards, which he considers to be quite high.