President Trump Warns of Striking Iran if it Kills Protesters

President Trump. (Twitter/@WhiteHouse)

JAKARTA - President Donald Trump said on Thursday the United States would hit Iran "very hard" if the country started killing protesters, as the country has been rocked by protests since last month over deteriorating economic conditions.

"If they start killing people, which they tend to do during their riots, they often riot. If they do, we will hit them very hard," President Trump said in an interview with the Hugh Hewitt Show, Anadolu (9/1) reported.

"They have been told very firmly, even more firmly than I am saying to you now, that if they do that, they will bear the consequences," he added.

Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance said the United States supports peaceful protesters around the world, including in Iran.

"We certainly support anyone who engages in peaceful protests that fight for their rights," he told reporters at a White House news conference.

He stressed the importance of negotiations on Iran's nuclear program, adding that "the smartest thing" for Tehran was "real negotiations" with the US on its nuclear program.

Protests in Iran broke out on December 28 in Tehran's Grand Bazaar, the heart of the capital's business activity, related to the sharp depreciation of the Iranian rial and the worsening economic conditions. The rial has recently fallen below 1,350,000 against the dollar. Demonstrations then spread to several other cities.

Iranian authorities have not released official figures on the death toll, but the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said in a report published on Wednesday, marking the 11th day of protests, that at least 38 people were killed, including four members of the security forces. The news agency also reported dozens of people were injured and 2,217 arrests.

The Tasnim news agency reported that the number of police officers injured during the protests rose to 568, while 66 members of the Basij paramilitary force were also injured.