06 Jan 2026 - 10:21
The Kabul Tribune (KT) - Iran’s efforts to quell a wave of anti-government protests have been complicated by U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to intervene, a warning highlighted by the subsequent U.S. capture of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro, Reuters reported.
A day before U.S. special forces seized Maduro and his wife on January 3 and transported them to New York, Trump posted on social media that if Iran’s leadership killed protesters, who have been demonstrating since December 28, the U.S. “will come to their rescue.” At least 17 people have died so far.
Tehran’s options have been further limited by Trump’s threats and a long-running economic crisis that worsened after Israel, joined by the U.S., launched strikes on Iran in June during a 12-day conflict that damaged several of the country’s nuclear sites.
