Across the world, President Trump answered with his own bluntness, insisting the U.S. was “locked and loaded” and prepared to act if Iranian forces intensified violence against demonstrators. By pairing Iran and Israel as shared enemies, Qalibaf signaled a leadership ready to defy mounting global pressure. With both sides trading ultimatums, the unrest inside Iran now risks igniting something far larger than street protests: a confrontation that could redraw the region’s fragile lines.
