Trump reposts Sen Graham's warning: 'Brutality against the people of Iran will not go unchallenged'

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Saturday, January 10, reposted a message from Senator Lindsey Graham warning Iran’s leadership that their "brutality against the great people of Iran will not go unchallenged."

The repost followed statements from senior US officials expressing support for Iranian civilians demonstrating against the government. 

Protests inside Iran have entered their second week, with reports of dozens of deaths and thousands of arrests as authorities escalated their crackdown.

Trump amplifies Sen Lindsey Graham's strong message to Iran 

Trump shared Graham’s message on his Truth Social platform after the South Carolina senator posted a strongly worded statement on X directed at Iran’s leadership.

“This is truly not the Obama administration when it comes to standing up to the Iranian ayatollah and his religious N**i henchmen, and standing behind the people of Iran protesting for a better life,” Graham wrote.

“To the regime leadership: your brutality against the great people of Iran will not go unchallenged. Make Iran Great Again,” he concluded.

Graham’s remarks followed an earlier post from Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing solidarity with demonstrators. 

“The United States supports the brave people of Iran,” Rubio wrote.

In a subsequent message, Graham said that he was proud of Rubio and Trump for backing protesters who he said were “rightly protesting against their oppression.”

The exchange underscored the Trump administration’s increasingly public alignment with demonstrators challenging Iran’s leadership.

Trump had issued warnings, pledging support for the Iranian people and cautioned the government against using lethal force.

“You better not start shooting because we’ll start shooting too,” he had said.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei responded on Friday, January 9, accusing Trump of having hands “stained with the blood of Iranians.”

Khamenei, referring to Iranians, said “(The t*******s) are ruining their own streets … in order to please the president of the United States because he said that he would come to their aid,” in remarks on state media, as crowds chanted “Death to America.”

Protests intensify amid Iran's threats and global pressure

Iranian officials have signaled a hardening stance toward the demonstrations, which began over economic grievances and expanded into broader calls for political change.

On Saturday, Iran’s Attorney General Mohammad Movahedi Azad warned that protesters could be considered an “enemy of God,” a charge that carries the death penalty under Iranian law.

“Prosecutors must carefully and without delay, by issuing indictments, prepare the grounds for the trial and decisive confrontation,” the statement said, adding that proceedings must be conducted “without leniency, compassion or indulgence.” 

The government also imposed a nationwide internet blackout, cutting off access to international communications.

Amnesty International said the restrictions were intended to conceal the scale of the crackdown, warning that conditions could worsen.

“Right now, we are very concerned that after the internet shutdown the brutality will increase,” said Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam of Iran Human Rights.

European leaders, including officials from France, Britain and Germany, have condemned the violence and urged restraint, while stopping short of threatening retaliation.

Meanwhile, US officials reiterated their warning to Tehran. “Do not play games with President Trump. When he says he’ll do something, he means it,” the State Department said on Saturday.