Trump Warns Iran: "Locked and Loaded" Amid Protests; Tehran Threatens US Bases

• Tensions soar between the US and Iran as protests intensify across Iran, drawing international attention.
• Donald Trump issued a stern warning, stating the US is "Locked and Loaded" and ready to intervene if Iran uses force against peaceful protesters.
• Iran's leadership, including Parliament Speaker and Ali Shamkhani, retaliated by threatening to target all US military bases in the region if America takes aggressive action.
• The widespread protests in Iran are primarily driven by severe economic distress, including 42.5% inflation and a rapidly falling currency.
• The Iranian government claims that protest videos and slogans are being manipulated by Artificial Intelligence (AI) to undermine their authenticity.

Why It Matters: US-Iran tensions spike as Trump warns Tehran over protests, which Iran counters with threats to US bases.