Trump and Iran start 2026 exchanging new threats on social media

Side-by-side photos show President Trump at Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, Fla.. on Dec. 29, and Iranian Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani in Beirut, Aug. 13, 2025.

President Trump warned Iran not to kill protesters. A top Iranian official fired back to stay out of it, alleging the U.S. and Israel were stoking the economic protests sweeping parts of Iran.

(Image credit: Alex Brandon, Bilal Hussein)