Amid heightened global tensions and the rare sighting of the US Air Force’s Boeing E-4B ‘Nightwatch’—popularly known as the ‘Doomsday Plane’—US President Donald Trump on Thursday warned Iran of possible military action if protesters are killed during ongoing demonstrations over worsening economic conditions.
Speaking on the unrest in Iran, Trump issued a strong message, saying the United States would respond decisively if violence is used against civilians. “If they start killing people, which they tend to do during their riots, we are going to hit them very hard,” he said.
The warning comes at a time when the appearance of the ‘Doomsday Plane’, a highly secure airborne command post used during extreme emergencies, has triggered speculation about US preparedness and potential military responses amid escalating geopolitical developments.
Earlier this week, Trump also stirred controversy by threatening to take over Greenland, a territory under the jurisdiction of Denmark, adding to concerns over the increasingly assertive tone of recent US foreign policy statements.