WASHINGTON

Two US Republican lawmakers on Friday criticized President Donald Trump’s reported threats of military intervention against Iran, arguing that such moves would undermine constitutional limits.

Rep. Thomas Massie said any military action against Iran would require explicit congressional authorization and should not proceed without it.

"We have problems at home and shouldn’t be wasting military resources on another country’s internal affairs," Massie said on US social media company X.

His remarks came after Trump said early Friday that the US would “come to the rescue” of Iranian protesters who have taken to the streets in recent days over a deteriorating economic situation and the dramatic depreciation of the Iranian currency rial.

“If Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go,” Trump said.

Massie said that proposed strikes were not about defending freedom of speech in Iran. Instead, he characterized the dispute as being driven by economic and geopolitical interests, citing “the dollar, oil, and Israel.”

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene echoed concerns about foreign entanglements and framed the issue as a betrayal of the 2024 voter mandate.

"An Israeli cybersecurity billionaire demanding to take away Americans guaranteed First Amendment Free Speech and President Trump threatening war and sending in troops to Iran is everything we voted against in ‘24," she said on X.

Greene said such positions run counter to what Trump voters supported in the last election, arguing that voters wanted less overseas spending and stronger protections for civil liberties at home.

She pointed to growing anger among Trump supporters over federal spending on foreign aid and military engagements, saying some have threatened a “tax revolt” in response to what they view as waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars.

Meanwhile, Iranian officials have reacted strongly to a threat by Trump to intervene in the ongoing protests in the country, which have erupted amid worsening economic conditions.

The protests, which began last week at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar, the hub of small local businesses, have gradually spread to different parts of the country, with shopkeepers expressing anger over destabilizing economic conditions.

In some areas, the protests have taken a violent turn, with reports of deaths as well.

The Iranian government has accused “external forces” of instigating peaceful protesters to engage in acts of violence.