Iran Army Chief threatens retaliation against Trump and Netanyahu
Trump threatens action if Iranian protesters were killed, Netanyahu supported the protests
TEHRAN: Iran’s military leadership issued a sharp warning on Wednesday, saying the country will not tolerate threats from foreign powers, following public expressions of support by the United States and Israel for ongoing anti-governmental protests inside Iran.
General Amir Hatami, commander of the Iranian army, said that escalating hostile rhetoric from Iran’s adversaries is being viewed as a direct threat to national security. Speaking to the Fars News Agency, Hatami emphasized that Tehran would not allow such pressure to continue without a response.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran considers the escalation of hostile rhetoric against the Iranian nation a threat and will not tolerate its continuation without responding,” Hatami said.
Although Hatami is not Iran’s highest-ranking military official, his remarks signal growing concern within Tehran’s leadership. He warned that any miscalculation by Iran’s enemies would be met with a far stronger response than Iran’s actions during the 12-day conflict with Israel in June.
The warning comes amid heightened international attention on protests that began on December 28, when merchants in Tehran demonstrated against soaring inflation, rising living costs, and the sharp decline of the Iranian rial. The protests soon spread to several other cities, with some turning violent and reportedly resulting in deaths.
While the demonstrations remain smaller in scale compared to the 2009 mass protests following disputed elections or the 2022–2023 nationwide movement, they have drawn strong reactions from Iran’s longtime rivals.
US President Donald Trump said Washington is closely monitoring the situation, warning of consequences if demonstrators are harmed.
“We’re watching it very closely. If they start killing people like they have in the past, I think they’re going to get hit very hard by the United States,” Trump told reporters on Sunday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also voiced support for the protesters, telling his cabinet that Israel stands with the Iranian people in their quest for “freedom, liberty, and justice.”
Iran swiftly rejected these statements. On Monday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry accused both Trump and Netanyahu of inciting unrest and attempting to undermine Iran’s national unity.
Tensions remain especially high following the June conflict, which began with an unprecedented Israeli strike on Iranian military and nuclear facilities. The United States briefly joined the campaign, launching attacks on three major Iranian nuclear sites, further escalating hostilities in the region.
As protests continue and rhetoric sharpens, Iran’s leadership has made clear that any foreign intervention or perceived threat will be met with decisive action.
