Iran issued a strong warning Friday against any U.S. intervention and vowed a response after President Donald Trump said Washington would come to the aid of protesters in the Islamic Republic.“Any intervening attempt to approach Iran under pretexts of security will be repelled by a response that causes regret,” Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, wrote on X. “Iran’s security is a red line,” he added.
Shamkhani also pointed to previous U.S. actions in the region and said Iranians were familiar with the experience of being “saved” by the Americans, pointing to conflicts from Iraq to Afghanistan to the Gaza Strip.The warning came amid rising tensions as protests over economic hardship spread across parts of the country.Trump had previously warned Tehran not to use force against demonstrators. In a post on Truth Social, he said that if Iran “violently kills peaceful protesters,” the United States would “come to their rescue,” adding that Washington is “locked and loaded.” His comments followed days of demonstrations sparked by the worsening economic situation and the sharp fall in Iran’s currency.The exchange of threats comes as protests enter their sixth day and unrest has been reported in several provinces. The demonstrations were primarily triggered by economic grievances, including rising prices and the collapse of the rial, although according to the AP news agency, cries against Iran’s ruling system were also heard. At least seven people have been killed in violence related to the protests so far.Iranian officials have accused outside forces of fomenting the unrest. Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, claimed on“From the statements of Israeli officials and @realDonaldTrump, it has become clear what was happening behind the scenes. We distinguish between the attitude of the protesting traders and the actions of the saboteurs, and Trump must recognize that intervention by the United States in this internal matter will lead to the destabilization of the entire region and the destruction of American interests,” Larijani wrote.“The American people must know that Trump is the one who started this misadventure and they should pay attention to the safety of their soldiers,” he added.The protests represent the most significant unrest since 2022, when the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody sparked nationwide demonstrations.
