Iran’s army chief has warned that the country will not tolerate threats from foreign powers, following public statements by the United States and Israel in support of anti-government protests.
“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,” General Amir Hatami, commander of the Iranian army, said, according to Fars News Agency.
Hatami, while not Iran’s highest-ranking military official, cautioned that “if the enemy makes a mistake,” Iran’s response would be more robust than during last June’s 12-day conflict with Israel.
The warnings follow comments by US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump threatened possible US intervention if Iranian authorities harm demonstrators, while Netanyahu expressed support for the protests, stating that Israel stands “in solidarity with the struggle of the Iranian people and with their aspirations for freedom, liberty, and justice.”
The demonstrations, sparked on December 28 when Tehran merchants protested soaring prices and the collapse of the rial, have spread to several Iranian cities.
While the protests have been significant, they remain smaller than the 2022–2023 movement and far below the mass demonstrations of 2009 following disputed elections.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry accused Trump and Netanyahu of attempting to incite violence and undermine national unity.
Hatami’s statement also recalled last June’s conflict, which began with unprecedented Israeli strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites. The United States joined briefly, targeting three major Iranian nuclear facilities.
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