Iran’s military leadership has issued a stern warning to the United States and Israel, saying Tehran will not ignore what it sees as growing external threats linked to public support for anti-government protests across the country.
Speaking on Wednesday, Iran’s army chief, General Amir Hatami, said recent statements by Washington and Tel Aviv amounted to hostile pressure on the Islamic Republic and challenged its sovereignty.
Hatami said Iran regarded the escalating rhetoric as dangerous and insisted it would not go unanswered.
“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,” he was quoted as saying by the semi-official Fars news agency.
The general, who commands Iran’s regular armed forces, warned that any miscalculation by Iran’s adversaries would provoke a response stronger than Tehran’s actions during the 12-day confrontation with Israel last June.
“If the enemy makes a mistake, our response will be more robust than during last June’s war,” Hatami said.
His remarks followed comments by US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressing support for demonstrations that erupted late last month over worsening economic conditions.
The protests began on December 28 when traders in Tehran took to the streets over rising prices and the rapid fall of the national currency, the rial. Similar protests later spread to other cities, with some incidents turning violent.
Although the current unrest has not matched the scale of the nationwide protests seen in 2009 or during the 2022–2023 period, it has drawn close attention from Iran’s long-time rivals.
Trump, speaking to reporters on Sunday, said Washington was monitoring the situation closely and warned of consequences if protesters were 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,” he said.
Netanyahu also voiced support for the protesters during a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, saying Israel stood with the Iranian people in their demands for freedom and justice.
Iran’s foreign ministry responded sharply on Monday, accusing both leaders of stoking unrest and attempting to weaken national cohesion.
“Trump and Netanyahu are trying to undermine Iran’s national unity through inflammatory remarks,” the ministry said in a statement.
The renewed exchange of threats comes months after a brief but intense conflict in June, sparked by an Israeli strike on Iranian military and nuclear facilities, followed by limited US attacks on three major nuclear sites.
