Tehran Threatens Retaliation as Trump Vows Action Over Iran Protests

Iran’s parliament speaker issued a stark warning on Friday, declaring that US military installations and personnel throughout the region could become targets if Washington takes aggressive measures. The statement came in direct response to President Donald Trump’s threat to intervene should Iranian forces use deadly tactics against peaceful demonstrators.
The escalating war of words follows days of civil unrest across Iran, where at least seven people have lost their lives in confrontations between security forces and protesters. Trump had previously warned that America stands ready to act if Tehran’s authorities respond with lethal force to the demonstrations sweeping the nation.
A senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei reinforced Iran’s position, cautioning that any American interference in the country’s domestic affairs would trigger widespread chaos throughout the Middle East. The warnings underscore the dangerous potential for the internal Iranian crisis to spiral into a broader regional conflict.
The protests erupted in Tehran on Sunday, initially triggered by shopkeepers voicing frustration over the government’s handling of a dramatic currency collapse. The rial has plummeted to approximately 1.4 million against the dollar, while official statistics reveal inflation has surged to 42.5 percent as of December. Citizens are grappling with stagnant economic growth and soaring prices that have eroded their purchasing power.
President Masoud Pezeshkian’s civilian administration has attempted to demonstrate openness to protesters’ concerns, with the president acknowledging from an Islamic perspective that failing to address livelihood issues would have severe consequences. However, Pezeshkian has conceded his government faces severe constraints. Iran’s prosecutor general struck a measured tone, validating peaceful economic demonstrations while promising a “decisive response” to any actions threatening national security.