'A red line': Iran hits back after Trump's 'loaded' warning; mocks US 'rescue record'
Iran issued a stern warning against US intervention, vowing retaliation after President Trump pledged aid to protesters. The exchange escalates tensions amid ongoing demonstrations over economic hardship, with Iranian officials accusing the US and Israel of fueling unrest and threatening regional destabilization.
Representative image (Picture credit: AP)
Iran on Friday issued a sharp warning against any US intervention, vowing a response after President Donald Trump said Washington would come to the aid of protesters in the Islamic republic.“Any intervening hand-nearing Iran security on pretexts will be cut off with a regret-inducing response,” Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, wrote on X. “Iran’s security is a red line,” he added.
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Shamkhani also referred to past US actions in the region, saying Iranians were familiar with the experience of being “rescued” by Americans, citing conflicts from Iraq and Afghanistan to Gaza.
The warning came amid rising tensions as protests over economic hardship spread across parts of the country.Trump had earlier warned Tehran against using violence 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 was “locked and loaded”. His remarks followed days of demonstrations sparked by worsening economic conditions and the sharp fall of Iran’s currency.
The exchange of threats comes as protests enter their sixth day, with unrest reported in several provinces. Demonstrations have been driven largely by economic grievances, including soaring prices and the collapse of the rial, though chants against Iran’s ruling system have also been heard, according to news agency AP. At least seven people have been killed so far in violence linked to the protests.Iranian officials have accused external forces of fuelling the unrest.
Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, alleged on X that the US and Israel were stoking the demonstrations, warning that American intervention would lead to “chaos in the entire region”.
“With statements from the Israeli officials and @realDonaldTrump, what was happening behind the scenes has become clear. We distinguish between the stance of the protesting traders and the actions of the saboteurs, and Trump must realise that United States intervention in this internal matter will lead to destabilising the entire region and destroying 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 mark the most significant unrest since 2022, when the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody triggered nationwide demonstrations.