Iranian officials have threatened to target American military installations and personnel throughout the Middle East following President Trump’s warning about intervention over the ongoing protests. The parliament speaker’s Friday declaration came hours after a Supreme Leader adviser cautioned that US interference would destabilize the entire region.
Nationwide demonstrations have claimed seven lives since erupting Sunday over Iran’s economic catastrophe. The protests began in Tehran with shopkeepers voicing criticism of government policies but have spread as citizens express mounting fury over currency collapse and soaring inflation.
Trump’s threat to intervene if Iranian forces use deadly force against peaceful demonstrators has drawn fierce backlash from Tehran’s power structure. An adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei specifically warned that American meddling would trigger widespread chaos across the Middle East.
Economic grievances are driving citizens into the streets in unprecedented numbers. Official statistics show inflation reached 42.5 percent in December, while the rial has weakened to approximately 1.4 million per US dollar. Combined with weak economic growth, these conditions have severely eroded citizens’ purchasing power and created widespread economic distress that has exhausted public patience.
President Pezeshkian’s civilian government has attempted to demonstrate willingness to engage with public concerns. Speaking on state television, Pezeshkian used Islamic principles to argue that addressing livelihood issues carries serious moral weight. However, he has admitted his government faces severe constraints. The prosecutor general has sought to validate peaceful economic protests while threatening decisive action against security threats, though maintaining this distinction grows more challenging as unrest continues.