• Ali Shamkhani referenced US withdrawals from Afghanistan and Iraq, warning any intervention would be met with “regret-inducing response”
• Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf declared all American bases in region “legitimate targets” if US intervenes
• Trump’s “locked and loaded” warning represents shift from previous administrations’ cautious approach to supporting Iranian demonstrators

TEHRAN, Iran (TDR) — Senior Iranian officials responded Friday with scorn and threats to President Donald Trump‘s warning that America would intervene to protect protesters, invoking past US military setbacks as economic demonstrations entered their sixth day with at least seven people dead.

Ali Shamkhani, a senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, delivered a pointed rebuke referencing American military withdrawals from Afghanistan and Iraq.

“Iranians know US ‘rescue’ record well, from Iraq and Afghanistan to Gaza,” Shamkhani wrote on X.

He warned that “any intervening hand nearing Iran security on pretexts will be cut off with a regret-inducing response,” declaring the nation’s security a red line that cannot be crossed.

Parliament Speaker Threatens US Bases

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf escalated Tehran’s response, announcing that Trump’s statement makes all American military installations in the Middle East potential targets.

“Let the disrespectful president of America know that with this official confession, all American bases and forces across the entire region will become our legitimate target in response to any possible escapade,” Qalibaf wrote on X. “Iranians have always been united and resolute in action against the invading enemy.”

The threats reference America’s extensive military presence across the Middle East, including major installations in Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Iraq. Iran previously attacked Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar last June following US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities during a 12-day war between Israel and Iran.

Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, accused Washington and Israel of orchestrating the demonstrations without providing evidence — a recurring claim from Iranian officials during years of protests.

“Trump should know that intervention by the US in the domestic problem corresponds to chaos in the entire region and the destruction of the US interests,” Larijani wrote. “The people of the US should know that Trump began the adventurism. They should take care of their own soldiers.”

Protests Escalate Across Multiple Provinces

The Iranian response came as demonstrations that began Sunday over economic grievances spread beyond Tehran to smaller cities and took increasingly political overtones. Protesters have chanted slogans against the clerical regime and Supreme Leader Khamenei, marking the largest unrest since 2022 when the death of Mahsa Amini triggered nationwide protests.

Violence erupted Thursday with at least three people killed and 17 injured when protesters stormed a police station in Azna in western Lorestan province, according to the state-affiliated Fars News Agency. Security forces reported clashes with crowds throwing stones and setting vehicles ablaze.

The Iranian rial has plummeted to approximately 1.4 million per US dollar, sparking the initial protests among Tehran shopkeepers and bazaar merchants. Students at universities across the country later joined demonstrations, broadening the movement’s scope and intensity.

Funerals for slain protesters drew additional crowds and confrontations with security forces. Online video showed mourners at the burial of 21-year-old Amirhessam Khodayari chasing off security personnel who attended. His father publicly denied government claims that his son served in the all-volunteer Basij paramilitary force.

Trump Breaks Precedent on Iranian Protests

Trump’s early Friday statement on Truth Social marked a significant departure from previous American administrations’ approaches to Iranian unrest. He declared the US “locked and loaded” and ready to go if Tehran violently suppresses demonstrators.

The direct support for protesters represents a shift from past presidents who avoided public backing out of concern that activists would be accused of collaboration with the West. During Iran’s 2009 Green Movement, President Barack Obama deliberately held back from endorsing demonstrations — a decision he later called “a mistake” in 2022.

However, analysts warned Trump’s statement could backfire by providing Tehran justification for harsher crackdowns. “Though the grievances that fuel these and past protests are due to the Iranian government’s own policies, they are likely to use President Trump’s statement as proof that the unrest is driven by external actors,” said Naysan Rafati of the International Crisis Group.

Economic Collapse Drives Anger

Iran’s economy has struggled under years of US sanctions reimposed after Trump withdrew from the international nuclear agreement during his first term. The June 2025 war with Israel, which included American strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, further devastated economic confidence and drove the currency to historic lows.

President Masoud Pezeshkian‘s civilian government has signaled willingness to negotiate with protesters but acknowledged limited ability to address the currency collapse and soaring inflation exceeding 40%. Water shortages that left taps dry late last year added to public frustration.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei responded to Trump by reciting Tehran’s grievances against Washington, including the CIA-backed 1953 coup, the 1988 downing of an Iranian passenger jet, and American participation in the June war.

The government declared a public holiday Wednesday citing cold weather, creating a four-day break apparently designed to defuse tensions. Security forces were expected to deploy in large numbers Saturday, which marks both the birthday of Imam Ali and the fifth anniversary of top commander Qassem Soleimani‘s death in a US drone strike.

Regional Tensions Mount

Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago earlier this week, warning Iran against rebuilding nuclear or ballistic missile programs. “We’ll knock the hell out of them,” Trump said Monday.

Iran ceased uranium enrichment at all sites following the June war, attempting to signal openness to negotiations over its atomic program. However, talks have not materialized as Trump and Netanyahu continue warning against reconstitution of nuclear capabilities.

Will Trump’s public support embolden Iranian protesters or provide Tehran ammunition to justify violent suppression while escalating regional military tensions?

Freedom-Loving Beachwear by Red Beach Nation - Save 10% With Code RVM10