The Islamic Republic has placed US military forces in the region on alert as potential targets after President Trump threatened intervention over Iran’s response to nationwide protests. Iran’s parliament speaker delivered the warning Friday, hours after senior officials cautioned that American interference would ignite regional turmoil.
The escalating tensions coincide with Iran’s deadliest domestic unrest in months, with seven fatalities reported since demonstrations erupted Sunday. Trump’s statement that Washington would act if Tehran employs lethal force against peaceful protesters has drawn fierce resistance from Iranian authorities who view such rhetoric as intolerable meddling.
A key adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei emphasized that US involvement in Iran’s internal crisis would spread chaos throughout the Middle East. The warning carries significant implications given the concentration of American military personnel in countries surrounding Iran, including Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, and elsewhere in the Gulf region.
Iran’s economic collapse has driven citizens into the streets in mounting numbers. The protests originated with Tehran shopkeepers denouncing government policies after the rial’s value plummeted and inflation reached 42.5 percent in December. Weak economic growth has compounded the misery, creating a perfect storm that has eroded public patience with authorities.
The civilian government led by President Pezeshkian has sought to project receptiveness to public concerns while acknowledging severe limitations. Pezeshkian invoked Islamic principles to argue that addressing citizens’ economic welfare is a moral imperative, yet admitted his government has few options as the currency crisis deepens. The prosecutor general attempted to thread the needle by validating peaceful economic protests while warning that security threats would meet a decisive response, though this distinction may prove difficult to maintain as demonstrations continue.