Iran’s top military leader issued a sharp warning this week, threatening possible preemptive military action after U.S. President Trump publicly stated the United States would intervene if Tehran violently suppresses protesters.
Major General Amir Hatami, Iran’s army chief, spoke to military academy students and responded directly to the more forceful U.S. rhetoric. According to Iran’s state-run media, Hatami said, “The Islamic Republic considers the intensification of such rhetoric against the Iranian nation as a threat and will not leave its continuation without a response.”
He also vowed that Iran’s forces are stronger than in the past and declared: “If the enemy commits an error, it will face a more decisive response, and we will cut off the hand of any aggressor.” Hatami’s remarks come as large-scale protests driven by economic hardship and political frustration continue to spread across the country. These demonstrators have challenged Tehran’s authority while the regime grapples with rising prices and public dissent.
President Trump’s warning was blunt: he wrote on Truth Social that the U.S. is “locked and loaded and ready to go” if Iranian forces violently target peaceful demonstrators, framing the threat as a commitment to protect human rights. The Iranian warning reflects how sensitive Tehran has become to external pressure amid internal unrest, leading to heightened tensions not just within the Middle East but also with Western powers.
Meanwhile, U.S. politicians like Senator Lindsey Graham have echoed Trump’s stance, warning Tehran that continued repression could bring severe consequences. With protests ongoing and sanctions biting, Iran’s calculated threat underscores how quickly diplomatic rhetoric can escalate in a crisis.
