Iran Warns Trump Against Intervention and Draws the Red Line
Iran has issued a direct warning to Donald Trump after the U.S. president suggested he might intervene in ongoing protests, signaling a “red line” against him.
On Friday, Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, warned that any U.S. interference in the country’s protests would “destabilize” the region, following Trump’s remarks.
On his X account, Larijani wrote: “Trump must understand that any American intervention in this internal matter will destabilize the entire region and destroy American interests.”
He added: “The American people should know that Trump initiated this adventure and should pay attention to the safety of their soldiers.”
“Red Line”
Similarly, Ali Shamkhani, adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, warned that any U.S. intervention in the protests would constitute a “red line” and would be met with a “response.”
On X, Shamkhani stated Friday: “Iran’s national security is a red line, not a subject for reckless tweets.”
He continued: “The Iranian people know well the so-called American ‘rescue’ experience… any interventionist hand threatening Iran’s security under weak pretexts will be met with a regrettable response and will be cut off before it can act.”
Earlier in the day, Trump warned that the United States was “ready to act” if Iran killed protesters, following the death of six people Thursday in clashes between demonstrators and security forces.
The protests began Sunday in Tehran with merchants protesting the high cost of living and economic deterioration, quickly spreading to other sectors of society and other regions.
Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: “If Iran shoots and kills peaceful protesters, as it has done before, the United States will intervene to save them. We are ready and prepared to act.”
According to the Iranian Fars News Agency, two civilians were killed in Lordegan and three others in Azna, in the neighboring Lorestan province.
State television also reported the death of a Basij force member linked to the Revolutionary Guards during protests in Kouhdasht, western Iran.
The current protests have not reached the scale of those in late 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini during her detention by the morality police for failing to comply with strict dress codes.
Amini’s death sparked a nationwide wave of outrage lasting several months, resulting in hundreds of deaths, including dozens of security personnel.
Similarly, in November 2019, protests erupted in several cities following a fuel price hike, officially causing 230 deaths according to authorities.
