Iran Warns Protesters and Foreign Adversaries as Deadly Unrest Intensifie

Iran’s leadership has issued stark warnings to protesters and foreign governments as nationwide unrest escalates amid a deepening economic crisis and mounting international tensions.

On Wednesday, Iran’s Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei said authorities would show “no leniency for those who help the enemy against the Islamic Republic,” accusing the United States and Israel of fomenting chaos inside the country. His comments were reported by the state-affiliated Fars news agency as protests continue to spread across multiple cities.

“Following announcements by Israel and the US president, there is no excuse for those coming to the streets for riots and unrest,” Ejei said, linking the demonstrations to foreign interference.

The warnings come as Iran faces growing pressure from Washington. US President Donald Trump said last week that if Tehran “violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue.” Trump added that the US was “locked and loaded and ready to go.”

His remarks came seven months after Israeli and US forces bombed Iranian nuclear sites during a 12-day conflict. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also voiced support for Iranian protesters on Sunday, telling ministers it was possible the country had reached “a moment when the Iranian people are taking their fate into their own hands.”

Following Ejei’s comments, Iran’s military leadership escalated its rhetoric. Army commander Major-General Amir Hatami warned of preemptive action in response to what he described as threatening language directed at Iran.

Speaking to military academy students, Hatami said Iran would “cut off the hand of any aggressor,” adding that the country’s armed forces were more prepared than ever. “If the enemy commits an error, it will face a more decisive response,” he said. Hatami assumed command after several senior military figures were killed during the recent war with Israel.

Iranian authorities have not released official casualty figures from the unrest. However, HRANA, a network of human rights activists, reported that at least 36 people have been killed and more than 2,076 arrested. These figures could not be independently verified.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has also vowed not to “yield to the enemy,” comments that gained added weight following a US military raid over the weekend that seized Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a close ally of Tehran.

In an effort to contain public anger, the Iranian government announced new subsidies on Wednesday, offering payments equivalent to about $7 a month to offset rising food prices for staples such as rice, meat, and pasta. The move has been widely criticised as insufficient.

Analysts say the unrest reflects deeper grievances. “More than a week of protests in Iran reflects not only worsening economic conditions, but longstanding anger at government repression and regime policies that have led to Iran’s global isolation,” the New York-based Soufan Center said.