Iran cautions Trump over military threats, warns U.S. soldiers at risk

Iran’s top national security official on Friday cautioned U.S. President Donald Trump against any interference in Iran’s domestic affairs, warning that American military personnel stationed in the region could face serious risks if Washington pursues military action.

Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, issued the warning in response to recent comments by Trump and Israeli officials concerning scattered protests linked to the sharp depreciation of Iran’s national currency, the rial. Larijani said the remarks revealed behind-the-scenes coordination among Iran’s adversaries.

“Trump should know that U.S. interference in this internal matter would mean destabilizing the entire region and destroying America’s interests,” Larijani said, according to Press TV.

Addressing the American public directly, he added, “The American people should know — Trump started this adventurism. They should be mindful of their soldiers’ safety.”

Larijani emphasized that Iranian authorities differentiate between lawful economic protests and deliberate acts intended to create disorder. “We distinguish between the stance of the protesting shopkeepers and the actions of disruptive actors,” he said.

Trump, meanwhile, said in a social media post that the United States was prepared to take military action against Iran.

“If Iran shots (sic) and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go,” Trump said.

The protests began Sunday after shopkeepers in Tehran temporarily shut down their businesses to object to the rapid decline of the rial, which has fallen to record lows against the U.S. dollar.

Iranian officials have acknowledged the economic strain facing the population and have said peaceful demonstrations are legitimate. However, they have also warned that foreign-backed groups are attempting to exploit the situation and provoke violence.

Attorney-General Mohammad Movahedi-Azad said economic protests represent a “recognizable reality” that should be handled through legal means, while cautioning against organized efforts to turn demonstrations into unrest.

Iran’s economy has remained under sustained pressure since 2018, when the United States reimposed unilateral sanctions after Trump withdrew from the UN endorsed nuclear agreement, officially known as the JCPOA, during his first term.