Iran’s parliament speaker has issued a stark warning that American military installations and personnel across the region could become targets if the United States pursues aggressive measures. The Friday threat followed President Trump’s warning about intervention over protests that began when shopkeepers gathered to criticize government policies.
Violent confrontations have claimed seven lives since shopkeepers gathered to criticize the government’s economic management Sunday in Tehran. What started as shopkeepers who gathered to criticize currency policies has evolved into nationwide demonstrations as citizens express anger over economic conditions.
Trump’s warning that Washington would intervene should Iranian authorities use deadly force against demonstrators has inflamed tensions. A senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei responded by predicting that any US involvement would trigger chaos throughout the Middle East.
The protests began when shopkeepers gathered to criticize the government’s response to the rial’s steep drop and rising prices. Official statistics show inflation reached 42.5 percent in December, while the currency has collapsed to approximately 1.4 million per US dollar. The issues that caused shopkeepers to gather to criticize authorities have resonated nationwide.
President Pezeshkian’s administration has attempted to project understanding for those who gathered to criticize government policies. In televised comments, Pezeshkian invoked Islamic principles to argue that addressing livelihood concerns carries serious moral weight. However, he has been transparent about his government’s severely limited options. The prosecutor general has tried to distinguish between those who peacefully gathered to criticize policies and security threats, promising decisive action only against the latter.