Military chief hits out at overseas ‘rhetoric’ focusing on Iran, threatens decisive motion to ‘reduce off hand of any aggressor’.
Printed On 7 Jan 2026
Iran’s high choose warned protesters who’ve taken to the streets throughout a spiralling financial disaster there will probably be “no leniency for individuals who assist the enemy in opposition to the Islamic Republic”, accusing the US and Israel of sowing chaos.
“Following bulletins by Israel and the US president, there isn’t any excuse for these coming to the streets for riots and unrest,” mentioned Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei on Wednesday in feedback on the lethal protests carried by Fars information company.
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Amid rising unrest, Iran is below worldwide strain after US President Donald Trump threatened final week that if Tehran “violently kills peaceable protesters, which is their customized, america of America will come to their rescue”.
His menace – accompanied by an assertion that the US is “locked and loaded and ready to go” – got here seven months after Israeli and US forces bombed Iranian nuclear websites in a 12-day struggle.
Moreover, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu backed the protesters on Sunday, telling ministers, “It’s fairly potential that we’re at a second when the Iranian individuals are taking their destiny into their very own palms.”
Following Ejei’s warning, Iran’s military chief threatened preemptive navy motion over the “rhetoric” focusing on Iran.
Chatting with navy academy college students, Main-Normal Amir Hatami – who took over as commander-in-chief of Iran’s military after a slew of high navy commanders have been killed in Israel’s 12-day war – mentioned the nation would “reduce off the hand of any aggressor”.
“I can say with confidence that immediately the readiness of Iran’s armed forces is way larger than earlier than the struggle. If the enemy commits an error, it can face a extra decisive response,” mentioned Hatami.
‘Longstanding anger’
The nationwide demonstrations, which have seen dozens of individuals killed up to now, ignited on the finish of final month when shopkeepers in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar shuttered their companies in anger over the collapse of Iran’s rial forex, in opposition to a backdrop of deepening financial woes pushed by mismanagement and punishing Western sanctions.
The Iranian state has not introduced casualty figures. HRANA, a community of human rights activists, reported a loss of life toll of at the very least 36 folks in addition to the arrest of at the very least 2,076 folks. Al Jazeera has been unable to confirm any figures.
Iranian Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei promised to not “yield to the enemy” following Trump’s feedback, which acquired added significance after the US navy raid that seized Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a longtime ally of Tehran, over the weekend.
Searching for to halt the anger, Iran’s authorities started on Wednesday paying the equal of $7 a month to subsidise rising costs for dinner-table necessities resembling rice, meat and pasta – a measure extensively deemed to be a meagre response.
“Greater than per week of protests in Iran displays not solely worsening financial circumstances, however longstanding anger at authorities repression and regime insurance policies which have led to Iran’s international isolation,” the New York-based Soufan Heart assume tank mentioned.
