Iran’s army chief, General Amir Hatami, issued a warning on Wednesday that the country will not quietly accept threats from foreign powers. His statement came after the United States and Israel expressed support for anti-government protests in Iran and made strong remarks against Tehran. According to Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency, Hatami said the Islamic Republic views the escalation of hostile rhetoric against the Iranian nation as a threat and will not tolerate its continuation without response.

In recent days, US President Donald Trump warned that Washington could intervene in Iran if protesters were killed, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly voiced support for the demonstrations. Tehran’s reaction, delivered through its military leadership, signals a firm stance amid ongoing political unrest and growing international pressure.

The statement reflects Iran’s intent to resist external interference as tensions rise over domestic protests and foreign criticism, underscoring a potentially volatile phase in its relations with the US and Israel.

Iran has executed a man named Ali Ardestani after convicting him of spying for Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad. The execution was carried out following approval from the country’s Supreme Court and completion of legal procedures, according to Mizan, the media outlet of Iran’s judiciary, which reported the event on Wednesday.

Mizan stated that Ardestani had provided sensitive national information to Mossad. The report noted that Iran has executed several individuals over the years for alleged links to Israel’s intelligence network. The number of such executions has risen notably this year, particularly after Israeli and U.S. forces attacked Iranian nuclear facilities in June, leading to direct confrontations between the two nations.

Observers view Iran’s latest execution as a reflection of the continuing hostility and security tensions between Iran and Israel, two long-time regional adversaries.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Iran of a strong response if more protesters are killed during ongoing demonstrations over rising living costs. At least 20 people have died in the unrest, which has intensified across Iran. Speaking aboard Air Force One on Sunday night, Trump said the United States is closely monitoring the situation and would deliver a harsh blow if Iranian authorities resume killing civilians, according to a report by Al Jazeera.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry responded Monday, accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and hardline U.S. officials of encouraging terrorism and violence through their remarks on Iran’s internal affairs. The ministry’s statement added that what it called the “Zionist entity” is waiting for any opportunity to undermine Iran’s national unity.

The warning to Iran came shortly after a U.S. special forces raid in Venezuela that led to the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife on charges of cocaine importation and illegal weapons possession. Both are being held at a detention center in Brooklyn, New York.

Protests in Iran over rising living costs have entered their eighth day, spreading to at least 222 locations across 78 cities. According to reports from the Anadolu news agency, at least 20 people have been killed and 51 injured, while around 1,000 individuals have been arrested. Demonstrations have been reported in 26 provinces and 17 universities, despite the deployment of additional security forces and attempts to suppress gatherings.

The Press Association, founded by Iranian human rights activists, stated that among the dead are students, workers, and civilians aged between 16 and 45, including one member of the security forces. Most casualties reportedly resulted from gunfire by security personnel. The highest number of arrests occurred in cities such as Yazd, Isfahan, Kermanshah, Shiraz, and Behbahan, with many detainees transferred to local prisons.

The protests began on December 28 in response to surging inflation, declining purchasing power, market instability, and widespread unemployment, reflecting deep public frustration over worsening economic conditions.

Anti-government protests in Iran have entered their second week, with at least 12 people, including security personnel, reported dead since the unrest began on December 28 in Tehran following a shopkeepers’ strike. Human rights groups and local media said fresh deadly clashes erupted between protesters and security forces across Tehran, Shiraz, and western provinces. Demonstrators reportedly chanted slogans against the country’s religious leadership.

The protests are described as the largest since the 2022–2023 movement sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody. Although the current unrest remains concentrated in Kurdish and Lur-populated western regions, it poses a new challenge to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has ruled since 1989. The situation is further complicated by recent conflict with Israel that damaged nuclear facilities and killed key security officials. In response to economic pressure, the government announced a monthly cash allowance of about seven dollars per citizen for four months.

U.S. President Donald Trump warned that if more protesters are killed, the United States would respond “very harshly.” Human rights groups reported multiple deaths and injuries in western Iran, while Iranian media confirmed casualties among both protesters and security forces.

Mass protests have erupted across Iran over economic hardship and rising prices, beginning on December 28 in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar and spreading to 22 of the country’s 31 provinces. The demonstrations, now in their second week, have turned violent, with at least ten people reported dead nationwide. Amid the unrest, former U.S. President Donald Trump warned on his Truth Social platform that the United States would intervene if Iranian authorities attacked peaceful protesters, saying Washington was fully prepared to act.

Tehran sharply condemned Trump’s remarks, calling them reckless and a violation of international law. Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi said the Iranian people would reject any foreign interference, while the Foreign Ministry warned of a “swift, decisive and comprehensive” response to any U.S. intervention. The statement accused Washington of hypocrisy and cited past U.S. actions against Iran, including the 1953 coup and the 1988 downing of an Iranian civilian airliner. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also vowed to defend the country’s sovereignty.

Iran’s envoy to the United Nations urged Secretary-General António Guterres to denounce Trump’s “illegal threats,” asserting Iran’s right to self-defense and holding the U.S. responsible for any escalation.

Iran has sent a formal letter to the United Nations Secretary-General and the President of the UN Security Council condemning what it called the “illegal threats” made by U.S. President Donald Trump. The letter, delivered on Friday by Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, followed Trump’s warning of possible intervention if Iran used violence to suppress protests. According to Al Jazeera, the Iranian envoy urged UN officials to strongly denounce Trump’s “reckless and provocative statements,” describing them as serious violations of the UN Charter and international law.

In the letter, Iran stated that any attempt to incite or justify internal unrest as a pretext for external pressure or military intervention would constitute a grave breach of the country’s sovereignty, political independence, and territorial integrity. The letter affirmed Iran’s right to defend its sovereignty and held the United States fully responsible for any consequences or escalation arising from Trump’s threats.

The correspondence came amid widespread protests in Iran over rising living costs, during which six people have reportedly been killed in clashes with security forces.

A senior Iranian security official has warned former U.S. President Donald Trump not to interfere in Iran’s ongoing protests. Speaking to local media on Friday, the official said any U.S. involvement in Iran’s internal affairs would destabilize the entire region and would be met with a strong response. The warning followed Trump’s post on his social media platform Truth Social, where he stated that the United States was ready to act if Iranian authorities violently suppressed peaceful demonstrators.

The protests, now in their fifth consecutive day, have spread to more than a dozen cities including Tehran, Isfahan, Lorestan, Mazandaran, Khuzestan, Hamadan, and Fars. Local sources reported at least seven deaths in clashes between protesters and security forces. Demonstrators have been calling for the resignation of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and an end to the current political system.

The exchange of warnings between Washington and Tehran underscores rising tensions amid expanding unrest across Iran, with both sides signaling readiness for escalation if violence intensifies.

U.S. President Donald Trump warned that the United States would intervene if Iran used force to suppress peaceful demonstrations. In a social media post on Friday, he stated that Washington would act to protect protesters if they were shot or killed. The statement was reported by Reuters.

The warning came as Iran entered its sixth consecutive day of protests over rising living costs. Clashes between demonstrators and security forces have left six people dead, while authorities arrested 30 protesters on charges of creating disorder and damaging public property. Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported that in Azna city of Lorestan province, about 300 kilometers southwest of Tehran, three people were killed and 17 injured. In Lordegan city, around 470 kilometers south of Tehran, two others were killed during the protests.

The continuing unrest and Trump’s remarks signal growing international attention to Iran’s domestic turmoil, though no immediate U.S. action was reported.

Iran has been rocked by widespread protests over rising living costs, continuing for a fifth consecutive day on Thursday. Thousands of people joined demonstrations across the country, with the death toll rising to six. Authorities have arrested 30 protesters on charges of creating disorder and damaging public property, according to Al Jazeera.

Semi-official news agency Fars reported that in Azna city of Lorestan province, about 300 kilometers southwest of Tehran, at least three people were killed and 17 injured. Two others were killed in Lordegan city of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, around 470 kilometers south of the capital. State television said a security officer was killed earlier in Kuhdasht city in the west. Videos shared online showed fires burning in the streets and sounds of gunfire.

Police used tear gas to disperse protesters after some reportedly threw stones at government offices, mosques, and banks. The demonstrations began on December 29 in response to the rising cost of living and have since spread to multiple regions.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that Iran will not bow to any pressure or threat, speaking at a ceremony marking the death anniversary of former Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani. The event, reported by Press TV, underscored Iran’s commitment to follow the path shown by its slain commanders, despite external challenges from the United States and Israel.

Pezeshkian described Soleimani as a role model who stood for truth and justice without personal gain. He pledged that Iran would continue on the path of its martyrs with full strength and would not fear sacrifice for the nation, revolution, or national interests. Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike in Baghdad in January 2020.

The president also sharply criticized the United States and Israel, accusing them of engaging in “state terrorism” under the guise of democracy and freedom. The remarks reinforced Iran’s stance of resistance and defiance amid ongoing tensions with these countries.

Two people were killed on Thursday in clashes between protesters and security forces in southwestern Iran amid ongoing demonstrations against high inflation and economic hardship. According to state media, these were the first fatalities reported after several days of unrest. The incident occurred in Lordegan city of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, where protesters reportedly threw stones at government and public buildings, prompting police to use tear gas. An unspecified number of people were injured.

State sources said one of the dead was a 21-year-old member of the Basij militia, though Reuters could not independently verify the claim. The Basij, linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported that 13 of its members were injured and accused some groups of exploiting the protests. The unrest began after shopkeepers’ demonstrations in Kuhdasht, Lorestan province, and later spread to several other regions including Fars, Kermanshah, Khuzestan, and Hamedan.

Iran’s economy has been under prolonged strain from Western sanctions, with inflation exceeding 40 percent. Tehran has proposed dialogue with trade unions and business representatives to address the crisis, while reports indicate heavy security presence, arrests, and continued clashes in multiple cities.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House late last month to discuss the possibility of launching another military strike on Iran. Reports from international media said the talks focused on Iran’s nuclear program, missile capabilities, and regional security concerns, which have intensified in recent weeks.

According to Anadolu Agency, Netanyahu raised Israel’s concerns over Iran’s nuclear and missile development and mentioned Hezbollah’s efforts to rebuild its long-range missile stockpile in Lebanon. Axios reported, citing a U.S. official, that a potential second round of attacks on Iran in 2026 was discussed. The previous June saw a 12-day conflict involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran, targeting Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure. Trump had then warned that any renewed Iranian nuclear activity would be met with destruction.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned of a strong response to any aggression, while Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged Trump to return to dialogue under a “respectful environment.”

Widespread protests and strikes in Iran over inflation and the sharp fall of the national currency have expanded to several cities, including Tehran, Karaj, Hamedan, Qeshm, Malard, Isfahan, Kermanshah, Shiraz, and Yazd. On Wednesday, the fourth day of demonstrations, police used tear gas to disperse protesters. The unrest began on Sunday after the Iranian rial hit a record low against the US dollar in Tehran’s open market, prompting shopkeepers to join the movement.

The Iranian government has expressed sympathy toward the protesters’ demands, stating that their concerns will be heard patiently despite the difficult circumstances. University students have also joined the demonstrations, chanting slogans against the government, which observers view as a significant challenge for the authorities.

According to BBC reports cited in the source, the country’s worsening economic situation and currency devaluation have caused deep public anxiety, fueling the ongoing protests.

Protests have spread across Iran as citizens demonstrate against the worsening economic crisis, currency collapse, and rising cost of living. In response, President Masoud Pezeshkian has called on the public to remain united in the face of sanctions and external threats. Speaking at a business forum in Tehran, he blamed foreign interference for the economic instability and said the country was engaged in a 'full-scale war' driven by economic pressure rather than military force.

Pezeshkian emphasized that Iran’s adversaries were attempting to bring the nation down through economic means, but insisted that unity and determination would prevent the country from being subdued. Iran’s economy has faced severe challenges since the reimposition of U.S. sanctions in 2018, following Washington’s withdrawal from the nuclear deal. In September, European nations also moved to restore UN sanctions, accusing Tehran of violating the 2015 agreement, a move that came months after Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.

By the end of 2025, Iran’s currency, the rial, had lost about half its value against the dollar, with inflation reaching nearly 50 percent in December.