Iran army chief threatens preemptive attack over ‘rhetoric’ targeting country after Trump’s comments

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran’s army chief threatened preemptive military action Wednesday over what he called “rhetoric” targeting the Islamic Republic, a response to warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding a potential response to the violent suppression of protesters.

Iran Faces Growing Protests and Economic Strain

Maj. Gen. Amir Hatami’s comments come as Iran attempts to address what it views as threats from Israel and the United States, alongside protests ignited by economic difficulties that have escalated into a challenge to the country’s theocratic government.

To mitigate public anger, the Iranian government began Wednesday distributing the equivalent of $7 per month to help offset rising costs for essential food items like rice, meat, and pasta. However, shopkeepers caution that prices for basic goods, including cooking oil, are likely to triple due to the collapse of the Iranian rial and changes to subsidized exchange rates – a move that could further fuel discontent.

The Soufan Center think tank noted that over a week of protests in Iran reflects both worsening economic conditions and long-standing anger over government repression and policies leading to the country’s global isolation.

Hatami, who assumed command of Iran’s army, known as “Artesh,” after a 12-day war with Israel in June, is the first regular military officer in decades to hold the position, traditionally controlled by the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.

“The Islamic Republic considers the intensification of such rhetoric against the Iranian nation as a threat and will not leave its continuation without a response,” Hatami said, according to the state-run IRNA news agency. He added that Iran’s armed forces are now more prepared than before the war and warned that any enemy misstep would be met with a “more decisive response,” promising to “cut off the hand of any aggressor.”

Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have already responded to Trump’s comments, which gained prominence after the U.S. military raid that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a close ally of Tehran, over the weekend. Despite this, there has been no immediate indication of Iran preparing for an attack in the region.

State television reported the launch of a new subsidy, depositing the equivalent of $7 into the bank accounts of households nationwide. Over 71 million people will benefit from this, receiving 10 million Iranian rials, though the rial currently trades at over 1.4 million to $1 and continues to depreciate.

While the subsidy is more than double the previous amount of 4.5 million rials, Iranian media report sharp increases in the cost of basic goods like cooking oil, poultry, and cheese, adding to the burden on households already struggling with international sanctions and inflation.

Mohammad Jafar Ghaempanah, Iran’s vice president in charge of executive affairs, stated Wednesday that the country is in a “full-fledged economic war” and called for “economic surgery” to address rentier policies and corruption.

Iran has experienced multiple rounds of nationwide protests in recent years. The rial’s sharp decline in December, following tightened sanctions and the aftermath of the June war with Israel, sparked protests that began on Dec. 28 and continued for their 11th day on Wednesday.

The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported a death toll of 36 from the demonstrations, including 30 protesters, four children, and two members of Iran’s security forces. Demonstrations have spread to over 280 locations across 27 of Iran’s 31 provinces.

The group, which relies on an activist network within Iran, has proven accurate in reporting during past periods of unrest.