Tehran, January 8: Iran’s Army Chief, Major General Amir Hatami, on Wednesday issued a warning of possible preemptive military action, citing what Tehran views as increasingly hostile rhetoric from abroad, particularly comments made by US President Donald Trump.
Hatami made the remarks while addressing students at a military academy, saying that statements suggesting the United States was “locked and loaded” to intervene if Iranian forces violently suppressed civilian protesters posed a direct threat to Iran’s national security, Fox News reported.
He warned that the intensification of such rhetoric against the Iranian nation would not go unanswered and said Iran’s armed forces were now in a higher state of readiness than before recent conflicts. Hatami added that if an adversary committed an error, it would face a decisive response, asserting that Iran would “cut off the hand of any aggressor,” according to Fox News.
The warning comes amid widespread domestic unrest in Iran, driven by economic hardship, rising inflation, and public anger over government policies. Protests have spread across much of the country, and despite limited economic measures announced by authorities, including new subsidies, the unrest has continued for more than a week.
Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, has written to the UN Secretary-General and the President of the UN Security Council, urging them to condemn what he described as unlawful threats made by President Trump against Tehran.
Separately, Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, warned that US interference would amount to chaos across the region and the destruction of American interests.
International concern has grown amid the escalating situation. Australia has urged its citizens to leave Iran immediately, citing the heightened risk of sudden escalation stemming from both internal unrest and external threats, Fox News reported.
President Trump’s earlier comments on Truth Social, warning of possible US intervention if Iranian forces violently suppressed peaceful protesters, are seen as a key factor behind Hatami’s remarks.
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