Iran's top military commander has issued a stark threat of pre-emptive action against perceived enemies, escalating regional tensions following a warning from former US President Donald Trump. The bellicose rhetoric comes as the Islamic Republic grapples with widespread domestic unrest fuelled by a severe economic crisis.
Army Chief's Warning and Trump's 'Rescue' Pledge
Major General Amir Hatami, the commander-in-chief of Iran's regular army (Artesh), stated that Iran would not leave intensified rhetoric "without a response." His comments, reported by the state-run IRNA news agency, are a direct reaction to remarks from Donald Trump. The former US president had warned that if Tehran "violently kills peaceful protesters," America "will come to their rescue."
Hatami, who assumed his role after Israel killed several senior Iranian commanders in a war last June, expressed heightened military readiness. "I can say with confidence that today the readiness of Iran’s armed forces is far greater than before the war," he told military academy students. "If the enemy commits an error, it will face a more decisive response, and we will cut off the hand of any aggressor."
Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have been responding to Trump's comments, which gained further significance after the US military's seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a key Iranian ally. However, there is no immediate public indication of Iran preparing for an imminent attack.
Economic Despair Fuels Unrest
The threats unfold against a backdrop of sustained civil protest. Demonstrations, which began on 28 December, reached their 11th consecutive day on Wednesday 7 January 2026 with no signs of abating. According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, the death toll has risen to 36, including 30 protesters, four children, and two security force members. Protests have been recorded in over 280 locations across 27 of Iran's 31 provinces.
The unrest is driven by a collapsing economy. Iran's rial currency is trading at over 1.4 million to $1 and continues to depreciate rapidly. This follows the end of a preferential exchange rate for importers, which shopkeepers warn will cause prices for basics like cooking oil to triple.
In a bid to quell public anger, the government initiated a new subsidy payment of 10 million rials (approximately $7) per month to heads of households. While this doubles the previous payment, it is a drop in the ocean against soaring inflation. Vice President Mohammad Jafar Ghaempanah described the situation as a "full-fledged economic war" and called for "economic surgery" to tackle corruption.
International Isolation and Analysis
Analysts point to deep-seated issues beyond immediate economic pain. The New York-based Soufan Center think tank stated the protests "reflect not only worsening economic conditions, but longstanding anger at government repression and regime policies that have led to Iran’s global isolation."
Iran perceives itself as facing a dual threat from the United States and Israel, compounded by internal dissent. The situation presents a volatile mix where external warnings, like Trump's, risk inflaming an already precarious domestic crisis, while the government's limited economic measures appear insufficient to address the root causes of popular discontent.
