Iran Army Chief Threatens Preemptive Attack Over ‘Rhetoric’ Targeting Country After Trump’s Comments

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran’s military chief on Wednesday threatened preemptive military action over “rhetoric” targeting the Islamic Republic. Warning from US President Donald Trump If Tehran “violently kills peaceful protesters,” America will “come to their rescue.”

Major General Amir Hatami’s comments come as Iran seeks to respond to what it sees as a dual threat posed by Israel and the United States, as well as by Israel and the United States. Protests caused by economic difficulties this became a direct challenge to his theocracy.

Trying to contain the outrage, Iran’s government on Wednesday began paying the equivalent of $7 a month to subsidize the rising costs of dinner table staples such as rice, meat and pasta. Tradesmen warned about the price That rate, which is as simple as cooking oil, is likely to triple under pressure from the collapse of the Iranian rial currency and the end of the preferential subsidized dollar-rial exchange rate for importers and manufacturers, likely fueling further public anger.

“More than a week of protests in Iran reflect not only worsening economic conditions but also long-standing anger at government crackdowns and regime policies that have led to Iran’s global isolation,” said the New York-based Soufan Center think tank.

Hatami spoke to the cadets of the Military Academy. Known by the Persian word “Artesh”, he took over as commander-in-chief of the Iranian military after Israel killed many of the country’s top military commanders in the 12-day war in June. He is the first regular officer in decades to serve in a position long controlled by Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.

“The Islamic Republic sees the intensification of such rhetoric against the Iranian nation as a threat and will not leave its continuation unanswered,” Hatami said, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.

I can easily say that the preparedness of the Iranian armed forces today is much greater than before the war. “If the enemy makes a mistake, we will face a more decisive response and cut off the hands of any aggressor.”

Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, are responding to Trump’s comments, which have become more important after the US military raid that captured the Venezuelan President. Nicolas MaduroBut there is no public sign yet that Iran is preparing for an attack in the region, Tehran’s long-time ally said over the weekend.

Iranian state television reported the launch of a new subsidy of the equivalent of $7 to be deposited into the bank accounts of heads of households across the country. The report stated that more than 71 million people will benefit from aid worth 10 million Iranian rials. The rial is currently trading between $1.4 million and $1 and continues to lose value.

The subsidy is more than double the 4.5 million riyals the individual received before. But Iranian media are already reporting sharp increases in the costs of essential goods, including cooking oil, poultry and cheese; This puts an additional burden on households already burdened by international sanctions targeting the country and inflation.

Mohammad Jafar Ghaempanah, Iran’s vice president for executive affairs, told reporters on Wednesday that the country was in a “full-fledged economic war.” He called for “economic surgery” to eliminate profit-seeking policies and corruption in the country.

Iran faces protests across the country In recent years. Like sanctions have been tightened and Iran then fought The war with Israel in June, The rial currency fell sharply in December. Protests began soon after on December 28. The protests, which reached their 11th day on Wednesday, did not seem to stop.

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency announced that the number of deaths in the demonstrations was 36. The statement stated that 30 protesters, 4 children and two Iranian security guards were killed. Demonstrations reached more than 280 locations in 27 of Iran’s 31 provinces.

The group, which relies on its network of activists in Iran for reporting, has been accurate in past unrest.