Iran criticizes Trump over comments on protests Image:AP
Tehran: Iranian officials on Friday strongly criticized US President Donald Trump and the Israeli Foreign Ministry for their statements regarding the ongoing protests in the country, and warned that any foreign interference in its internal affairs will be met with a befitting reply.
He further said that the national security of the country is a red line, which is not subject to arbitrary tweets.
Ali Shamkhani, political adviser to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s representative on the Defense Council, said in a post on X that Iran’s national security is a red line and not open to outside interference.
What did Khamenei’s advisors say?
Ali Shamkhani also attacked the US President’s call for a rescue, citing previous US military actions in Iran and Afghanistan, and said that Iranian citizens are well aware of Americans coming to their rescue.
Shamkhani said the Iranian people are well aware of the experience of defending Americans, from Iraq and Afghanistan to Gaza. Every hand of interference that comes to Iranian security under pretext will be cut off with a regrettable reply even before it reaches there. Iran’s national security is a red line, not a subject for arbitrary tweets.
Ali Larijani also told Trump
Meanwhile, Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, accused the US and Israel of spreading instability through their statements, and said Iran knows how to distinguish between protesting shoppers and what he called elements disrupting the situation.
“With statements from Israeli officials and Donald Trump, what was going on behind the scenes is now clear. We draw a distinction between the stance of the protesting shoppers and the actions of the disruptors,” Larijani said in a post on X.
He further warned that any US intervention would have far-reaching consequences, and echoed Shamkhani’s statement. The secretary said, “Trump should know that US interference in this internal matter would mean destabilizing the entire region and destroying US interests. The American people should know – Trump has started this arbitrariness. They should take care of the safety of their troops.”
What did Trump say?
The Iranian reactions come after Trump posted on Truth Social in which he warned Tehran not to use force against protesters. The US president’s statement comes as Iranian citizens have taken to the streets to protest against rising prices and economic hardships in several provinces, and as CNN reports, some protests have turned into violent clashes with security forces.
Trump said in his post that America is fully prepared to respond if Iranian officials use violence against peaceful protesters.
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