TEHRAN (The Thursday Times) — A senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader issued a pointed warning to Washington on Friday, saying Iranians “know the American idea of ‘rescue’ all too well”, citing Iraq, Afghanistan and Gaza, and vowing consequences if the United States moves from rhetoric to action.
The comments, from Ali Shamkhani, came after President Donald Trump said the United States would step in if Iranian authorities shoot or “violently” kill peaceful protesters, adding that America was “locked and loaded and ready to go”, without specifying what would trigger intervention or what form it would take.
In response, Mr Shamkhani said any “interventionist hand” nearing Iran’s security “will be cut off” and described Iran’s national security as a “red line”, not a space for “reckless posts”.
Iranians know US “rescue” record well, from Iraq and Afghanistan to Gaza. Any intervening hand-nearing #Iran_Security on pretexts will be cut off with a#Regret_Inducing_Response. Iran’s national security is a #Red_Line, notmaterial for adventurist tweets.
— دریاسالار شهید علی شمخانی (@alishamkhani_ir) January 2, 2026
Another senior Iranian figure, Ali Larijani, warned that US involvement in Iran’s domestic unrest would bring “chaos” to the wider region and endanger American interests, while alleging foreign involvement in the protests without presenting evidence.
The exchange landed as demonstrations over economic hardship widened across parts of Iran, with reports of multiple deaths and arrests as clashes with security forces intensified and the government signalled it would respond firmly to violence and disorder.
