In a concerning development, Iran has issued a stark warning to US President Donald Trump, cautioning against any aggressive action towards its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This comes after Trump’s recent call for an end to Khamenei’s nearly four-decade rule.
General Abolfazl Shekarchi, a spokesperson for Iran’s armed forces, delivered a severe threat, stating: “Trump knows that if any hand of aggression is extended toward our leader, we not only cut that hand but also we will set fire to their world.” These comments were made in response to Trump’s description of Ayatollah Khamenei as “a sick man who should run his country properly and stop killing people,” adding that “it’s time to look for new leadership in Iran.”
The tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated significantly since a brutal crackdown by authorities on protests that erupted over Iran’s struggling economy on 28 December. Trump has previously outlined two critical “red lines” for the Islamic Republic: the killing of peaceful protesters and mass executions of demonstrators.
Amid these heightened diplomatic exchanges, ship-tracking data on Tuesday revealed the USS Abraham Lincoln, an American aircraft carrier, had traversed the Strait of Malacca, a vital maritime passage. A US Navy official, speaking anonymously, confirmed the carrier and its three accompanying destroyers were proceeding west. While defence officials refrained from explicitly stating the strike group’s destination as the Middle East, its current trajectory suggests it is merely days away from entering the region.
The death toll from the protests has reached at least 4,484 people, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. The agency has been accurate throughout the years of demonstrations and unrest in Iran, relying on a network of activists inside the country that confirm all reported fatalities. The Associated Press has been unable to independently confirm the figure.
Khamenei said on Saturday that the protests had left “several thousand” people dead and blamed the United States. It was the first indication from an Iranian leader of the extent of the casualties. A further 26,127 people have been arrested, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, leading to fears of some of those detained being put to death in Iran, one of the world’s top executioners.
As the situation remains tense and volatile, the international community will be closely monitoring the developments and any potential escalation between the United States and Iran over the Supreme Leader’s future.
