Iran vows payback to aggression after Trump’s ‘reckless’ threat
Iran warned the United States against any interference in its internal affairs over ongoing protests in the country, saying the Armed Forces are ready for any act of aggression following threats by US President Donald Trump.
The American president on January 3 threatened Iran in a social media post, claiming the US was “locked and loaded” in response to, what he called, the country’s forceful action against sporadic protests over the decline of rial — the Iranian currency.
In reaction, Iran’s Foreign Ministry in a statement strongly condemned interventionist and irresponsible comments by the US president and other American officials, saying such positions amounted to a continuation of Washington’s “bullying and unlawful approach” towards the Iranian nation.
Violation of UN Charter
The ministry said the remarks constituted a flagrant violation of the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and the international law, particularly concerning respect for national sovereignty, and warned that they amounted to incitement to “violence and terrorism” against Iranian citizens.
The statement cautioned that responsibility for the consequences of whatever situation that might arise out of fresh American adventurism against Iran would rest entirely with the United States.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also slammed Trump’s remarks as “reckless and dangerous,” and stressed that Iran’s armed forces are fully prepared to defend the country’s sovereignty.
The Iranian foreign minister warned that such language only fuels instability.
“This is why President Trump’s message today, likely influenced by those who fear diplomacy or mistakenly believe it is unnecessary, is reckless and dangerous,” he said.
“As in the past, the Great People of Iran will forcefully reject any interference in their internal affairs,” he said, adding that Iran’s military stands ready to respond to any violation of its sovereignty.
Warnings to Trump
Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani also reacted to Trump’s threats, saying any US interference in Iran’s internal affairs would destabilize the region and result in destruction of American interests.
“The American people should know that Trump started the adventurism,” he wrote. “They should be mindful of their soldiers’ safety.”
Separately, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf warned that Trump’s remarks amounted to an official admission of hostile intent, saying all American centers and forces in the region would become “legitimate targets” in the event of new American adventurism. Protests erupted on Sunday after some shopkeepers in Tehran temporarily closed their businesses to protest the sharp fall of the rial, which plunged to record lows against the US dollar.