The head of Iran’s military has issued a warning of potential preemptive measures in response to increasing international rhetoric directed at the country, as Iran grapples with significant internal protests. This statement, from Major General Amir Hatami, appears to be a reaction to recent comments made by former President Donald Trump, who suggested that the United States might intervene if Iranian authorities use violence against demonstrators.

Trump had recently emphasized the U.S.’s readiness to act in defense of the Iranian protesters should they face harsh treatment or violence from their government. He conveyed this message through a post on Truth Social, stating, “If Iran attacks and violently suppresses peaceful protesters, as they have done before, the United States of America will intervene. We are prepared and on standby.”

This stern warning from Trump gains additional weight in light of a recent U.S. mission in Venezuela, which resulted in the capture and extradition of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. This successful operation has likely intensified Iran’s scrutiny of U.S. intentions.

In response to these developments, Major General Amir Hatami appeared to address Trump’s statements in a recent announcement concerning the ongoing protests within Iran. The tension highlights the growing concerns over potential foreign intervention as Iran navigates significant internal unrest.

Iranian military chief Maj. Gen. Amir Hatami seemed to respond to President Donald Trump’s remarks in his latest statement on the ongoing protests. (Masoud Nazari Mehrabi/Iranian Army via AP; Alex Brandon/AP Photo)

Hatami, who was speaking to military academy students, said, “The Islamic Republic considers the intensification of such rhetoric against the Iranian nation as a threat and will not leave its continuation without a response,” according to The Associated Press, which cited the state-run IRNA news agency.

He added, “I can say with confidence that today the readiness of Iran’s armed forces is far greater than before the war. If the enemy commits an error, it will face a more decisive response, and we will cut off the hand of any aggressor.”

Economic woes have led to an uprising among the Iranian people, and international backlash over the treatment of demonstrators has left regime officials feeling threatened, particularly by the U.S. and Israel.

Protesters hold signs during a demonstration in Iran amid ongoing unrest, according to images released by the Iranian opposition group National Council of Resistance of Iran. (NCRI )

In an effort to quell the unrest, Iran’s government began paying the equivalent of $7 a month to subsidize rising food costs for dinner-table staples, such as rice, meat and pasta. Iranian state TV reported that the subsidy will go to more than 71 million people across the country, according to the AP. The outlet noted that the new subsidy is more than double the 4.5 million rial the people had previously received.

Iranian shopkeepers have warned that prices for items like basic cooking oil could triple under pressure from the collapse of the country’s currency, the AP reported. Iranian media has also reportedly covered the rise in prices of basic goods, including cooking oil, poultry and cheese.

Protesters march in downtown Tehran, Iran, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (Fars News Agency via AP)

Iran’s vice president in charge of executive affairs, Mohammad Jafar Ghaempanah, told reporters that the country was in a “full-fledged economic war,” the AP reported. He called for “economic surgery” to get rid of rentier policies and corruption within Iran, the AP added.

Protests began late last month and have showed no signs of stopping. The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) claimed the cities of Abdanan (Ilam province) and Malekshahi were effectively “taken over” by protesters.