Iran’s army chief, Amir Hatami, has warned the United States and Israel against any military action, declaring that Tehran’s armed forces are on full alert amid increased American deployments in the Gulf.
Speaking on Saturday, Hatami said any attack on Iran would have far-reaching consequences for the region and Israel, which he referred to as the “Zionist regime.”
“If the enemy makes a mistake, it will undoubtedly jeopardize its own security, regional stability, and the security of the Zionist regime,” Hatami said, according to Iran’s official IRNA news agency. He added that Iran’s military was operating at “full defensive and combat readiness.”
The warning follows Washington’s decision to dispatch a naval strike group to the Middle East led by the USS Abraham Lincoln, raising fears of a direct confrontation. Former US President Donald Trump has also threatened military action after Iranian authorities carried out a deadly crackdown on weeks of anti-government protests.
Iran has cautioned that it would retaliate with missile strikes against US bases, naval assets, and allies — particularly Israel — should it come under attack.
On Friday, Trump said he expected Tehran to pursue negotiations over its nuclear and missile programmes rather than face American strikes. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed Tehran’s openness to nuclear talks but stressed that Iran’s missile capabilities and defense systems were non-negotiable.
Nuclear programme ‘cannot be erased’
Hatami also insisted that Iran’s nuclear expertise remains intact despite recent military pressure.
“Iran’s nuclear technology cannot be eliminated, even if scientists and sons of this nation are martyred,” he said.
The United States carried out strikes on key Iranian nuclear facilities in June after briefly joining Israel during a 12-day conflict. Israeli attacks reportedly hit military installations across Iran and killed senior officers as well as prominent nuclear scientists.
Meanwhile, US Central Command announced on Friday that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) would conduct a two-day live-fire naval exercise in the Strait of Hormuz — a critical passage for global energy shipments. CENTCOM warned the IRGC against “unsafe and unprofessional behavior” near American forces.
The United States designated the IRGC a terrorist organization in 2019, a step the European Union followed on Thursday, prompting angry reactions from Tehran and vows of reciprocal measures.
Protests and mounting casualties
The military tensions come against the backdrop of widespread unrest in Iran. Protests initially sparked by rising living costs erupted on December 28 before evolving into a broader anti-government movement that peaked in early January.
Iranian authorities say the demonstrations turned violent and blamed the United States and Israel for fueling what they described as a “terrorist operation.” Officials put the death toll at 3,117.
However, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported a much higher figure, saying it had confirmed 6,563 deaths, including 6,170 protesters and 124 children. The protests have since subsided.
On Saturday, President Masoud Pezeshkian urged officials to listen to public concerns and govern with fairness.
“We must work with the people and for the people,” he said in remarks broadcast on state television. “If we act justly, no power can cripple a government or a nation that governs on the basis of rights.”
Also on Saturday, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei visited the shrine of Ruhollah Khomeini in southern Tehran as part of events marking the 47th anniversary of Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.
