‘A Red Line’: Iran Warns US Against Intervention After Trump Threatens To ‘Rescue’ Protesters

Last Updated:January 02, 2026, 17:24 IST

The warning followed Donald Trump’s comments on Truth Social, where he cautioned Tehran against cracking down on demonstrators.

US President Donald Trump. (File Photo)

Iran issued a sharp warning to the United States against any intervention in its internal affairs after Donald Trump said Washington would come to the aid of protesters if Iranian authorities used violence against them.

“Iran’s security is a red line," Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said in a post on X (formerly Twitter), adding, “Any intervening hand nearing Iran’s security on pretexts will be cut off with a regret-inducing response."

Ali Shamkhani also mocked Washington’s past interventions in the region, saying Iranians were well aware of what American “rescue" looked like, referring to US actions in Iraq, Afghanistan and Gaza.

The warning followed Donald Trump’s comments on Truth Social, where he cautioned Tehran against cracking down on demonstrators. Donald Trump said that if Iran “violently kills peaceful protesters," the United States would “come to their rescue," adding that Washington was “locked and loaded."

The exchange came as protests over economic hardship entered their sixth day in parts of Iran. Demonstrations have been driven largely by worsening economic conditions, soaring prices and the sharp fall of the national currency. Reports have also noted chants directed against Iran’s ruling establishment in some areas.

At least seven people have been killed so far in incidents linked to the unrest, according to officials and media reports. Iranian authorities have repeatedly accused foreign powers of exploiting economic grievances to stoke instability.

Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, also accused the US and Israel of fuelling the protests. In a post on X, he warned that American intervention would lead to “chaos in the entire region" and harm US interests. He said Iran distinguished between legitimate protesters and what he described as “saboteurs," and cautioned that outside interference would escalate tensions.

The current unrest is the most significant in Iran since 2022, when nationwide protests erupted following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody, posing one of the toughest challenges to the country’s leadership in recent years.

News world ‘A Red Line’: Iran Warns US Against Intervention After Trump Threatens To ‘Rescue’ Protesters

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