‘Be mindful of your soldiers,' Larijani warns US after Trump's meddlesome post

Iran’s top national security official has warned US President Donald Trump that any American interference in Iran’s internal affairs would destroy US interests in the region.

Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani on Friday reacted to remarks by Trump and Israeli officials on sporadic protests over the decline of the rial, saying recent statements have exposed hidden coordination between Iran’s enemies behind the scenes.

Larijani issued a direct warning to Washington, saying Trump should understand the consequences of any intervention.

“Trump should know that US interference in this internal matter would mean destabilizing the entire region and destroying America’s interests,” he said.

He also addressed the American public, saying, “The American people should know — Trump started this adventurism. They should be mindful of their soldiers’ safety.”

He stressed that Iranian authorities differentiate between legitimate economic grievances and acts of sabotage.

“We distinguish between the stance of the protesting shopkeepers and the actions of disruptive actors,” he said.

His comments came after Trump threatened Iran in a social media post, claiming the United States was prepared for military action against Iran.

“If Iran shots (sic) and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go,” Trump said.

Ali Shamkhani, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei's representative in the Defense Council, also rejected Trump’s suggestion to intervene to “rescue” protesters.

“Iranians know well the US ‘rescue’ record — from Iraq and Afghanistan to Gaza,” he said. “Any intervening hand approaching Iran’s security under any pretext will be cut off with a response that induces regret. Iran’s national security is a red line, not material for adventurist tweets.”

Protests erupted Sunday after shopkeepers in Tehran temporarily closed their businesses to protest the sharp fall of the national currency, which plunged to record lows against the US dollar.

Iranian officials have acknowledged the economic pressure facing the public and said peaceful protests are legitimate. At the same time, they have warned that foreign-backed elements are seeking to exploit the situation and fuel violence.

Attorney-General Mohammad Movahedi-Azad said peaceful economic protests are a “recognizable reality” and should be addressed through legal channels, while cautioning against organized attempts to turn protests into unrest.

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Iran’s economy has faced sustained pressure since 2018, when the United States reimposed unilateral sanctions after Trump withdrew from an international nuclear agreement during his first term.

Movahedi-Azad slammed unilateral and extraterritorial sanctions, noting that when such measures restrict access to essential goods, medicine, financial services, and vital resources, “it is difficult to separate them from the concept of collective punishment,” which international law rejects.

Movahedi-Azad emphasized the need to clearly separate lawful protest from criminal behavior.

“Economic pressures can lead to the formation of social demands and protests, and in this framework, peaceful economic protests must be pursued through legal channels,” he said.

He warned that some actors seek to manipulate public demands.

“Sometimes, by exploiting guided media networks, distorted narratives, and the instrumentalization of deceived individuals or elements disrupting public order, there are efforts to turn these demands into insecurity,” he said.

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