Irans military vows to protect countrys sovereignty amid US support for protests

Iranian Military Vows to Protect National Interests Amid Escalating Protests

The Iranian army has issued a statement urging citizens to thwart “enemy plots” as the country’s largest protests in years continue. The protests, sparked by rising costs of living, have left dozens dead and prompted warnings from US President Donald Trump.

In a statement published on semi-official news sites, the military said it would safeguard strategic infrastructure and public property under its command. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which operates separately from the army, also warned that safeguarding the country’s security was a “red line.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed support for the people of Iran on X, while Trump issued a new warning to Iran’s leaders, stating that they should not shoot protesters or face military retaliation. Trump described the situation as “big trouble” and repeated his threat of military attacks if peaceful protesters were killed.

Protests have taken place across Iran since January 3, with growing calls for the end of the clerical system that has ruled the country since the 1979 Islamic revolution. The unrest continued overnight on Saturday, with state media blaming “rioters” for setting a municipal building on fire in Karaj.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called the demonstrators “vandals” and “saboteurs” in his first comments on the escalating protests. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the US and Israel of directly intervening to try to transform peaceful protests into violent ones.

The situation remains volatile, with reports of funerals for security forces killed in protests and videos showing large numbers of people participating in new protests in cities across Iran.

Source: Al Jazeera