ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday characterized recent remarks by US President Donald Trump regarding Iranian protesters as “reckless and dangerous,” warning that Tehran’s forces know “where to aim” if Iranian sovereignty is violated.
“Those in Iran impacted by transient exchange rate volatility have recently been peacefully protesting, as is their right,” Araghchi said in a post on X. He added that authorities have also seen “isolated incidents of violent riots- including attacks on a police station and throwing of Molotov cocktails at police officers.”
Trump earlier warned Tehran that Washington would come to the “rescue” of demonstrators if Iranian authorities use lethal force against protesters, saying the US was “locked and loaded and ready to go.”
Araghchi responded by drawing a comparison to Trump’s domestic security measures, noting that the US president “should know that criminal attacks on public property cannot be tolerated,” referencing the deployment of National Guard units inside the US.
Trump deployed National Guard forces to several cities, including Los Angeles and Washington, during 2025 to respond to unrest following large-scale federal immigration raids. The administration said the move was aimed at protecting federal property and restoring order.
“This is why President Trump’s message today, likely influenced by those who fear diplomacy or mistakenly believe it is unnecessary, is reckless and dangerous,” Araghchi said.
He added that Iranians “will forcefully reject any interference in their internal affairs,” warning that Iranian forces “are on standby and know exactly where to aim in the event of any infringement of Iranian sovereignty.”
Earlier on Friday, Iranian parliament speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf echoed the warning, saying “all American centers and forces in the entire region will be our legitimate target” in response to Trump’s comments.
Protests and strikes spread across several Iranian cities on Thursday amid growing anger over worsening economic conditions and the sharp collapse of the national currency. The unrest began in Tehran on Sunday, driven by rising living costs and rapid devaluation of the rial.
There have been reports of deadly clashes between demonstrators and security forces, with several protesters reportedly killed.
Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, also criticized Trump’s remarks.
Writing on X, Larijani said statements by Trump and Israeli officials had revealed “what has been going on behind the scenes.”
“We distinguish between the stance of protesting shopkeepers and the actions of disruptive actors,” he said, warning that US interference would “destabilize the entire region and destroy America’s interests.”
“The American people should know—Trump started this adventurism. They should be mindful of their soldiers’ safety,” Larijani added.
Iran’s currency has plunged in recent weeks amid renewed sanctions and mounting diplomatic pressure, trading at around 1.42 million rials to the dollar when protests erupted, up from about 820,000 rials a year earlier. Inflation is estimated at nearly 50 percent, while rising import costs continue to erode living standards.
On Tuesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met labor leaders and pledged to address protesters’ “legitimate demands” while working to protect livelihoods, according to the state-affiliated Mehr News Agency.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Prosecutor General Mohammad Movahedi-Azad said peaceful protest is legitimate but warned that any damage to public property would be met with a “decisive” response.
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