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Iran FM calls riots ‘Daesh-style crimes,’ extension of US-Israeli war

News, News 2

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has described the recent riots targeting Iran as atrocities resembling those committed by the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group, saying they marked a continuation of the US’s and the Israeli regime’s imposed war against the country in June.

The top diplomat made the remarks on Tuesday during an online meeting with the Islamic Republic’s ambassadors to the European Union’s member states.

Araghchi reiterated his earlier condemnation of Washington’s and Tel Aviv’s interference in Iran’s internal affairs, referring to the allies’ providing riotous elements with arms, intelligence, and logistical support to try to divert economic protests across the country towards unrest.

He described the goal sought by the riots as weakening and destabilizing of the country, while expressing gratitude towards Iranian security forces for restoring calm by successfully confronting the perpetrators.

The foreign minister also thanked the Iranian nation for staging millions-strong demonstrations throughout the nation on Monday in support of the country’s Islamic establishment and condemnation of the foreign meddling.

He also emphasized the importance of Europe-based Iranian diplomats’ accurately portraying the atrocious nature of the recent terrorist activities targeting the nation to local governments, the Iranian diaspora, and public opinion.

The comments came after riot ringleaders and operatives under their directorship sought to hijack the protests that had begun in late December.

Also on Monday, Araghchi verified during a meeting with Tehran-based diplomats that recordings had proven how these elements had been trying to cause as many casualties as possible to try to pave the way for renewed foreign aggression against the Iranian territory as threatened recently by US President Donald Trump.

Iranian officials have vowed to duly address protesters’ legitimate concerns, but have emphasized, at the same time, that the country would not tolerate efforts at tampering with its stability and sovereignty.

Press TV

‘Historic day’: Leader hails mass nationwide rallies as a blow to enemy plots

News, News 2

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has praised nationwide rallies in support of the Islamic Republic, saying the mass turnout “made history” and foiled the enemies’ plot to destabilize the country through their domestic agents.

Ayatollah Khamenei made the remarks on Monday in a message to the Iranian public, following nationwide rallies in which participants condemned foreign‑linked riots and reaffirmed support for the Islamic Republic.

“Noble Iranian nation, today you accomplished a great task and marked a historic day. These massive gatherings, filled with firm resolve, foiled the plot of foreign enemies that was to be carried out by domestic mercenaries,” the message said.

The Leader added that the rallies showed the nation’s “determination and identity” to the enemies and served as a warning to US officials “to end their deceit and stop relying on treacherous mercenaries.”

Ayatollah Khamenei described the Iranian people as “strong, powerful, and aware,” saying they remain present and vigilant in times of crisis.

Iranians from different walks of life took part in nationwide rallies on Monday to denounce recent foreign-backed riots, demonstrating their unwavering support for the Islamic Republic.

The rallies in most provinces, including Tehran, began at 2:00 p.m. local time and continued till 5:00 pm local time. However, in some other provinces, the rallies started earlier, at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

Officials described the nationwide demonstrations as irrefutable evidence of unity and solidarity in the face of the enemy’s plots to sow chaos and division through mercenaries and terrorists.

Some shopkeepers last month staged peaceful protests in different cities over economic issues, but the demonstrations were steered toward violence after public statements by US and Israeli regime figures—amplified by Israeli-linked Persian-language outlets—encouraged vandalism and disorder.

Authorities have acknowledged the legitimacy of economic grievances and vowed to address them, while denouncing foreign-backed elements for exploiting people’s livelihood concerns, which are directly linked to unilateral US sanctions targeting Iran’s central bank and oil exports.

Security and judicial bodies say they have dismantled several armed cells and arrested foreign‑linked operatives during the unrest, including agents of the Israeli spy agency Mossad.

Ayatollah Khamenei said on Friday that the Islamic Republic “will not back down against vandals” and will not tolerate those acting as agents of foreign powers.

President Masoud Pezeshkian, in a TV interview on Sunday, also said the nation should not allow rioters to foment insecurity in the country, stressing that protesting is different from rioting.

Press TV

Iran announces 3-day mourning for martyrs of ‘Daesh-like aggression fueled by US, Israel’

News, News 2, Politics

The Iranian administration has announced three days of mourning for victims, including members of the country’s security and volunteer forces, who were martyred by US- and Israeli-backed rioters trying to hijack economic protests across the country.

The administration made the announcement in a statement on Sunday, likening the deadly violence to the one waged by the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group.

“The president and the administration will sit in mourning for Iran’s dear martyrs,” read the statement.

‘Victims of Iran’s national resistance’

The administration said the martyrs sacrificed their lives on the path of “Iranians’ national resistance in the face of the US and the Zionist regime.”

It noted that the victims included members of the Islamic Republic’s Law Enforcement Force and Basij volunteer force.

“The Iranian nation truly felt how criminals took on the dear nation, including members of Basij and the Law Enforcement Force, martyring many dear people,” the statement added.

“Thus far, such violence has only been witnessed on the part of Daesh terrorists reared by the United States.”

The statement emerged following the martyrdom of dozens of Iranian civilians and security personnel at the hands of the rioters, who have been confirmed by the Islamic Republic’s intelligence to have been in receipt of intelligence, operational, logistical, and financial support by Washington and the Israeli regime’s Mossad spy agency.

The Islamic Republic’s authorities have observed that through the riots, Iran’s adversaries have been seeking to make up for their failures during direct military aggression against the country.

The officials have, meanwhile, underlined on all occasions that the country exerts due effort to address economic shortcomings across various sectors, but, at the same time, stands firmly in the face of any attempt at derailing protests towards unrest.

Press TV

FM: There’s evidence linking deadly violence in Iran to Mossad terrorists

News, News 4, Politics

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says there is clear evidence linking the deadly violence in Iran to terrorists associated with Israel’s Mossad spy agency.

Araghchi was referring to a social media post on Sunday by former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in which he mentioned Mossad agents walking the streets of Iran.

Araghchi said that Iranian police officers were being executed by actual terrorists, overseen by what Pompeo has openly identified as Mossad agents, who have been seeking to turn economic protests across Iran into unrest.

The top Iranian diplomat questioned whether the US government would tolerate such brutality within its own borders.

Araghchi also pointed out that the Trump administration fully endorsed police brutality in the US, labeling it “self-defense,” while calling on other countries to remain silent about violent rioters.

He referenced the killing of a young woman by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, where Trump supported the agent, labeling the victim a “domestic terrorist.”

The Department of Homeland Security threatened Americans that “if you lay a finger on a federal officer or agent, you will face the full extent of the law,” Araghchi noted.

In a post on X on Saturday, Araghchi warned the United States and the Israeli regime about the consequences of their support for the rioters.

According to Araghchi, the admission that was made by Pompeo in a post on X earlier this month debunks the US administration’s allegations against the Islamic Republic of being “delusional” in citing Tel Aviv and Washington’s involvement.

“President Trump’s own former CIA Director has openly and unashamedly highlighted what Mossad and its American enablers are really up to,” the foreign minister wrote.

Amid the situation, it is rather the US and the Israeli regime, which are “delusional,” he pointed out, saying the delusion featured the allies’ believing that “arson does not ultimately [burn] arsonists.”

On Sunday, Iran’s National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani said a “destructive and organized network” infiltrated recent riots and carried out violent acts in Iranian cities resembling tactics used by Daesh terrorists.

Larijani told the Tasnim news agency on Sunday that the violent riots of recent days must be clearly separated from legitimate protests over economic hardship.

The security chief warned that a separate group had taken advantage of the demonstrations to commit “extremely violent and criminal acts,” including killings and burnings that he compared to tactics used by terrorist organizations such as Daesh.

Tasnim earlier reported that 109 security personnel had been killed in the riots across the country.

In a televised interview addressing the Iranian nation, President Masoud Pezeshkian said the government was there to listen to legitimate public grievances, but noted that there was a difference between protesting and violent rioting.

Pezeshkian ⁠warned that the United States and Israel were leading the violence as they ⁠seek to “sow chaos and disorder.”

He called on Iranian citizens to distance themselves from “rioters and ‌terrorists,” killing people and burning public and private properties.

Press TV

Khor and Biabanak could emerge as desert tourism hub

News, News 3

TEHRAN–The Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts has launched a targeted approach to strengthen the desert tourism, support the Sassanid heritage, and improve the residential and service infrastructure of Khor and Biabanak county in Isfahan province. The balanced development of desert tourism will be one of the future drivers of Iran’s cultural economy.

According to ILNA, Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Reza Salehi-Amiri, continued his travel to Khor and Biabanak county on Thursday and visited the tomb of the prominent and renowned poet Habib Yaghmaei.

While paying tribute to this enduring figure of national culture, he emphasized the strategic link between the cultural heritage, indigenous identity, and sustainable tourism development.

He stated: “We have come to the land of educated, virtuous, and hospitable people of Khur and Biabanak upon the invitation of its representative in Iranian Parliament.
Khur and  Biabanak people are endowed with a rich culture, a spirit of social vitality, and valuable human capacities, he added.

He conveyed the President’s greetings to the people of Isfahan province, especially cities of Na’in, and Khor and Biabanak, and added: “Since the beginning of our arrival in the region, we have closely examined numerous projects and capacities, and I can confidently say that positive trends will emerge in the field of cultural heritage and tourism in this region in the near future.”

Referring to the visit to the historical castle of Bayazeh, Salehi-Amiri considered this monument to be one of the important centers of the historical identity of the region and stated that Bayazeh castle is a magnificent monument belonging to the Sassanid period that not only has a distinguished historical value, but can also become one of the axes of cultural tourism development in the region; therefore, it requires special attention in the fields of protection, restoration, and revival.

He pointed to the role of aqueducts in the desert ecosystem of the region, saying that the abundant and valuable aqueducts of Khur and Biabanak are a strategic asset in connection of natural heritage and civilization, which must be supported both in restoration and sustainable preservation and exploitation.

Salehi Amiri stated that Khor and Biabanak have excellent rural tourism capacities, adding: “Mesr village, having gained significant points, has been a nominee  to be on the World Best Tourism Villages list and today stands in a favorable position. We will try to improve the conditions of this village compared to the current situation.”

Salehi-Amiri described the ministry’s major orientation as focusing on developing desert tourism, saying that among more than 20 types of tourism in Iran, desert tourism is one of the country’s strategic advantages that has not yet been invested in proportion to its capacities, while many countries are seriously interested in this type of tourism.

He added: “By providing the infrastructure, accommodation facilities, and spaces appropriate for healthy recreation, the desert can be transformed into one of the main drivers of the tourism economy, and Khor and Biabanak county has the capacity to play a role in this trend; especially with the inclusion of the village of Mesr on the list of global nominees, which could be the source of a major leap in the development of the region.”

Tehran Times

Mossad Spy Hanged in Iran

News, News 4, Politics
Iran’s Judiciary executed a man convicted of spying for Israel’s spy agency Mossad, after completion of all legal procedures.
Ali Ardestani was captured after being identified while he was in the process of carrying out a mission for the Zionist regime.During interrogations and preliminary investigations, the convict stated that his motive for betraying the country had been to obtain a multimillion-dollar reward and a visa for the United Kingdom.The death sentence of Ardestani was carried out early Wednesday morning after his conviction for espionage in favor of Mossad was confirmed by Iran’s Supreme Court and finalized through the legal process.According to the case file, the convict was recruited by the Mossad intelligence and terrorist service through cyberspace and, in exchange for receiving specified sums of money and empty promises, carried out missions on behalf of the Zionist regime’s spy agency.
During the Zionist regime’s war on Iran in June, the security agents have captured several Mossad operatives in separate operations that also led to the confiscation of large amounts of explosives, remote controls and spying equipment.Moreover, several workshops producing suicide drones linked to the Israeli secret service have been discovered by Iranian intelligence agents across the country.Tehran has also set up a special headquarters tasked with identifying Mossad agents in Iran.
Based on existing documents, evidence, and the explicit confessions of the convicted individual, Ardestani, acting on the orders of Mossad officers, provided the service with images and photographs of specific locations as well as information related to targeted subjects. Upon completing each mission, he received payments in the form of cryptocurrency.The case documents also show that, in addition to maintaining virtual contact with Mossad officers, the convict had links with agents of the Zionist regime inside Iran.Through Mossad officers, he met in person with an identified individual inside the country at various locations, handed over the collected information along with photos and videos, and then received new assignments.

National Museum to host Symposium of Iranian Archaeology

Art & Culture, Art & Culture 1

TEHRAN – The 23rd Symposium of Iranian Archaeology is set to be held from Jan. 26 to 28 at the National Museum of Iran in downtown Tehran, organizers said.

The annual event is organized by the Iranian Center for Archaeological Research, which operates under the Research Institute of Cultural Heritage and Tourism, according to an official statement.

Archaeologists from across the country will present and review the results of recent archaeological activities and fieldwork during a series of scientific sessions.

The symposium aims to provide a platform for researchers to exchange findings from surveys, excavations and conservation projects conducted in different regions of Iran.

Iran is home to one of the world’s oldest continuous centers of human civilization, with archaeological evidence dating back tens of thousands of years. The country contains remains from prehistoric settlements, early urban societies and major empires including the Elamite, Achaemenid, Parthian and Sasanian periods, to name a few.

Archaeological research in Iran has played a key role in understanding the development of agriculture, urban planning, state formation and long-distance trade in West and Central Asia. Sites such as Persepolis, Susa and the Burnt City have contributed to global scholarship on ancient governance, art and technology.

Officials say the annual symposium is intended to document and disseminate the latest archaeological findings while supporting the protection of cultural heritage amid ongoing development and environmental pressures.

Tehran Times

Iran U23 show structure and discipline against Korea Republic

News, News 2, Sports

TEHRAN – Iran’s U23 national team opened their AFC U23 Asian Cup campaign with a goalless draw against Korea Republic, a result that revealed more about the team’s tactical identity and developmental direction than the scoreline itself.

After four years away from the tournament, Iran’s return under head coach Omid Ravankhah was defined by structure, patience and a clear commitment to possession-based football.

Ravankhah’s Iran showed a clear intent to control tempo through ball circulation rather than emotional intensity. In phases when Iran managed to find their rhythm, the team showed a well-organized build-up, good positional discipline, and a solid sense of spacing, especially in the first half.

The team’s preference for short passing sequences and width-oriented progression suggested a deliberate attempt to move away from reactive football and toward a more proactive identity at youth level.

Defensively, Iran’s compactness was one of the most positive points. Against a traditionally aggressive and physical Korean side, Iran maintained vertical and horizontal balance, limiting space between the lines and forcing their opponents into low-quality situations. The back line showed composure under pressure, while midfielders were largely focused on delaying attacks the opponent’s attacks.

However, the match also highlighted areas that require refinement. Iran struggled to sustain their possession game once Korea increased the intensity of their pressing, particularly in the second half. Moving the ball through central areas became harder, showing that the team needs faster decisions and better ability to play under pressure. In attack, although the players’ movement and positioning were encouraging, Iran lacked precision in the final moments, which prevented their periods of control from turning into real dominance.

From a broader perspective, the draw represents a stable foundation rather than a breakthrough moment. Iran looked competitive, disciplined and tactically coherent, but not yet decisive. With tougher tests ahead against Uzbekistan and Lebanon, Ravankhah’s side will need to turn their organized play into more effective attacks. Still, as an opening match, Iran’s performance suggested a team building patiently toward consistency, a necessary step for long-term success at continental level.

Tehran Times

Kerman: A museum illustrating various periods of Iran history

About Iran, Art & Culture, Art & Culture 2, Iran 2

TEHRAN, Jan. 07 (MNA) – Being home to seven UNESCO World Heritage sites, eye-catching gardens, and ancient monuments, Kerman city can be considered a perfect museum illustrating various periods in Iranian history.

Located in the southeast of Iran, Kerman province is bounded by the provinces of Fars on the west, Yazd on the north, South Khorasan on the northeast, Sistan and Baluchestan on the east, and Hormozgan on the south. It includes the southern part of the central Iranian desert, the Lut Desert.

Kerman Province, with an area exceeding 180,000 square kilometers, is one of Iran’s vastest provinces. It enjoys a variety of climates, including warm, semi-dry, extremely dry, moderate, and cold.

Here in Kerman, the inhabitants fight the glowering face of desert difficulties with patient smiles. Each monument in Kerman indicates some historical dimensions of the people’s life. This makes Kerman a standing museum of various periods in Iranian history.

Many different kinds of stone and pottery works that belong to the 5th millennium BC have been dug up from the hills and plains of this land, which indicate the antiquity of its civilization.

Kerman is home to myriad historical sites, gardens, and scenic landscapes such as Bazaar-e Sartasari, Vakil Bath, Fath Abad Garden, Shahzadeh Garden, Kaluts of Lut Desert, Bam citadel and, etc.

Tourist attractions of Kerman

Kerman; a museum illustrating various periods of Iran history

Bazar-e Sartasari

Kerman’s magnificent ‘Sartasari’ (‘end-to-end’) Bazaar is one of the oldest and most memorable trading centers in Iran (after the UNESCO-listed Bazaar in Tabriz).

Within are several museums, bathhouses and religious structures, while the vivacity of the whole experience is enough in itself to keep visitors interested for at least an hour or two, especially in the morning and late afternoon.

Kerman; a museum illustrating various periods of Iran history

Vakil Bath House

Bathhouses have had great importance during ancient times, and because of this, many of them were built in downtown and central places.

Vakil Bath in Kerman is located in the middle of Vakil Bazaar, which was built 170 years ago, during the Qajar period, modeled on Ganjali Khan bath.

It is believed that this bath was constructed upon the order of the Kerman ruler during that time, according to an inscription inside the Vakil Bath in Kerman.

Artistic architects of Kerman used fantastic tile and ceramic works to decorate this place and also amaze the next generations.

This historic bath is now a traditional teahouse and is open to tourists.

Kerman; a museum illustrating various periods of Iran history

Shahzadeh Garden 

Shazdeh Garden (Prince Garden) is a green oasis lying in the heart of the desert. Located near Mahan in the province of Kerman, Shazdeh Garden is one of the historical Persian gardens with a rectangular plan.

The first attempt of constructing the Shazdeh Garden dates back to the thirteenth century at the end years of the Qajar dynasty by the order of the ruler of Kerman and Sistan.

Similar to other great Persian gardens such as Eram Garden or Dowlatabad Garden, it is also inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Kerman; a museum illustrating various periods of Iran history

What is very amazing about Shazdeh Garden is that it is located in the desert, where nothing exists but dry plains. However, the entrance of the garden welcomes tourists to the earthly paradise.

Putting a step inside Shazdeh Garden, one can see the pools streaming along with the garden, the trees offering shade to the pathway, and the flowers spreading perfume everywhere.

Later, the façade of an old pavilion appears from behind the fountains, and the stairs lead the visitors toward the pavilion.

The perfect plan of Shazdeh Garden, the architecture of the pavilion, and its interior design and decorations all reflect the Iranians’ art, culture, and lifestyle.

Kerman; a museum illustrating various periods of Iran history

Fath Abad Garden

Surrounded by pistachio gardens, Fath Abad Garden in Kerman is best visited around sunset to appreciate its changing colors and the beautifully done night illuminations that will take your breath away.

Fath Abad Garden, also known as Biglarbeigi Garden, is one of the vast and beautiful gardens in the desert lands of Iran, that is located in the Ekhtiarabad district of Kerman.

It is a reminiscence from the Qajar dynasty and is said to be a model for the Shahzadeh Garden of Mahan. Today, Fath Abad Garden is overshadowed by the fame of this garden. The construction of Fath Abad Garden began in 1803 by the order of Fazlali Khan Biglarbeigi, the ruler of Kerman in Ekhtiarabad village, during the reign of Mohammad Shah Qajar.

The Garden has been built on a land as big as thirteen hectares.

It was only after the Iranian Revolution that it was registered as a national heritage of Iran in 2002.

Kerman; a museum illustrating various periods of Iran history

Lut Desert 

Located in the southeast of Iran, the Lut Desert is a vast area that includes parts of the three vast provinces of Sistan and Baluchestan, South Khorasan, and Kerman.

About 70% of this vast desert is located in Kerman province, and the remaining 30% is located in the provinces of South Khorasan and Sistan and Baluchestan.

“Lut” in Baluchi language, which is one of the languages ​​of northwestern Iran, means naked, waterless, thirsty, and empty of everything.

Kerman; a museum illustrating various periods of Iran history

The main part of this great dessert is made up of sand and gravel, and other parts of it have desert geography.

The night sky of the desert is the paradise of astronomers, and the pristine nature of Lut compared to other deserts of Iran invites photographers, astronomers, and researchers. Due to the remoteness of this desert from the big cities and the light created by these cities, beautiful images of the night sky can be recorded inside the Lut Desert.

Kerman; a museum illustrating various periods of Iran history

Bam citadel

The UNESCO-tagged Bam and its Cultural Landscape is located on the southern edge of the Iranian high plateau, in Kerman province, close to the Pakistan border. It’s highly regarded as an outstanding example of an ancient fortified settlement.

Bam lies 1,060 metres above sea level in the centre of the valley, dominated to the north by the Kafut Mountains and to the south by the Jebal-e Barez Mountains.

According to UNESCO, the origins of the Bam citadel can be traced back to the Achaemenid period (6th to 4th centuries BC) and even beyond.

Kerman; a museum illustrating various periods of Iran history

Archaeologists have discovered the oldest signs of civilization in the Birdon hills, 15 kilometers from the city. In the northeast of Bam, on the top of the cliff, there was a solid fortress called by the people as the citadel.

In fact, this grand building was the ancient city of Bam. Around the castle, there were deep ditches that protected the city from the enemies’ attacks.

On December 26, 2003, the citadel was almost completely ruined by an earthquake. After the earthquake, the government of Iran announced the reconstruction of the citadel.

MNA

What would an ‘unconfined’ Iranian response look like?

News, Uncategorized

TEHRAN – For several years, Iranian political and military leaders have been known for practicing “strategic patience”—a policy of avoiding impulsive responses and refusing to be the party that escalates tensions. This has largely remained Tehran’s approach over the last two years too, even as Israel has set the region ablaze, crossing new red lines daily in an attempt to drag Iran and its allies into a full-scale war with the United States.

When Iran was targeted by Israel twice in 2024, it sought to prevent excessive escalation by limiting its retaliatory strikes to specific military and security installations within the occupied territories. Even during the 12-day war instigated by Israel and the U.S. last year, Iran maintained discipline by targeting only Israeli military, security, and strategic sites. Regarding the U.S., Tehran has struck American bases in the region twice: once in 2020 following Washington’s assassination of a top Iranian general renowned for his anti-terror efforts, and again during the summer war in response to Trump’s strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

However, this moral and restrained approach has faced domestic criticism for years. Discontent peaked during the 12-day war, with analysts arguing that Iran should deal more lethal blows to Israel and the U.S., despite the already unprecedented nature of the Iranian response that eventually forced Israel to seek a ceasefire. Critics contend that since U.S. and Israeli actions against Iran are defined by sheer illegality, it no longer makes sense for Tehran to go to lengths to remain principled and politically correct.

It now appears that Iran’s political and military elite have also reached the limit of their patience — or perhaps they have already surpassed it. Trump recently threatened to strike Iran if its security forces do not refrain from cracking down on the armed individuals currently exploiting protests over economic hardships—hardships that are the direct result of years of U.S. sanctions. In response, recent warnings from Iranian officials indicate two likely shifts: the first regarding when Iran will take action, and the second regarding how it will do so. The Tehran Times understands that Iranians have determined that any new illegal act of aggression by the two regimes must be their last. To ensure this, they are now prepared to employ the most effective and decisive scenarios available.

One of these shifts in Iran’s military and security strategy was signalled by the Defence Council, a body established by the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) following the 12-day conflict and tasked with decision-making in the event of war. In a statement, the council declared that it will no longer limit itself to mere reciprocal measures; rather, it will strike first if it determines the enemy is intent on harming Iran.

“Within the framework of legitimate defence, the Islamic Republic of Iran does not confine itself to responding only after an action has occurred; it considers tangible signs of threat as part of the security equation,” the statement read. The council explained that by “repeating and intensifying threatening rhetoric and meddlesome remarks, in clear contravention of the accepted principles of international law,” the U.S. and Israel are “pursuing a purposeful approach aimed at the disintegration of Iran and inflicting damage on the country’s very foundation.”

The second shift was made public days ago by the Secretary of the SNSC and the country’s top security official, Ali Larijani. The seasoned official—whom Israelis called on the first day of the 12-day war to threaten with assassination—warned that in any new response to American aggression, U.S. soldiers will be the first to die.

“Trump should know that U.S. interference in this internal matter would mean destabilizing the entire region and destroying America’s interests,” Larijani wrote on X. “The American people should know—Trump started this adventurism. They should be mindful of their soldiers’ safety.”

No fatalities were officially reported during Iran’s two previous attacks on U.S. bases in the region, but doubts persist regarding Washington’s attempts to censor the truth. Still, it appears that Iranians did deliberately avoid killing U.S. soldiers in past engagements. A video of the late IRGC Aerospace Division Commander, General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, in the command room during the 2020 attack on the al-Asad Airbase, showed him telling colleagues that Iran was striking nearby locations first so the “ill-fated” soldiers could escape. At the time, the prevailing sentiment was that impotent soldiers should not have to pay for the decisions of their politicians.

Today, however, there is a growing belief that Trump will not cease his aggression unless he faces significant consequences at home. This could manifest in two ways: the death of American soldiers, and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Analysts believe that following the deadly and futile wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, any further loss of American lives in a new unjustifiable conflict could not only cost Trump and his party future elections but also risk his current presidency through potential impeachment. Furthermore, obstructing the flow of oil through the Persian Gulf would cause global oil prices and inflation to skyrocket, generating significant domestic pressure that could restrain the administration.

Tehran Times