Iran’s top diplomat issues most direct threat yet to US as crackdown over protests squeezes nation

Iran Issues Direct Threat to US Amid Mounting Tensions Following Protest Crackdown

Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi delivered an unmistakable warning to the United States on Wednesday, stating that Iran will be “firing back with everything we have if we come under renewed attack.” The stark message comes in the aftermath of Iran’s deadly crackdown on protesters that has drawn international condemnation.

In an opinion piece published by The Wall Street Journal, Araghchi attempted to downplay the violence, claiming “the violent phase of the unrest lasted less than 72 hours” while blaming armed demonstrators. However, video evidence that has emerged from Iran despite internet restrictions appears to show security forces repeatedly using live ammunition against unarmed protesters.

“Unlike the restraint Iran showed in June 2025, our powerful armed forces have no qualms about firing back with everything we have if we come under renewed attack,” wrote Araghchi, referencing the 12-day conflict with Israel earlier this year. “This isn’t a threat, but a reality I feel I need to convey explicitly, because as a diplomat and a veteran, I abhor war.”

The diplomatic tension escalated when Araghchi’s invitation to the World Economic Forum in Davos was rescinded due to the violent suppression of protests. His warning likely refers to Iran’s arsenal of short and medium-range missiles, which could target American bases and interests throughout the Persian Gulf region. Some restrictions on U.S. diplomats traveling to bases in Kuwait and Qatar have already been implemented.

Meanwhile, U.S. military movements suggest preparation for possible escalation. The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier group has been tracked moving westward from the South China Sea through the Strait of Malacca. While defense officials have not explicitly confirmed the carrier is heading to the Middle East, its current trajectory would place it in the region within days.

Additional military assets, including F-15E Strike Eagles and HIMARS missile systems—the same type used effectively by Ukraine against Russian forces—have been observed arriving in the Middle East. These deployments come as American forces have also been active in the Caribbean, where troops recently captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

Adding to regional complexities, the National Army of Kurdistan, an armed wing of the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK), claimed Iran targeted one of its bases near Irbil in northern Iraq with drones and missiles, killing at least one fighter. Iranian state media has not acknowledged the attack, which would mark Tehran’s first foreign military operation since the protests began. The PAK previously claimed to have launched attacks inside Iran during the government crackdown.

The death toll from Iran’s suppression of protests has reached staggering proportions. According to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 4,519 people have been killed—a figure that exceeds any other period of unrest in Iran in decades and approaches levels comparable to the 1979 revolution. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei acknowledged “several thousand” deaths in a rare admission, while blaming the United States for the protests.

More than 26,300 people have been arrested, raising fears about possible executions in a country already known for its high rate of capital punishment. The government-imposed internet shutdown since January 8 has severely limited information flow, suggesting the actual death toll could be significantly higher.

The humanitarian crisis and rising tensions have prompted Gulf Arab nations to urge restraint from the Trump administration. Last week, Iran closed its airspace, likely anticipating potential military strikes.

Mideast analysts note that Iran’s explicit warnings represent a significant escalation in rhetoric between Tehran and Washington, potentially forcing both sides into positions where backing down becomes politically difficult domestically. The situation remains highly volatile as international observers monitor military movements and diplomatic signals from both countries.