Iran Warns of Devastating Retaliation Over Any Threat to Supreme Leader Amid Rising Tensions with US
Tehran, Jan 20: Iran’s armed forces have issued a strong warning that any act of aggression targeting the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, would be met with overwhelming military retaliation, dismissing recent threats by US President Donald Trump as psychological warfare.
Speaking at a meeting in Tehran on Tuesday, General Abolfazl Shekarchi, spokesperson for the General Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, said hostile rhetoric from Washington would not intimidate Iran and cautioned against any direct action against its leadership.
“We do not attach significant importance to Trump’s clamor,” Shekarchi said, adding that Iran would respond decisively to any violation of its sovereignty or threat to its leader. “If a hand of aggression is extended toward our leader, we will not only sever that hand, but we will also set their world on fire and leave them no safe haven in the region,” he warned.
The general described the remarks by Trump who has recently called for a change in Iran’s leadership as part of a broader campaign of psychological and cognitive warfare. He said Iran’s enemies were fully aware of Tehran’s military capabilities, citing the 12-day conflict of June 2025 as evidence of its readiness to neutralize threats before they escalate.
Shekarchi also addressed recent unrest in the country, claiming that foreign-backed efforts to destabilize Iran’s economy and markets had failed. He praised the resilience of Iran’s traditional bazaars and trade unions, saying they refused to cooperate with attempts to create chaos during periods of military and political pressure.
“One of the enemy’s key strategies was to incite turmoil in the markets alongside external pressure, but this plan failed,” he said, noting that similar efforts during recent riots were also thwarted by merchants and guilds who recognized what he described as foreign manipulation.
On the issue of casualties during the unrest, Shekarchi accused what he termed “terrorist elements” of pursuing a strategy aimed at maximizing civilian deaths. He claimed that more than two-thirds of those killed were innocent civilians, including children and young people.
The Iranian general highlighted what he described as restraint by Iranian security forces, including police, Basij units, and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), saying many personnel operated without firearms to avoid harming civilians, often at great personal risk.
“Our forces placed themselves in danger to protect citizens,” he said, alleging that security personnel were subjected to brutal attacks during the violence.
Iran has recently witnessed violent protests linked to economic pressures and rising living costs. While authorities have acknowledged public grievances and pledged reforms, they have blamed the unrest on what they describe as terrorist groups supported by the United States and Israel.
Tensions escalated further after Trump last week reiterated calls for a change in Iran’s leadership, saying it was “time to look for new leadership in Iran.” Iranian officials have repeatedly rejected such statements as interference in the country’s internal affairs.
On Tuesday, Iran’s parliamentary national security commission said any attack on Ayatollah Khamenei would be considered an act of war, warning it could lead to a declaration of jihad by Islamic scholars and a broad response across the Islamic world.
The exchange underscores deepening hostility between Tehran and Washington, with both sides escalating rhetoric amid an already volatile regional and international climate.