Iran Army Chief Threatens Retaliation Over U.S. and Israeli Remarks as Protests Spread

Overview

• Army chief Amir Hatami labeled statements from Washington and Jerusalem a threat and warned any misstep by adversaries would draw a response stronger than the June 2025 conflict.
• Pezeshkian directed authorities not to repress rallies and to differentiate peaceful protesters from those he called vandals.
• Verified footage reviewed by BBC Persian/Verify shows demonstrations in at least 17 of Iran’s 31 provinces and in more than 50 cities.
• Reported death tolls diverge, with BBC Persian confirming at least 11 deaths, Iran Human Rights reporting at least 27, and HRANA estimating 35, as state-linked media cited two deaths and about 30 injuries in Lordegan.
• U.S. President Donald Trump warned he could intervene if protesters are violently killed and Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu voiced support, while senior Iranian officials declared foreign interference a red line.