Iran Warns US Against Interfering, Threatens 'Regrettable Response'

Iran issued a stark warning to President Donald Trump on January 3, with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's advisor Ali Shamkhani declaring US bases "legitimate targets" if America interferes, emphasizing Iran's experience "rescuing" Americans from Iraq, Afghanistan, and Gaza, and calling national security a "red line" not subject to "adventurous tweets." This comes amid raging protests over Iran's economic woes, where President Masoud Pezeshkian rallied crowds, framing the crisis as a "full-scale war" through sanctions, insisting enemies can't conquer a united Iran without ground invasion.

Trump escalated by tweeting the US is "locked and loaded" to "rescue" protesters if Iran harms them, mounting pressure on Tehran—echoing his history of threats, from vowing military action in Saudi Arabia to maximum pressure policies. Iran rejected this, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi refusing negotiations under "maximum pressure" and threats, calling them "empty" given Iran's capabilities, as tensions boil with no signs of de-escalation.