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Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani warned the United States that interference in Iran would "destabilize the entire region and destroy America's interests," telling Americans to "be mindful of their soldiers' safety."
Larijani's remarks came in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's warning that Washington would intervene if Iran "shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters," saying the U.S. is "locked and loaded and ready to go."
"With the statements by Israeli officials and Trump, what has been going on behind the scenes is now clear," Larijani said on X in English.
Larijani said Iran distinguishes between the stance of "protesting shopkeepers and the actions of disruptive actors," warning that U.S. interference in what he described as an internal matter would destabilize the region.
"The American people should know—Trump started this adventurism. They should be mindful of their soldiers' safety," Larijani added.
In a separate statement from an Iranian official, Ali Shamkhani, senior political advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said, "Iranians know the U.S. 'rescue' record well, from Iraq and Afghanistan to Gaza."
"Any intervening hand-nearing Iran Security on pretexts will be cut off with a regret-inducing response. Iran’s national security is a red line, not material for adventurist tweets," Shamkhani wrote.
Trump said on Truth Social: "If Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, as they always do, the United States will come to their aid. We are locked and loaded and ready to go."
The protests, which began on Dec. 28 at Tehran's Grand Bazaar over the high cost of living and currency collapse, have spread to multiple cities. A 21-year-old Basij member was killed on Dec. 31 during protests in Kouhdasht, Lorestan Province, and 13 police officers were injured.
Two people were reported killed on Jan. 1 during protests in Lordegan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province.
Three more people were killed on Jan. 1 during an attack on a police station in Azna, Lorestan Province, bringing the death toll to 4. Seventeen people were injured.
Clashes were reported between protesters trying to enter the police station and the police. Protesters threw stones at police and set some police vehicles on fire.
Thirty people were detained in Malard, Tehran Province, on charges of abusing the legal right to protest and disrupting security and public order.
Israel's Foreign Ministry posted several messages of support for Iranian protesters on its Farsi-language social media account.
"The Iranian people are not afraid of a government that is disconnected from reality and desperate. On the contrary, it is the government that trembles before the power of the people," one post said.
Another post said: "The Iranian people are continuing their protests loudly in the streets today. There are hundreds of reasons for this. One of them is that they do not want this government that pours money into Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis and destroys their economy for nuclear ambitions. The Iranian people deserve better."
A third post featured a cartoon showing Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and senior Revolutionary Guards leaders hiding in a room as protesters broke down the door. "The destruction calendar they set for Israel has now been set for them," the post said.
A fourth post featured the lion and sun figure that appeared on Iran's flag until the 1979 revolution, with the caption: "The rise of Iran's lions and lionesses to fight against darkness. Light prevails over darkness."
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