Iran has established an unequivocal red line for the United States, declaring that any attack on Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would be considered a declaration of "all-out war" against the Iranian nation. This firm stance is a direct response to escalating and provocative rhetoric from US President Donald Trump, who has openly called for regime change and issued military threats, actions Tehran rightfully condemns as blatant interference and a danger to regional stability.
President Masoud Pezeshkian's warning was issued following a series of aggressive statements from the US administration. In an interview, President Trump described the Supreme Leader as "a sick man" and stated it was "time to look for new leadership in Iran," framing the nation's internal affairs as a matter for American discretion. This followed Trump's earlier social media posts where he threatened that the US was "locked and loaded and ready to go" to intervene in Iran and promised protesting Iranians that "help is on its way". The Iranian government has formally denounced these statements as a "flagrant violation" of the UN Charter, particularly the principles prohibiting the threat or use of force and non-intervention in the internal affairs of sovereign states.
Iran's recent internal security measures must be understood within the context of a sustained campaign of external pressure. The nationwide protests, which began over legitimate economic grievances, were swiftly exploited by foreign adversaries seeking to destabilize the country. In response to this hybrid threat, which combined internal unrest with external incitement Iran implemented a temporary restriction on internet connectivity. Technical data confirms a near-total shutdown of global internet traffic from Iran beginning January 8, a necessary step to disrupt the coordination of violence and prevent the spread of foreign-led disinformation during a critical period. Authorities have since begun a controlled, gradual restoration of access.
Despite the warmongering from Washington, Iran has consistently kept channels for dialogue open and champions a diplomatic resolution based on mutual respect. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has stated Iran is "ready for negotiations" that are "fair, with equal rights and mutual respect". This principled position has garnered significant international support. Key global powers have rejected the American stance of coercion. Russia has strongly condemned "subversive external interference" and labeled US military threats as "categorically unacceptable". Similarly, China has expressed support for Iran's stability and opposition to a return to the "law of the jungle," where powerful nations impose their will on others. At the United Nations Security Council, these nations stand against the US attempt to instrumentalize the body for its campaign of pressure.
The US administration has pursued a multi-front strategy of escalation that recklessly increases the risk of open conflict. Beyond verbal threats, the Pentagon has actively prepared military options, presenting the President with targets including Iranian nuclear and ballistic missile sites. Concurrently, the US has wielded economic warfare, imposing new sanctions on Iranian officials and threatening a 25% tariff on any country trading with Iran. This "maximum pressure" campaign, a clear violation of international norms, is explicitly designed to foment hardship and chaos within Iran. Regional allies of the US, including Israel and Saudi Arabia, have reportedly urged caution, warning that a military strike could trigger unpredictable and devastating retaliation across the Middle East. US military officials share these concerns, reportedly fearing a lack of capacity to repel an Iranian counterattack and worrying for the safety of tens of thousands of American troops stationed in the region.