TEHRAN — Iran's army chief Maj. Gen. Amir Hatami threatened pre-emptive military action on Wednesday over "rhetoric" targeting the Islamic Republic. He was likely referring to threats made by US President Donald Trump's warning that if Tehran "violently kills peaceful protesters," Washington would "come to their rescue."
The comments by Maj. Gen. Hatami come as Iran tries to respond to what it sees as a dual threat posed by Israel and the United States, as well as the protests sparked by its economic woes that have grown into a direct challenge to the government.
Seeking to ease tensions, Iran's government began paying the equivalent of €6 a month to subsidise rising costs for dinner-table essentials like rice, meats and pasta.
More than 71 million people will receive the benefit, which is 10 million Iranian rials, Iranian state television reported. The rial now trades at over 1.4 million to $1 and continues to depreciate.
The subsidy is more than double what the 4.5 million rial people previously received. But already, Iranian media report sharp rises in the cost of basic goods, including cooking oil, poultry and cheese, placing additional strain on households already burdened by international sanctions targeting the country and inflation.
Shopkeepers warn prices for basic items such as cooking oil likely will triple under pressure from the collapse of Iran's rial and the end of a preferential subsidised dollar-rial exchange rate for importers and manufacturers.
"More than a week of protests in Iran reflects not only worsening economic conditions, but longstanding anger at government repression and regime policies that have led to Iran's global isolation," the New York-based Soufan Center think tank said.
Iran's vice president in charge of executive affairs, Mohammad Jafar Ghaempanah, told reporters Wednesday that the country was in a "full-fledged economic war." He called for "economic surgery" to eliminate rentier policies and corruption within the country.
Hatami, who took over as commander-in-chief of the army after Israel killed several top military commanders in June's 12-day conflict, is the first regular military officer in decades to hold a position long controlled by Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.
"The Islamic Republic considers the intensification of such rhetoric against the Iranian nation as a threat and will not leave its continuation without a response," he said, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.
"I can say with confidence that today the readiness of Iran's armed forces is far greater than before the war. If the enemy commits an error, it will face a more decisive response, and we will cut off the hand of any aggressor," he added.
Iranian officials including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have been responding to Trump's comments, which took on greater significance after a dramatic US military raid that seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a longtime ally of Tehran, at the weekend.
Activists and rights groups say that 36 people were killed so far in clashes with security forces in mass demonstrations that started in December, taking place across the country's largest cities, including Tehran and Isfahan.
Reports of authorities using lethal force to suppress protesters and disperse rallies first emerged last week, prompting Trump to issue a warning to Tehran to stop killing peaceful protesters, or risk a military response from Washington.
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday ordered security forces not to crack down on economic protests, drawing a distinction between peaceful demonstrators and armed "rioters".
In a video released by the news agency Mehr after a cabinet meeting, Vice President Ghaempanah said Pezeshkian had "ordered that no security measures be taken against the demonstrators".
"Those who carry firearms, knives and machetes and who attack police stations and military sites are rioters, and we must distinguish protesters from rioters," Ghaempanah added.
The protests started as inflation continues to soar above 40%, contributing to a rapid rise in food prices, which analysts say exceeds 72%.
Protesters say they will continue demonstrating until their issues are resolved. — Agencies
