Iran's army chief threatened pre-emptive military action on Wednesday over the "rhetoric" targeting the country, thought to be in reference to threats made by US President Donald Trump last week, warning that if Tehran "violently kills peaceful protesters," Washington would "come to their rescue."
The comments by Major General Amir Hatami come as Tehran 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 the worsening economic conditions that pose a direct challenge to its theocracy.
