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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
