Following the US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Iran issued a stark warning. Officials told Reuters there are “high risks on every path,” reflecting growing concerns after US President Donald Trump warned the country would “hit [Iran] hard” if it continued violently targeting protesters. The demonstrations, which began eight days ago, have already led to at least 20 deaths and nearly 1,000 arrests.
Trump had posted on Truth Social that the US would intervene if Iran harmed peaceful protesters. Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported that Iranian leaders now feel constrained, with recent US threats “limiting their ability to respond effectively” to anti-government protests. Officials reportedly fear that American actions could follow the January 3 strikes in Venezuela, complicating Iran’s strategy to manage public unrest.
One Iranian official explained that external pressure has “narrowed the regime’s room to maneuver between public anger and protests,” leaving leaders with “few viable options and high risks on every path.”
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, criticized Trump on X, saying: “Given President Trump’s deployment of the National Guard within US borders, he of all people should know that criminal attacks on public property cannot be tolerated. His latest messages, likely influenced by those who underestimate diplomacy, are reckless and dangerous. As in the past, the people of Iran will reject any interference in their internal affairs.”
Trump has also expressed interest in US control over Greenland. Denmark’s Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, urged him to stop threatening the island, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer publicly supported her stance.
The situation underscores how aggressive foreign policy statements can complicate crisis management abroad, with ripple effects on international diplomacy and domestic stability.
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