“We will cut off that hand and set his world on fire,” Iran issues open threat to Donald Trump

Tehran (The Uttam Hindu): Tensions between Iran and the United States have reached a critical point. Thousands of people have reportedly lost their lives during recent nationwide anti-government protests in Iran. Amid this unrest, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned Iran. In response, Iran has now issued a strong and direct threat to the United States.

On Tuesday, Iranian Armed Forces spokesperson General Abolfazl Shekarchi said that if the US takes any action against Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, it will face serious consequences. He warned President Donald Trump that Iran will not tolerate any move against its top leadership.

General Shekarchi said that Trump is well aware of the consequences and claimed that if anyone raises a hand against Iran’s leader, Iran will not only cut off that hand but will also set the opponent’s entire world on fire. His remarks came days after Trump described Ayatollah Khamenei as a “sick person” in an interview with Politico. Trump had said that Iran’s leader should govern the country better and stop killing his own people.

Earlier, Trump had also spoken about ending Khamenei’s nearly 40-year rule and suggested that it was time for Iran to look for a new leadership structure. These statements have further intensified tensions between the two countries.

Reports say that large-scale protests erupted across Iran from December 28 due to worsening economic conditions. After Iranian security forces launched a harsh crackdown on protesters, relations between Tehran and Washington deteriorated further. According to a US-based human rights agency, a total of 4,029 people have been killed during the protests, including 3,786 demonstrators and 180 security personnel. The agency also claims that 24,669 people have been arrested as part of the crackdown.