Iran’s Armed Forces will cut off any 'hand of aggression' against Leader: Spokesman

A top-ranking Iranian military official has dismissed recent rhetorical threats from US President Donald Trump, warning that any hostile action directed toward Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei would result in a devastating military retaliation.

General Abolfazl Shekarchi, the spokesperson for the General Staff of the Armed Forces, made the remarks at a meeting in Tehran on Tuesday.

General Shekarchi rejected recent threats by Trump, in which he said Iran’s leadership must change, as part of a broader psychological warfare campaign.

“We do not attach significant importance to Trump’s clamor,” he said. 

“Trump knows that if a hand of aggression is extended toward our Leader, we will not only sever that hand, and this is not a mere slogan, but we will set their world on fire and leave them no safe haven in the region,” General Shekarchi stated.

“The enemies are aware of this, yet they continue their cognitive warfare. They know that if even a corner of our territory is violated, we will neutralize the threat before it can expand,” he added, citing the 12-day war of June 2025 as a historical precedent to this capability.

Bazaar’s resistance hailed

General Shekarchi also commented on the failure of the foreign-backed riots aimed at destabilizing Iran’s economy.

He specifically lauded the resilience of the Iranian bazaar and trade unions, noting they refused to participate in coordinated efforts to create chaos during recent unrest.

“One of the major scenarios during the 12-day war was to provoke turmoil in the market simultaneously with military pressure,” the general explained, saying that the strategy was a failure.

Any attack against Ayatollah Khamenei ‘full-fledged’ war with Iranian nation: President

President Pezeshkian says any attack against Ayatollah Khamenei will be tantamount to a full-fledged war with the Iranian nation.

The Iranian general stated that the enemy attempted this strategy again during the recent riots, but it was once again defeated.

“As soon as the merchants and guilds realized that the enemy was seeking to exploit the situation, they did not delay for even a single minute. On the night of January 9, all evil groups and parties united and entered the scene in an organized manner. However, the merchants and guilds once again showed self-sacrifice here and disappointed the enemy.”

Manufacturing casualties

Addressing the nature of recent deadly riots in the country, Shekarchi said the terrorist elements employed a “bloody strategy” aimed at maximizing casualties regardless of the victims’ backgrounds.

He stated that more than two-thirds of those killed by the terrorist groups were innocent civilians, including youth and children.

The general highlighted the restraint shown by Iranian security forces, including the Police, Basij, and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).

According to Shekarchi, security personnel often entered the field without firearms to prevent accidental harm to citizens, frequently placing themselves at extreme personal risk.

“Our forces were subjected to brutal attacks... They act as shields to protect the youth from being killed… our forces were dismembered, and burned with gasoline,” Shekarchi stated.

Iran was the scene of highly violent riots exploiting concerns about the rising cost of living earlier this month.

Authorities have acknowledged the legitimacy of economic grievances and vowed to address them, which are directly linked to unilateral, illegal US sanctions targeting Iran’s central bank and oil exports.

But they vowed to deal decisively with terrorists wreaking havoc across the country; terrorists supported by the United States and the Israeli regime.

Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened military action against Iran under the guise of supporting armed mercenaries, which he has termed “peaceful protesters”.

Last week, he called for an end to Ayatollah Khamenei’s leadership.

“It’s time to look for new leadership in Iran,” Trump told the Politico website.

On Tuesday, the national security commission of the Iranian Parliament said in a statement that any attack on Ayatollah Khamenei would trigger a declaration of jihad.

"Any attack on the Leader means a declaration of war with the entire Islamic world and must await the issuance of a Jihad decree by Islamic scholars and the response of Islam's soldiers in all parts of the world," the parliamentary commission said.

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