Iran’s Foreign Minister Issues Warning to the U.S.
On Wednesday, Iran’s foreign minister made a pointed statement towards the United States, threatening that the Islamic Republic “will fight back with all its might if it comes under renewed attack.” This comes after a harsh crackdown on protesters in Iran.
Abbas Araghchi’s remarks led to the cancellation of his invitation to the World Economic Forum in Davos, coinciding with a shift of American aircraft carriers moving westward from Asia to the Middle East.
In addition, U.S. fighter jets and other military assets are reportedly being deployed to the region following the detention of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, which marked a significant U.S. military operation in the Caribbean.
Araghchi expressed his views in an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal, claiming the “violent phase of the riot lasted less than 72 hours” and blamed armed demonstrators for the unrest.
Despite the internet blackout in Iran, leaked videos show security forces firing upon unarmed protesters, with little or no response from Araghchi. He mentioned Iran’s military readiness, contrasting it with the restraint shown during a prior conflict in June 2025.
“This isn’t a threat but a reality that needs to be acknowledged,” he stated, reflecting on his experiences as a diplomat and military veteran who is not in favor of war.
He further conveyed that an extensive conflict would likely last longer than expected and involve broader implications for the region, affecting many innocent lives globally.
Middle Eastern diplomats have been urging President Trump to avoid military actions, while Iran has recently closed its airspace, possibly anticipating an attack.
The USS Abraham Lincoln, recently in the South China Sea, has now moved through the Straits of Malacca towards the Indian Ocean, indicating a potential route to the Middle East.
According to a U.S. Navy source, the aircraft carrier, along with three destroyers, is heading westward. Although officials did not confirm a direct move towards the Middle East, the current trajectory places them days away from entry into the region.
The Human Rights Defenders News Agency reported that at least 4,519 people have died in the protests, citing a reliable network of activists in Iran who confirm the reported deaths. However, the Associated Press has not been able to independently verify these figures.
Casualties from the current protests exceed historical figures from previous unrest in Iran, reminding many of the turmoil surrounding the 1979 revolution that established the Islamic Republic.
While there haven’t been recent protests, concerns linger over a rising death toll as information trickles out during the ongoing government-imposed internet blackout that began on January 8.
Iranian leaders have, for the first time, disclosed that “thousands of people” have died in the protests, attributing blame to the United States.
The Human Rights Defenders News Agency also reported over 26,300 arrests related to the protests. There are worries that some of those detained might face execution in a country notorious for high execution rates, alongside the government’s crackdown on peaceful protesters—issues that President Trump has previously identified as significant red lines.
