Iran's army chief warns of response to hostile rhetoric from 'enemies'

Iran's army chief warned on Wednesday that the country will respond if hostile rhetoric by its "enemies" continues, according to the official IRNA news agency.

Chief Commander of the Iranian Army Amir Hatami said Iran considers the escalation of hostile language against the Iranian nation a threat and will not allow it to go unanswered.

U.S. President Donald Trump has commented twice in recent days on the ongoing protests across Iran, claiming that the United States would take action if Iran "kills peaceful protesters."

In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday that Iran's internal affairs concern only its own people, noting that the government and the people are engaging in dialogue.

Hatami stressed that the Iranian armed forces are in a state of full readiness, warning that any miscalculation by the "enemies" would trigger a response more decisive than Iran's actions during the 12-day war in June.

Commenting on recent unrest, he said protests are a natural phenomenon in any country, but the rapid transformation of demonstrations into riots is "unusual" and "undoubtedly planned by the enemies."

Hatami also described Western sanctions on Iran as "cruel," accusing Iran's adversaries of deliberately creating economic hardship to harm the Iranian people.

Protests have erupted since late December in several Iranian cities over the sharp depreciation of the national currency, the rial. Authorities have acknowledged economic grievances and said they are working to address them, while warning against violence, vandalism and unrest.