Iran has warned the United States against intervening in its ongoing nationwide protests, saying such action would trigger attacks on U.S. military bases across the Middle East. The warning was issued by a senior Iranian official who spoke to Reuters on Wednesday.
The threat comes amid heightened tensions following repeated statements by U.S. President Donald Trump expressing support for Iranian protesters. Rights groups report that thousands of people have been killed in what are described as Iran’s largest protests in decades.
According to three diplomats, some personnel were advised to leave the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar by Wednesday evening. The diplomats stressed that the move was precautionary and did not amount to a full evacuation. One diplomat described it as a “posture change” rather than an “ordered evacuation,” similar to steps taken before Iranian missile strikes last year.
Speaking in an interview with CBS News on Tuesday, Trump warned of “very strong action” if Iranian authorities execute protesters. “If they hang them, you’re going to see some things,” he said. Trump also urged Iranians to continue protesting and take control of institutions, adding that “help is on the way.”
The Iranian official, who requested anonymity, said Tehran had contacted U.S. allies in the region to discourage Washington from taking military action. According to him, Iran warned countries including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey that U.S. military bases on their soil would be targeted if Washington attacks Iran.
Information from inside Iran remains limited due to an internet blackout. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said it had verified 2,403 protester deaths and 147 deaths among government-affiliated individuals. An Iranian official, however, placed the death toll at about 2,000.
Iranian authorities have accused the United States and Israel of fueling the unrest, which they have described as terrorism. During a visit to a Tehran prison, Iran’s chief justice said swift trials and punishments for those accused of violence were necessary to prevent future incidents.
