WASHINGTON DC - Iran on Thursday accused the United States of meddling in its domestic affairs by “inciting violence and terrorism,” as Washington mounts pressure on Tehran.
In a strongly-worded statement posted on X, Iran’s foreign ministry denounced what it described as a US “maximum pressure” campaign, saying it included “threats and interference in Iran’s internal affairs with the aim of inciting violence and terrorism and creating unrest and insecurity in Iran.”
The accusation comes amid nationwide protests demanding economic and political reforms. Iran is also grappling with a collapsing currency, tightened sanctions and renewed threats of US military action by President Donald Trump.
The statement echoed increasingly escalatory rhetoric from Iranian leaders this week.
On Wednesday, Iran’s army chief, Major General Amir Hatami, warned of possible pre-emptive strikes against the United States in response to what he described as hostile US rhetoric. Trump has repeatedly warned that Washington would use force against Iran if authorities kill protesters, revive the country’s nuclear program or expand its ballistic missile arsenal.
“If they start killing people like they have in the past, I think they’re going to get hit very hard by the United States,” Trump said on Monday.
At least 45 people have been killed during 12 days of unrest that has spread to 26 of Iran’s 31 provinces, according to human rights activists.
By blaming the United States for the unrest, the foreign ministry diverged from earlier comments by Iranian officials who acknowledged that the protests stem from public distrust and economic hardship.
“If people are dissatisfied, we should not blame America or others - this is our own failure,” President Masoud Pezeshkian said last week.
The foreign ministry said it was pursuing reforms to ease economic pressure but insisted that “a large part of these problems stems from the all-out economic and financial war waged by the US against the Iranian nation through illegal and unjust sanctions.”
Earlier this week, the government announced it would provide monthly payments of 10 million rials (about $7) per person starting January 10.
Iran also urged the international community to “pay serious attention” to what it called “US unilateral coercive measures and economic sanctions,” arguing that they amount to a “crime against humanity.”
The sanctions have further isolated Iran’s leadership, already weakened by wars with Israel and US strikes that killed dozens of senior commanders last year. Hatami was appointed army chief following the 12-day war with Israel in June.