U.S. Action In Venezuela Sparks Concern Among Iranian Officials Over Potential Intervention

Iran's efforts to suppress a new wave of anti-government protests have been complicated by U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to intervene on behalf of demonstrators, Reuters reported, citing officials familiar with the matter.

The warning came just a day before U.S. special forces arrested Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife on Jan. 3 and transferred them to New York, an action that heightened anxiety among Iranian officials, the sources said.

Trump had earlier warned on social media that if Iran's leadership killed protesters who took to the streets from Dec. 28, the United States would“come to their rescue.” At least 17 people have been killed so far, according to reports.

Iranian officials told Reuters the leadership now feels trapped between public anger at home and growing pressure from Washington, with few low-risk options left and high costs attached to every possible response.

The current demonstrations, which began in Tehran and spread to parts of western and southern Iran, are smaller than the nationwide unrest seen in 2022 and 2023 after the death of Mahsa Amini in morality police custody.

Officials and analysts warn that continued unrest, combined with explicit U.S. threats, could further narrow Tehran's room for maneuver and raise the risk of miscalculation at a time of heightened regional tension.

The national currency, the rial, has since plunged sharply, fueling inflation and eroding purchasing power, conditions that analysts say have amplified public frustration and made economic protests more likely.

Even so, the protests have quickly moved beyond economic grievances, with some demonstrators chanting slogans such as“Death to the Islamic Republic” and“Death to the dictator,” directly targeting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

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