Iran’s IRGC signals readiness to respond to US, Israeli attacks

(MENAFN) Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has declared it is fully prepared to respond to any aggression from the United States or Israel, with its commander emphasizing that the country has its “finger on the trigger.” The warning comes shortly after Tehran managed to suppress widespread protests that had persisted for weeks.

The unrest, which began in late December, was fueled by rising inflation and the collapse of Iran’s currency, escalating into violent demonstrations accompanied by political demands.

According to Iranian authorities, the unrest resulted in at least 3,000 deaths, with Tehran accusing the US and Israel of fomenting the turmoil. During the protests, US President Donald Trump reportedly told Iranian demonstrators that “help is on its way.”

General Mohammad Pakpour, commander of the IRGC, stated that any attack on Iran would bring “painful” consequences for its adversaries. He also warned Washington and Jerusalem against making “any miscalculations” and vowed to impose a “painful and regrettable fate” on any would-be aggressor. The IRGC, he asserted, is “more ready than ever, finger on the trigger” to defend the nation.

Following repeated threats against Iran, President Trump appeared to soften his tone slightly last weekend, claiming he had “convinced” himself not to carry out an attack. The comment came amid reports that US military action against Iran was imminent.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Trump maintained that he was monitoring developments closely, stating: “We have a massive fleet heading in that direction… and maybe we won’t have to use it… we have a lot of ships heading in that direction, just in case.”

Although the Pentagon has not issued a formal statement, reports suggest that an aircraft carrier group led by the USS Abraham Lincoln is moving toward the Middle East from the South China Sea.

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