'Finger On Trigger': Iran Guards Chief Warns US Against 'Miscalculations' Amid Protests

Last Updated:January 22, 2026, 16:38 IST

Iran Guards chief warned Israel and the US, vowing to defend Khamenei as protests grow and sanctions target the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Iran Guards commander General Mohammad Pakpour

Iran Guards chief on Thursday warned Israel and the US against “miscalculations" amid the mass protests, saying the force has its “finger on the trigger".

There has been a growing unrest inside Iran and sharp exchanges between Washington and Tehran over the country’s leadership and handling of mass protests, killing thousands of people.

Earlier, Iran had cautioned US President Donald Trump against taking any action targeting the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has ruled the Islamic Republic for nearly four decades.

AFP quoted Guards commander General Mohammad Pakpour warning Israel and the United States “to avoid any miscalculations, by learning from historical experiences and what they learned in the 12-day imposed war, so that they do not face a more painful and regrettable fate".

“The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and dear Iran have their finger on the trigger, more prepared than ever, ready to carry out the orders and measures of the supreme commander-in-chief – a leader dearer than their own lives," he said, referring to Khamenei.

Meanwhile, the activists have accused the Guards of playing a frontline role in the deadly crackdown on protests. Several countries including Australia, Canada and the United States have sanctioned the group as a terrorist entity.

AFP quoted the rights groups saying the heavy toll in the current protests was caused by security forces firing directly on protesters and that the actual number of those killed could be far higher and even extend to over 20,000.

News world 'Finger On Trigger': Iran Guards Chief Warns US Against 'Miscalculations' Amid Protests

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