U.S. and Iran Exchange Threats; Risk of Conflict Escalates

Tehran/Washington: Tensions between the United States and Iran have intensified, raising fears of a potentially catastrophic conflict. U.S. President Donald Trump warned on Tuesday that if Iran targets Americans, “we will eliminate them.” Speaking in an interview on NewsNation’s Katie Pavlich Tonight, Trump stated, “I have very strict orders—if anything happens, they will be wiped off this Earth.”

Trump’s remarks followed warnings from Iran against any action targeting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Earlier, Trump had also threatened to end Iran’s four-decade-long Islamic regime.

In response, General Abolfazl Shekarchi, spokesperson for the Iranian Armed Forces, issued a sharp warning: “Trump knows that if any aggression is directed toward our leader, we will not only cut off that hand but set his world on fire.”

A Cycle of Threats and Escalation

The exchange of aggressive statements has reached alarming levels. In a recent interview with Politico, Trump described Khamenei as a “sick man” and openly called for regime change, urging Iran to avoid killing protesters. Iran has been accused of using brutal force to suppress demonstrations, reportedly resulting in hundreds of deaths. Independent estimates suggest that between 4,000 and 5,000 people may have been killed during recent nationwide protests, which began on December 28 last year in Tehran over rising inflation and quickly spread across the country.

Military Movements and Communication Blackout

Iran has reportedly deployed two aircraft carrier strike groups toward its territory, expected to arrive within two days to a week, though a direct U.S. attack remains unlikely at present. Since December 8, Iran has imposed a near-total internet shutdown, making independent verification of casualties extremely difficult. Human rights group HRANA reported at least 4,519 deaths, though these figures have not been independently confirmed.

The escalating rhetoric and military posturing highlight a dangerous standoff between Washington and Tehran, with both nations exchanging uncompromising threats and the possibility of conflict looming.