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Iran Army Chief Warns Preemptive Attack01/07 06:02
Iran's army chief threatened preemptive military action Wednesday over the
"rhetoric" targeting the Islamic Republic, likely referring to U.S. President
Donald Trump's warning that if Tehran "violently kills peaceful protesters,"
America "will come to their rescue."
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Iran's army chief threatened preemptive
military action Wednesday over the "rhetoric" targeting the Islamic Republic,
likely referring to U.S. President Donald Trump's warning that if Tehran
"violently kills peaceful protesters," America "will come to their rescue."
The comments by Maj. Gen. Amir Hatami come as Iran tries to respond to what
it sees as a dual threat posed by Israel and the United States, as well as the
protests sparked by its economic woes that have grown into a direct challenge
to its theocracy.
Seeking to halt the anger, Iran's government began Wednesday paying the
equivalent of $7 a month to subsidize rising costs for dinner-table essentials
like rice, meat and pastas. Shopkeepers warn prices for items as basic as
cooking oil likely will triple under pressure from the collapse of Iran's rial
currency and the end of a preferential subsidized dollar-rial exchange rate for
importers and manufacturers -- likely fueling further popular anger.
"More than a week of protests in Iran reflects not only worsening economic
conditions, but longstanding anger at government repression and regime policies
that have led to Iran's global isolation," the New York-based Soufan Center
think tank said.
Army chief's threat
Hatami spoke to military academy students. He took over as
commander-in-chief of the Iran's army, known by the Farsi word "Artesh," after
Israel killed a slew of the country's top military commanders in June's 12-day
war. He is the first regular military officer in decades to hold a position
long controlled by Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.
"The Islamic Republic considers the intensification of such rhetoric against
the Iranian nation as a threat and will not leave its continuation without a
response," Hatami said, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.
He added, "I can say with confidence that today the readiness of Iran's
armed forces is far greater than before the war. If the enemy commits an error,
it will face a more decisive response, and we will cut off the hand of any
aggressor."
Iranian officials including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have been
responding to Trump's comments, which took on more significance after the U.S.
military raid that seized Venezuelan President Nicols Maduro, a longtime ally
of Tehran, over the weekend. But there's been no immediate public sign of Iran
preparing for an attack in the region.
New subsidy payment begins
Iranian state television reported on the start of a new subsidy of the
equivalent of $7, put into the bank accounts of heads of households across the
country. More than 71 million people will receive the benefit, which is 10
million Iranian rials, it reported. The rial now trades at over 1.4 million to
$1 and continues to depreciate.
The subsidy is more than double than the 4.5 million rial people previously
received. But already, Iranian media report sharp rises in the cost of basic
goods, including cooking oil, poultry and cheese, placing additional strain on
households already burdened by international sanctions targeting the country
and inflation.
Iran's vice president in charge of executive affairs, Mohammad Jafar
Ghaempanah, told reporters Wednesday that the country was in a "full-fledged
economic war." He called for "economic surgery" to eliminate rentier policies
and corruption within the country.
Protests began Dec. 28
Iran has faced rounds of nationwide protests in recent years. As sanctions
tightened and Iran struggled after the June war with Israel, its rial currency
sharply fell in December. Protests began soon after on Dec. 28. They reached
their 11th day on Wednesday and did not appear to be stopping.
The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency offered the latest death
toll of 36 for the demonstrations. It said 30 protesters, four children and two
members of Iran's security forces have been killed. Demonstrations have reached
over 280 locations in 27 of Iran's 31 provinces.
The group, which relies on an activist network inside of Iran for its
reporting, has been accurate in past unrest.
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