Iran Revolutionary Guard Warns US: Force Has Its ‘Finger on Trigger’/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Iran’s Revolutionary Guard commander warned the U.S. and Israel to avoid “miscalculations” amid rising tensions. The warning follows mass arrests and a deadly crackdown on nationwide protests in Iran. President Trump has issued red-line warnings while the U.S. deploys warships toward the region.
Iran Tensions Quick Looks
- Gen. Mohammad Pakpour warns U.S. and Israel of swift military readiness
- Iranian Guard claims it’s “more ready than ever, finger on the trigger”
- Protests erupted nationwide due to Iran’s economic crisis
- Over 40,000 arrests reported; fears of executions rising
- Trump moves U.S. warships near Iran “just in case”
- Airlines suspend or delay flights to and from Dubai
- Activist death toll reaches 5,200 amid internet blackout
- Iran’s judiciary labels detainees as “enemies of God,” invoking death penalty
- UN warns of conflicting statements on mass executions
- Iran ranks among highest executioners globally with 1,500+ in past year
Deep Look
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Warns U.S. as Crackdown Death Toll and Arrests Surge
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran’s military leadership issued a sharp warning to the United States and Israel, declaring it is fully prepared to retaliate if provoked, as tensions across the Middle East escalate and internal unrest continues to shake the Islamic Republic.
General Mohammad Pakpour, a senior commander of Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), stated through Nournews — a media outlet closely tied to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council — that the force remains at high alert.
“The Islamic Revolutionary Guard and dear Iran stand more ready than ever, finger on the trigger,” Pakpour was quoted as saying.
The declaration comes amid increased military activity by the United States, with President Donald Trump confirming the deployment of American naval assets toward the region. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said, “We have a massive fleet heading in that direction and maybe we won’t have to use it.”
A U.S. Navy official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its accompanying strike group are operating in the Indian Ocean as a show of force amid worsening relations with Tehran.
Crackdown Follows Nationwide Protests
The IRGC played a central role in quelling widespread protests that erupted on December 28, sparked by the sharp collapse of Iran’s currency, the rial. The unrest, which lasted approximately two weeks, resulted in thousands of deaths, according to international activists and human rights monitors.
Although the streets have since quieted, the crackdown’s consequences continue to unfold. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported that at least 5,200 people have been killed — the highest toll from civil unrest in Iran since the Islamic Revolution in 1979.
Adding to the growing concern is a dramatic surge in arrests. HRANA estimates that over 40,000 individuals have been detained, a significant jump from earlier figures.
Fears of Mass Executions Rise
Human rights advocates are sounding the alarm over the Iranian judiciary’s rhetoric. Several detainees have been labeled “mohareb” — or “enemies of God” — a charge that carries the death penalty under Iranian law. This charge has ominous historical connotations, as it was invoked during the mass executions of 1988, in which at least 5,000 political prisoners were killed.
At a special session of the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva, U.N. human rights chief Volker Türk raised alarms over “contradictory statements from Iranian authorities” regarding whether executions will be carried out. He emphasized that Iran remains “among the top executioner states,” with over 1,500 executions reported in 2025, a 50% increase compared to 2024.
Trump’s Red Lines and Nuclear Warnings
President Trump has issued stern warnings to Iran, setting two red lines: the killing of peaceful demonstrators and the mass execution of detainees. He has also claimed — without providing details — that Iran had halted the planned execution of 800 arrested protesters, a claim denied by Iran’s top prosecutor, Mohammad Movahedi.
Trump also reiterated that earlier talks between American and Iranian officials had occurred over Iran’s nuclear program, but these discussions collapsed prior to Israel’s military action last June. During that 12-day conflict, U.S. warplanes assisted in bombing Iranian nuclear facilities. Trump warned that if Tehran provokes military conflict, the U.S. response will “make earlier strikes look like peanuts.”
Air Travel Disruptions
Mounting regional instability has already begun to impact international travel. Air France canceled multiple Paris–Dubai flights over the weekend, citing safety concerns. Similarly, Luxembourg-based Luxair postponed a scheduled flight to Dubai, citing ongoing “tensions and insecurity.”
Flight trackers and arrivals boards at Dubai International Airport confirmed cancellations from Dutch carriers KLM and Transavia. Some KLM flights to Tel Aviv were also canceled, underlining the broader regional impact.
Airlines are monitoring the situation in real-time, and many have indicated that future service will depend on further developments.
Internet Blackout Continues
One of the most striking aspects of the current unrest is the near-total information blackout imposed by Iranian authorities. Activists say the two-week-old internet shutdown is the most comprehensive in Iran’s history, hindering efforts to verify casualties and arrests.
Despite this, data continues to trickle out via underground networks and external monitoring groups. Observers warn that the toll from the protests and crackdowns may still be underreported.
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