World
Iran warns against ‘instability’ after US strike group arrives in Middle Eastern waters. Iran’s president warned US “threats” would only cause instability as a US naval strike group led by an aircraft carrier took up position.
Washington has not ruled out military intervention against Tehran over its crackdown on protests, which rights groups say left thousands dead, and President Donald Trump dispatched the USS Abraham Lincoln to the area “just in case.”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian hit out at US “threats” with a call to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He said they were aimed at disrupting regional security and achieving nothing but instability.
The US maintains several bases in the Middle East, prompting a Revolutionary Guards commander to issue a warning to Iran’s neighbors: “Neighboring countries are our friends, but if their soil, sky or waters are used against Iran, they will be considered hostile.”
Since Iran launched its crackdown on protests earlier this month and implemented an internet blackout, Trump has given mixed signals on intervention. “They want to make a deal. I know so,” he told Axios news site.
Tehran’s officials have appeared wary of inflaming tensions but later issued threats, such as the statement that if an aircraft carrier made a mistake entering Iranian territorial waters, it would be targeted. At least 6,126 people have been killed in the protests, including 5,777 protesters, 86 minors, and 49 bystanders.
Rights groups describe the crackdown as the deadliest ever in Iran, noting complications due to a three-week internet blackout that aims to hide the scale of repression. Over 41,880 people have been arrested, according to HRANA, with security agencies continuing mass arrests and intimidation strategies centered on controlling the narrative.
Persian-language TV channel Iran International reported over 36,500 Iranians were killed by security forces between January 8 and 9.