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Iran has warned that it will deliver a “harsh” response if the United States launches any new military action against the country.

Some shit you should know before you dig in: Yesterday, President Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago estate, where Netanyahu presented Trump with updated intelligence suggesting Iran has been covertly reassembling key elements of its missile and nuclear programs. During the joint appearance, Israeli reporters asked Trump if he would support or participate in potential new military strikes on Iran should intelligence confirm Tehran is rebuilding its ballistic missile infrastructure or restarting its nuclear program. Trump responded, stating,“If it’s confirmed, they know the consequences, and the consequences will be very powerful, maybe more powerful than the last time.” He added, “Now I hear that Iran is trying to build up again, and if they are, we’re going to have to knock them down. We’ll knock them down. We’ll knock the hell out of them.” Trump added that he would support Israel’s right to act and made clear that the US would also be ready to carry out direct strikes if Iran resumes nuclear activity.

What’s going on now: In a notable development, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian responded directly to Trump’scomments, warning that Iran’s reaction to any new US military action would be “harsh and discouraging.” Writing on the social platform X, Pezeshkian said, “The answer of the Islamic Republic of Iran to any cruel aggression will be harsh and regret-inducing.” He described the current standoff as more than diplomatic posturing, stating, “We are in a full-scale war with the US, Israel and Europe; they don’t want our country to remain stable.”

These warnings come as Iran has been rocked by some of the largest anti-government protests in years following a sharp collapse of its national currency. Demonstrators took to the streets in Tehran and several provincial cities, with videos showing confrontations between citizens and riot police. University campuses have also become flashpoints, with student-led rallies drawing heavy security responses. In response to the unrest, Pezeshkian met with business leaders to address economic grievances and promised reforms, including the suspension of tax penalties. His administration also announced the closure of government offices and banks for several days, citing energy concerns, which officials framed as a technical measure but has been widely viewed as an effort to calm public anger.

At the same time, pro-Iranian social media accounts that are suspected of being linked to state-run or state-aligned bot networks have blamed the protests on foreign interference. These accounts, some operating under nationalist slogans or religious branding, have circulated claims that Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad is orchestrating the unrest as part of a psychological warfare campaign.