IRAN’S REVOLUTIONARY GUARD COMMANDER WARNS THE U.S., SAYS FORCES HAVE THEIR 'FINGER ON THE TRIGGER'. (PHOTO).

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard commander warns the U.S., says forces have their 'finger on the trigger'

 Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has issued a sharp warning to the United States and Israel, declaring that its forces are “more ready than ever, finger on the trigger,” as American warships move toward the Middle East. The statement came Saturday from Revolutionary Guard commander Gen. Mohammad Pakpour amid heightened regional tensions following Iran’s violent crackdown on nationwide protests. Pakpour warned adversaries to avoid any miscalculation, saying the Guard stands fully prepared to carry out orders from Iran’s commander-in-chief. The Guard played a central role in suppressing the recent unrest, which erupted late last year after Iran’s currency collapsed and spread nationwide for roughly two weeks.

Tensions between Tehran and Washington remain elevated as President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned Iran over its handling of the protests, identifying the killing of peaceful demonstrators and the mass execution of detainees as red lines for possible U.S. military action. Trump has claimed Iran halted the execution of hundreds of detained protesters, an assertion Iranian officials have strongly denied. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said U.S. warships were being positioned in the region “just in case,” adding that a large naval force was heading toward Iran. He also referenced earlier negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program and warned that any future U.S. military response would dwarf previous strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. The growing standoff has rippled beyond politics and military posturing, prompting several European airlines to cancel or delay flights to destinations in the region amid airspace security concerns.

While street protests in Iran have subsided in recent days, the reported death toll continues to climb as information emerges despite an extended nationwide internet blackout. Activist groups say more than 5,000 people have been killed and tens of thousands arrested during the crackdown, making it one of the deadliest periods of unrest in Iran in decades. Iranian authorities have offered a lower official death toll and have characterized many of those killed as terrorists, a description critics dispute. As the region braces for further escalation, the combination of military warnings, diplomatic threats, and lingering humanitarian concerns has underscored the volatility of the current moment.