In a charged address delivered during Friday prayers in Tehran, Mohammad Javad Haj Ali Akbari, a prominent Iranian cleric, signaled that the country’s missile capabilities are actively monitoring U.S. investments scattered throughout the region and warned these assets could become targets if the United States initiates any form of aggression against Iran. He emphasized that the substantial financial investments, totaling approximately one trillion dollars, that the U.S. has in the Middle East are under close surveillance by Iranian defenses. However, Akbari did not enumerate the specific U.S. holdings or sectors that could be at risk.
The background to this escalation includes U.S. President Donald Trump's recent declaration that an "armada" is en route to the Persian Gulf region, intended as a show of strength to discourage Iran from harming protesters within its borders or pursuing its nuclear program. Despite this military posturing, Trump expressed a hope to avoid escalating conflict.
Amid these heightened tensions, conflicting statements have emerged regarding the fate of individuals detained during widespread protests that have challenged Iranian authorities. Iran’s chief prosecutor, Mohammad Movahedi, categorically denied claims made by President Trump that the Iranian judiciary had halted the execution of 800 protest detainees, labeling such assertions as baseless. In a related interview, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi assured that there are no plans to carry out hangings linked to the recent civil unrest.
Internationally, the United Nations Human Rights Council is poised to convene an emergency session focused on the reported severe violence against protesters in Iran. Multiple nations will urge for comprehensive investigations into alleged human rights abuses, with the intention of supporting potential future judicial proceedings. Human rights organizations have reported thousands of casualties amid the demonstrations, which represent a significant challenge to Iran's clerical leadership since the previous year.