IRGC general threatens Trump: “We will cut off his hand and his finger”

A senior Iranian military commander on January 14 issued a stark threat against US President Donald Trump, warning that any attack on Iran would be met with sweeping retaliation and an end to diplomatic restraint.

Mohsen Rezaei, a senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) general and a member of Iran’s Expediency Council, said Iran would respond directly to Trump after the US president warned of possible military action over Iran’s deadly crackdown on protesters, Caliber.Az reports via Iranian media. 

“Trump has said his hand is on the trigger. We will cut off his hand and his finger,” Rezaei said.

Rezaei warned that Iran would abandon any consideration of a ceasefire if it came under attack.

“If we move forward, there will be no talk of a ceasefire anymore,” he said.

He added that Iran’s restraint should not be mistaken for weakness.

“You do not pay attention to the restraint and strategic patience we have shown. Stop right now. Step back, otherwise none of your bases in the region will be safe.”

Trump has repeatedly warned Tehran that the United States would respond militarily if Iranian authorities continued killing demonstrators, as the death toll rose amid a sweeping crackdown on protests. The US president has described Iran as a key adversary in the Middle East.

Late on January 14, however, Trump appeared to signal a possible de-escalation, saying that killings in Iran had stopped and that there would be no executions.

By Sabina Mammadli