Tehran [Iran], January 27: Iranian authorities continue to warn of serious ramifications in case of military strikes by the United States, as more people are being arrested in connection with deadly protests amid a lingering internet blackout.
Tehran's municipality on Sunday unveiled a giant billboard at the Enghelab (Revolution) Square in the capital's central area, in an apparent warning to the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln supercarrier and supporting warplanes near Iranian waters.
The image showed a bird's-eye view of an aircraft carrier with destroyed fighter jets on the deck and blood running in the water to form the US flag.
"If you sow the wind, you will reap the whirlwind," read an accompanying message in Farsi and English.
Top military figures on Monday reiterated Iran's readiness to engage in another war with Israel and the US in the case of an attack similar to last year's 12-day conflict, while the Foreign Ministry promised a "comprehensive and regret-inducing response". Speaking to reporters during a news conference, ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei also warned "the resulting insecurity will undoubtedly affect everyone" amid reports regional actors have been directly appealing to US President Donald Trump, who on Thursday said a US "armada" is heading towards the Gulf.
As the European Union ponders listing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a "terrorist" organisation following a vote in the European Parliament, Baghaei said Tehran believes "more prudent European countries should be careful not to fall into the trap of the devilish temptations of non-European parties toward such an action".
Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi, the chief of the Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq, issued a fiery statement on Monday warning of "total war" in case of US aggression. Hezbollah's Naim Qassem has repeatedly heaped praise on Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during a speech on Monday. The Houthis in Yemen also released a video on Monday that showed US warships and previously attacked commercial vessels.
Meanwhile, judicial and intelligence authorities continue to report action against "rioters" as the Iranian establishment blames "terrorists" working in line with the interests of the US and Israel during the nationwide protests that started in late December.
Source: Qatar Tribune