Iran's Revolutionary Guard Warns U.S. Amid Rising Tensions

Iran's Revolutionary Guard commander, Gen. Mohammad Pakpour, has cautioned the United States and Israel against "miscalculations" amid escalating tensions.

"The Islamic Revolutionary Guards and dear Iran stand more ready than ever, finger on the trigger, to execute the orders and directives of the Commander-in-Chief," Pakpour stated.

This warning coincides with the deployment of U.S. military assets to the Middle East. The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group, including three destroyers, has left the South China Sea and is moving toward the Indian Ocean, set to join existing U.S. naval forces in the Persian Gulf.

The backdrop to these developments includes recent protests in Iran, triggered by the collapse of the Iranian rial, which led to a government crackdown resulting in over 5,000 reported deaths and more than 27,000 arrests, according to activist groups.

President Donald Trump has warned Iran against executing detained protesters, indicating that such actions would cross a red line possibly leading to military intervention.

In response to the heightened tensions, several European airlines, including Air France and Luxair, have canceled or delayed flights to Dubai, citing regional security concerns.