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A spokesperson for the Iranian government has issued a stern warning to President Donald Trump, advising the U.S. against any aggressive action towards Iran.

"Trump knows that if any hand of aggression is extended toward our leader, we not only cut that hand but also we will set fire to their world," stated Gen. Abolfazl Shekarchi, a spokesman for Iran's armed forces.

This warning follows Trump's recent call for an end to Khamenei's regime, which has lasted nearly four decades. In a recent interview with Politico, Trump labelled Khamenei as "a sick man who should run his country properly and stop killing people," suggesting that "it's time to look for new leadership in Iran."

The tension between the U.S. and Iran has been escalating in the wake of violent suppression of protests in Iran, which began on Dec. 28 due to the country's economic collapse.

Trump has set a clear boundary for the Islamic Republic, demanding an end to the killing of peaceful protesters and executions in response to the demonstrations.

According to ship-tracking data, the USS Abraham Lincoln had passed through the Strait of Malacca by Tuesday. This vital waterway connects the South China Sea, where the carrier had recently been operating, to the Indian Ocean.

An unnamed U.S. Navy official disclosed to the Associated Press that the aircraft carrier, along with three accompanying destroyers, were heading west.

While there has been no official confirmation that the carrier strike group is en route to the Middle East, its current trajectory and position in the Indian Ocean suggest it's only days away from entering the region.

This wouldn't be the first instance of a Pacific-bound carrier strike group being redirected to the Middle East due to regional instability. The Abraham Lincoln was rerouted to the Middle East in 2024, and the USS Nimitz strike group was ordered to deploy to the region last June.

The Human Rights Activists News Agency reported today that the death toll from the protests has risen to at least 4,484 people, although some estimates suggest the actual figure could be higher.

This marks the highest death toll from any period of unrest or protests in Iran in decades, second only to the turmoil of the 1979 revolution that led to the establishment of the Islamic Republic.

Despite a lull in protests for several days, the total number of fatalities could increase significantly as information gradually surfaces from the country, which has been under a government-imposed internet blackout since 8 January.