DUBAI, Jan 23 (Reuters) - An ‌influential Iranian cleric warned on Friday that Iran may target ‌U.S.-linked investments in the region in retaliation for any U.S. ‌attack on the Islamic Republic, Iranian news agencies reported. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United States had an "armada" heading toward Iran but hoped he would ‍not have to use it, as he ‍renewed warnings to Tehran against ‌killing protesters or restarting its nuclear programme. Separately, Iran's ‍top prosecutor Mohammad Movahedi denied that Iran had called off 800 executions of people arrested in recent nationwide protests, as Trump has said. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told Fox News last week "There is no plan for hanging at all" by Iran, when asked about the anti-government protests. Rights groups ​say thousands, including bystanders, were killed during the unrest, which represented the biggest challenge to Iran's clerical government since 2022.

Source: The Star January 24, 2026 01:34 UTC