Iran President Orders Restraint on Protesters; Military Warns US, Israel Amid Unrest

• Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered security forces to distinguish between peaceful economic protesters and armed "rioters."
• Vice President Mohammad Jafar Ghaempanah confirmed the President's directive against cracking down on peaceful demonstrators.
• Iran's military chief General Amir Hatami warned the US and Israel against foreign interference, threatening a forceful response.
• US President Donald Trump and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu had expressed support for the protests, with Trump threatening intervention.
• The protests began on December 28 over soaring prices and the rial's collapse, drawing international attention.

Why It Matters: Iran's President urges restraint on protesters while military warns foreign powers amid economic unrest.