US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that US forces carried out a major operation in Venezuela that he claimed resulted in the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, and their removal from the country.
Trump said further details would be released shortly.
In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump wrote: “The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader.”
He said the operation was conducted in cooperation with US law enforcement agencies, adding that additional information would be made public later.
Trump also said a press conference would be held at 11 a.m. local time on Saturday at Mar-a-Lago to provide more details.
US officials and Venezuelan authorities had not independently confirmed Trump’s claims at the time of publication.
Iranian officials issued strong warnings to the United States on Friday after comments by US President Donald Trump on ongoing protests in Iran, saying any American interference would destabilise the region and threaten US interests.
The protests entered their sixth day on Friday, January 2, spreading to cities across the country amid a sharp fall in the value of the rial and a deepening economic crisis. Iranian authorities have detained dozens of protesters, and at least seven people have been killed, according to reports.
Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said US involvement in Iran’s internal affairs would have far-reaching consequences. “We distinguish between the legitimate demands of protesting shopkeepers and destructive elements,” Larijani said. “Trump should know that US interference in this internal matter would mean chaos across the entire region and the destruction of US interests.”
He warned that “the American people should know that Trump has embarked on adventurism,” adding: “They should look after their soldiers.”
Trump said on Friday that if the Islamic Republic “shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue.”
Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, also issued a warning, saying: “Any intervening hand that approaches Iran’s security will be cut off with a regret-inducing response.” Referring to past US-led wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Gaza, Shamkhani said Iranians were well aware of what Washington’s claims of “rescue” entailed. “Iran’s national security is a red line, not a subject for adventurous tweets,” he added.
Iran’s Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh said the country’s armed forces would respond decisively and without hesitation to any threat, claiming Iran’s defensive capabilities had grown since the 12-day war earlier this year.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf also condemned Trump’s remarks, warning that any act of adventurism would make all US bases and forces in the region legitimate targets for Iran.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Iranians would resolve their problems through dialogue among themselves and would not tolerate foreign interference.
The United States maintains military bases across the Middle East, including in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq and Qatar. In June 2025, following US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities during the 12-day war, Iran launched missile attacks on the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
As protests continued on Friday, residents of Zahedan, in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province, chanted “Death to the dictator,” according to witnesses. Demonstrations featuring anti-government slogans have taken place in more than 17 provinces in recent days.
Donald Trump warned that the United States would take action if Iranian authorities fire on peaceful protesters and carry out violent killings, as demonstrations continued across the country.
In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump said that the violent suppression of protests is the Iranian government’s “custom” and that Washington would respond if such actions occur.
“We are locked and loaded and ready to go,” Trump wrote.
Protests in Iran entered their sixth day on Friday, January 2, according to reports. Iranian authorities have detained dozens of protesters, and at least seven people have been killed.
The demonstrations were sparked by the sharp and unprecedented fall of the Iranian rial against the US dollar, deepening economic turmoil and public anger over the government’s failure to address widespread livelihood concerns.
Iranian officials have not publicly responded to Trump’s remarks.
Protests continued across several Iranian cities for a fourth consecutive day on Wednesday, driven by surging currency prices and a deepening economic crisis. United States urged authorities to halt their crackdown on demonstrators.
Protesters gathered in the cities of Isfahan, Kermanshah and Fasa, with reports of fires being set in streets in some areas. In Fasa, located in Fars province, demonstrators assembled outside the governor’s office, and videos circulating on social media appeared to show protesters storming the building.
Footage from the city showed crowds chanting slogans including “Death to the dictator”, a chant also reported during demonstrations in Kermanshah. Protesters have blamed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for the country’s worsening economic conditions.
Earlier reports indicated that several protesters had been arrested. The University of Tehran’s student union council said six students detained during demonstrations had since been released.
The unrest has drawn international reaction. The Persian-language account of the US State Department on X said it was concerned by reports of intimidation, violence and arrests, calling on Iranian authorities to end the repression of protesters.
Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also commented on X, saying it was “no surprise” that Iranians were taking to the streets to protest a collapsing economy. He accused the Iranian leadership of undermining the country through “extremism and corruption”.
The protests follow strikes by Iranian merchants that began on Sunday, December 28, in response to the sharp fall in the national currency and deteriorating economic conditions.
Pakistan Army said a 36-year-old officer was killed during a security operation against militants in Bajaur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In a statement issued on Monday, the army said the clash occurred during an operation launched after reports of the presence of armed militants in the area. Five members of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan were killed in the exchange of fire, according to the military.
The army said the slain militants had previously been involved in attacks on Pakistan’s security forces and civilians. Following the clash, clearance operations continued to search for other militants in the area.
The military said its counterterrorism campaign would continue under a plan known as “Azm-e-Istehkam.”
Bajaur, a former tribal district bordering Afghanistan, has seen repeated security operations and armed clashes between Pakistani forces and militant groups in recent months.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, to discuss the growing tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan.
Araghchi expressed appreciation for Turkiye’s efforts to ease the crisis and stressed the need for continued engagement.
In a statement on Thursday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said Araghchi “praised the efforts made to reduce tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan” and underlined the importance of intensified consultations to safeguard regional peace and stability.
The ministry said Araghchi also conveyed Iran’s readiness to help reduce tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan.
Araghchi had earlier discussed the crisis with his Russian and Qatari counterparts as part of broader diplomatic efforts to address the rift between Islamabad and the Taliban.
Since the onset of recent clashes between the Taliban and Pakistan, Iran has repeatedly offered to mediate, though neither side has responded to Tehran’s proposals.
Turkiye previously hosted two rounds of talks between Taliban and Pakistani delegations, but both ended without agreement. Relations between the two sides deteriorated sharply after the failed negotiations and following suicide attacks in Islamabad and an assault on a military college in South Waziristan.
According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry statement, Araghchi and Fidan also exchanged views on bilateral relations and regional developments.
Fidan highlighted the interconnected nature of regional peace and stability and said all countries must work to preserve them.
Araghchi also extended condolences over the deaths of several Turkish citizens in a military plane crash and expressed sympathy for the bereaved families.