ًٍERBIL, Kurdistan region of Iraq – Iran’s Parliament security council warned that threats against the Islamic Revolution leadership would amount to “a declaration of war with the entire Islamic world,” cautioning that a Jihad decree and retaliation could follow, amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington in recent weeks.

Tensions between Iran and the US have intensified in recent weeks, with Washington warning Iran of potential attacks if it continues cracking down on protesters or expands its nuclear and missile programs, and Tehran responding with threats of retaliation.

National Security Commission of the Iranian Parliament on Tuesday announced in a statement that any attack on the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei “means a declaration of war with the entire Islamic world."

The security commission warned that further developments could follow the issuance of “a Jihad decree by Islamic scholars and the response of Islamic fighters in all parts of the world.”

The tensions reached their peak earlier in January when US President Donald Trump canceled talks with Iranian officials and told protestors in Iran that “help is on its way.”

Iran has been engulfed in nationwide protests since late last year, as business owners and shopkeepers at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar went on strike and staged demonstrations over the falling value of the Iranian rial against the US dollar. The unrest later spread to other provinces, with chants increasingly targeting the state.

Iranian Armed Forces spokesman Abolfazl Shekarchi on Tuesday dismissed Trump’s remarks, saying Tehran “does not care much about Trump’s fuss.”

Shekarchi stressed that Washington should know that “if an aggressive hand is extended towards our leader,” their forces will “decisively and courageously cut off that hand.”

“We will set their world on fire and deprive them of safety and leave no safe zone for them," he threatened.

Rights monitors report that over 3,000 protesters have been killed by Iranian security forces during the ongoing unrest, more than 2,000 injured, and over 22,000 arrested. The actual number is speculated to be significantly higher however, due to limited access to information amid widespread internet blackouts and communications outages.

Khamenei on Saturday blamed Washington for the casualties in the countrywide protests, calling the unrest an “American sedition,” and warning that the country would not let international and internal criminals go unpunished.

Iranian authorities have also cut communication services and imposed a nationwide internet blackout since January 8. The Islamic Republic often cuts internet access during unrest, making it significantly difficult to obtain information, especially on the crackdowns.

Tehran’s use of force against protesters has been heavily condemned by the international community, with Amnesty International saying the crackdown has turned into “mass killings.”