TEHRAN — US President Donald Trump’s announcement that US forces had carried out large-scale strikes in Venezuela, capturing President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, reverberated far beyond Latin America.

In Tehran, the message landed amid a seventh day of nationwide protests, currency freefall and rising fears that the Islamic Republic itself could be next in Washington’s crosshairs.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry swiftly condemned the US operation, calling it “a gross violation of regional and international peace and security and … the fundamental principles of the UN Charter.” In its official statement, the ministry urged the UN Security Council to act, saying Venezuela had the inherent right to defend its sovereignty and the right to self-determination.

When Maduro’s capture was confirmed, several Iranian cities were the scene of running battles between protesters and security forces, as the country entered a seventh consecutive day of unrest triggered by economic grievances. In the latest developments, state media confirmed that at least three protesters and an officer had been killed during clashes in the Kurdish town of Malekshahi, bringing the protester death toll to at least 12 since last week.