Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, today sent out a post on social media, in Russian, threatening the United States if it intervenes due to ongoing protests in that country.

Some 500 people have been killed by government forces in that country as all 31 provinces have experienced massive unrest due to the economy and pro-democracy sentiment spreading across Iran.

The messages were a signal that Iran was counting on its alliance with Russia to starve off possible U.S. action.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump has warned Iran that actions against Iranian civilians involved in the protests, up to and including killing Iranian civilians, would cross a red line, and force the U.S. hands.

The protests began more than two weeks ago and spread across the nation. Internet access for the entire country has been cut in an effort to hinder communications between protest groups and to stymie human rights groups from accessing information regarding crackdown efforts by the Iranian government.