Tehran today threatened retaliation against Israel and US bases in the event of US strikes on Iran, sending the warning to Washington, while Israeli sources said Israel was on high alert for the possibility of any US intervention, Reuters reports.
As Iran's clerical establishment faces its biggest anti-government protests since 2022, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened intervention in recent days, warning Iranian leaders not to use force against protesters. Yesterday, Trump said the United States was "ready to help."
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, addressing lawmakers today, warned the US against a "miscalculation."
"Let's be clear: in the event of an attack on Iran, the occupied territories (of Israel), as well as all American bases and ships, will be our legitimate targets," said Qalibaf, a former commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guard.
The number of victims is increasing
Three Israeli sources who attended security consultations over the weekend said Israel was on high alert, but did not elaborate on what that meant specifically.
An Israeli government spokesman declined to comment. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment, Reuters reports.
Israel and Iran fought a 12-day war in June last year, during which the United States joined Israel in carrying out airstrikes. Iran responded to those American attacks by firing missiles at a US air base in Qatar.
Protests have spread across Iran since December 28, starting as a reaction to soaring inflation, and quickly took on a political character, with demonstrators demanding an end to clerical rule. Authorities accuse the US and Israel of fomenting the unrest.
The flow of information from Iran has been hampered by the internet shutdown imposed by the authorities since Thursday.
The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), a human rights organization based in the US, announced that the death toll had risen to 116. The victims were mostly protesters, but also 37 members of the security forces.
Iranian state television broadcast the funerals of security forces members killed during protests in western Iranian cities such as Gachsaran and Yasuj.
A video posted on social media on Saturday shows large groups of people gathered at night in the Punak neighborhood of Tehran, rhythmically banging on a bridge or other metal objects, in what is interpreted as a sign of protest. Reuters confirmed the location of the video.
Iranian authorities have repeatedly suppressed waves of unrest, most recently in 2022, following the death of a woman in custody accused of violating the dress code.
US official: Iran is a 'game of endurance'
Trump posted on social media yesterday: "Iran is looking toward freedom, perhaps like never before. The United States stands ready to help!"
During a phone call yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the possibility of US intervention in Iran, according to an Israeli source who was present at the conversation.
A US official confirmed that the two had spoken, but did not specify what topics were on the agenda.
A senior U.S. intelligence official described the situation in Iran yesterday as a “game of endurance.” The opposition is trying to keep up the pressure until key government figures flee or switch sides, while the authorities are trying to sow enough fear to clear the streets, but without giving the United States a justification to intervene, the official said.
Israel has not signaled a desire to intervene, although tensions between the two sworn enemies are high due to Israeli concerns over Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
In an interview with The Economist magazine published two days ago, Netanyahu said Iran would face dire consequences if it attacked Israel. Alluding to the protests, he added: "Everything else, I think we need to see what happens inside Iran."
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