Protests: Iran Warns U.S., Israel Of Retaliation If Trump Strikes

Iran has warned that the United States and Israel would face military retaliation if the U.S. launches any strike against the country, as nationwide protests continue to shake the Islamic Republic.

The warning came on Sunday during an emergency session of Iran’s parliament, where Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said US forces and Israel would become “legitimate targets” should the U.S. act on threats issued by President Donald Trump.

As tensions escalate, the death toll from the protests has climbed to at least 116, according to the US-based human rights group HRANA, while an internet blackout imposed by authorities has now stretched beyond 60 hours.

Speaking in a session broadcast live on state television, Ghalibaf praised Iran’s security forces, including the Revolutionary Guard and its volunteer wing, the Basij, for their firm response to the unrest. He vowed harsh punishment for demonstrators arrested during the protests.

“The people of Iran should know that we will deal with them in the most severe way,” he said.

He went further to threaten both Israel and the US military, warning that Iran would not wait to be attacked before responding.

“In the event of an attack on Iran, both the occupied territory and all American military centres, bases and ships in the region will be our legitimate targets. We will act based on any objective signs of a threat,” Ghalibaf said

The parliamentary session was marked by heated scenes, with lawmakers chanting “Death to America,” as tensions between Iran and the United States continued to mount.

US media outlet Axios reported that Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a phone conversation on Sunday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during which they discussed developments in Gaza, Syria and the protests in Iran.

While officials from both sides confirmed the call, details of the discussion were not disclosed.

Despite the threats from authorities, anti-regime demonstrations have continued across several Iranian cities. HRANA said protests have taken place in the capital Tehran, Mashhad, Kerman and other urban centres, with security forces maintaining a heavy presence.

Netblocks, a global internet monitoring group, said Iran’s communications blackout has now lasted more than 60 hours, warning that the shutdown poses serious risks to public safety.

“The censorship measure presents a direct threat to the safety and wellbeing of Iranians at a critical moment for the country’s future,” the group said.

According to AFP, Videos circulating online, believed to have been transmitted through satellite internet services, showed protesters gathering in northern Tehran’s Punak district, waving lit mobile phones and chanting slogans. In other clips, demonstrators were seen marching peacefully, honking car horns and blocking roads with debris.

In Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city and home to the Imam Reza shrine, footage appeared to show clashes between protesters and security forces, with burning dumpsters used to block streets.

State television attempted to counter the narrative of unrest by airing footage of calm streets in selected cities, as well as pro-government rallies in Qom and Qazvin. However, Tehran and Mashhad were notably absent from the broadcasts.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has signalled more crackdown, even as the United States issues warnings against further repression.

Iran’s attorney general, Mohammad Movahedi Azad, has declared that anyone involved in the protests could be charged as an “enemy of God” which carries the death penalty under Iranian law.

Authorities have also cut off international phone calls and restricted foreign media access, leaving only a handful of outlets able to report from inside the country.

Iran’s exiled Crown Prince, Reza Pahlavi, has urged citizens to continue protesting, calling on demonstrators to carry national symbols from the pre-revolution era as a sign of reclaiming public space.

Protests: Iran Warns U.S., Israel Of Retaliation If Trump Strikes is first published on The Whistler Newspaper