Iran threatens retaliation against US and Israel as anti-government protests continue
Make us a preferred source
Make us a preferred source on Google
The news: Iran has warned that US military bases, shipping centres and Israeli targets would be “legitimate” if attacked, as mass anti-government protests continue into a third week.
Parliament speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf issued the threat on Sunday, local time, saying Iran would not wait to respond but could act preemptively “within the framework of legitimate self-defence,” according to remarks aired on Iranian state television reported by multiple outlets.
The warning follows repeated threats from US President Donald Trump, who has said military action is possible if Iranian authorities kill peaceful protesters.
On Saturday (Sunday AEDT) Trump wrote on his social media site that “Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help.”
According to reports, Trump has already been briefed on new options for military strikes, and US officials told The Wall Street Journal he will receive a formal briefing on Tuesday covering possible military, cyber and economic measures, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chair General Dan Caine expected to attend.
The numbers: At least 192 protesters have been killed, according to Iran Human Rights and HRANA. About 2,638 people have been detained.
The context: The unrest began on 28 December in response to soaring prices and a sudden plunge in Iran’s currency, then broadened into the largest anti-regime demonstrations since 2022, when the death in custody of Mahsa Amini sparked nationwide protests.
Also on Sunday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian offered a conciliatory tone in a state TV interview, telling citizens that their “protests must be heard, and we must address your concerns”. But he also said the government has a “duty not to let rioters destabilize the country”.
Iranian officials have blamed the US and Israel for fuelling the unrest, accusing them of sending in trained terrorists. Despite a near-total internet blackout, footage has continued to emerge showing large crowds protesting across multiple cities. State TV has broadcast images of dozens of bodies at a Tehran morgue and aired funeral processions for slain security personnel.
The sources: The New York Times , Bloomberg, Reuters
