‘Legitimate targets’: Iran warns US of retaliation; Israel on alert — will Trump order a strike?
Iran's leadership faces escalating protests, now in their third week, with over 116 reported deaths. Amidst this unrest, Israel is on high alert as US President Trump reportedly considers military action. Iran has issued a stern warning, deeming regional US bases and Israel as 'legitimate targets' if attacked.
Nationwide protests challenging Iran’s leadership entered their third week on Sunday, with demonstrators once again flooding the streets of Tehran and Mashhad, the country’s two largest cities.The unrest has turned increasingly violent, with at least 116 people killed so far, according to rights groups monitoring the situation.
Khamenei In BIG TROUBLE: Iran Riots Video Viral Despite Internet Crackdown; BOMBS, Torched Cars...
Israel on high alertMeanwhile, Israel is on high alert as US president Donald Trump is weighing options for military strikes in Iran amid ongoing protests in the country, news agency Reuters reported, citing three Israeli sources familiar with the matter.
The news agency cited a source and claimed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US secretary of state Marco Rubio discussed the possibility of US intervention in Iran over a phone call on Saturday.Additionally, the matter was also discussed during Israeli security consultations over the weekend, it added.The sources, however, did not elaborate on what Israel’s high-alert footing meant in practice. 'USA stands ready to help'Earlier in the day, Trump warned Iran against continuing to kill protestors and indicated that the United States stands ready to act.In a Truth Social post on Saturday (US local time), he wrote: “Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!”According to US officials, Trump is seriously considering authorising a strike in response to the Iranian regime's efforts to suppress demonstrations set off by widespread economic grievances.
The president has been presented with a range of options, including strikes on nonmilitary sites in Tehran, the capital, the New York Times reported, citing sources.
Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!
US President Donald Trump
Senior US officials said that at least some of the options presented to Trump for the situation in Iran would be tied directly to elements of the country's security services that are using violence to put down the growing protests.Iran's counter-threat to US and IsraelMeanwhile, Iran warned that regional US military bases and Israel would be “legitimate targets” if America strikes the Islamic Republic.Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf made the threat as lawmakers rushed the dais in the Iranian parliament, shouting: “Death to America!”
In the event of an attack on Iran, both the occupied territory and all American military centers, bases and ships in the region will be our legitimate targets. We do not consider ourselves limited to reacting after the action and will act based on any objective signs of a threat.
