Iran has issued a stern warning to the US and Israel, threatening it would target American troops in the region and Israeli territories in response to any US strikes.
Iranian cities are gripped by large protests over economic hardship, amid a rise in violence and a growing death toll that prompted the US President, Donald Trump, to threaten the regime with intervention.
Iranian Warning
In a session broadcast live on Iranian state TV, the Speaker of Iran’s Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, warned that US military troops and Israel would become “legitimate targets” in case of a US attack against Iran.
“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,” Ghalibaf said.
Moreover, Ghalibaf praised the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, especially its Basij unit, for their role in handling the protests, reported the Associated Press (AP).
“The people of Iran should know that we will deal with them in the most severe way and punish those who are arrested,” he noted.
Potential US Strikes
Trump has repeatedly threatened Iran with military action to protect peaceful protesters. “Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!” the US President posted on Truth Social on Saturday.
These remarks followed multiple warnings that Washington would intervene if more Iranians died in the protests. “We’re watching it very closely. If they start killing people like they have in the past, I think they’re going to get hit very hard by the United States,” he told reporters last week. He also said earlier that the US would come to the rescue of the demonstrators.
Meanwhile, the US State Department issued a separate warning on Saturday, saying: “Do not play games with President Trump. When he says he’ll do something, he means it.”
American newspapers, such as the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, reported on Saturday night, citing US officials, that Trump has been considering military options for strikes against Iran, but has not decided on the matter.
Israel on High Alert
The reciprocal threats between Washington and Tehran have put Israel on high alert for a possible US military action against Iran, Reuters reported citing three Israeli sources who were present during security consultations over the weekend.
Separately, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, reportedly discussed the possibility of a US attack on Iran in a phone call on Saturday, according to an Israeli source.
On Friday, Netanyahu told The Economist that Iran would face horrible consequences if it attacked Israel.
Despite growing concerns over Tehran’s nuclear and missile capabilities, Israel has not signaled any intentions to intervene in Iran amid the ongoing protests.
Meanwhile, the US military in the Middle East said that it is “postured with forces that span the full range of combat capability to defend our forces, our partners and allies and US interests,” according to AP.
The 12-Day War
Iran and Israel fought a war in June 2025, known as the 12-day war. It started with a surprise Israeli attack on Iran to eliminate its nuclear program, culminating in both countries trading intensified aerial and missile attacks.
The US intervened in the conflict by striking three key nuclear facilities in Iran, namely Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan, using bunker-buster bombs. Iran responded by targeting US’ Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar with a barrage of ballistic missiles.
Then, on June 24, Trump announced a ceasefire between Iran and Israel that brought the war to an end.
The war resulted in destroying most of Iran’s air defenses and missile capabilities, in addition to the assassination of its top nuclear scientists. However, Iran has been rebuilding its missile capabilities, raising Israeli concerns over a potential strike.
Iranian Protests
Nationwide protests have shaken over the past two weeks against the country’s dire economic conditions. The Iranian rial has dropped to over 1.4 million for one US dollar. The economic crisis is further exacerbated by tight US and Western sanctions against the country, fueling Iran’s largest protests since 2022.
Internet and phone lines were cut off on Thursday, while violence has been on the rise. According to activists, at least 116 people have been killed and 2,600 have been detained.
Iranian authorities have escalated threats against protesters, with the country’s attorney general, Mohammad Movahedi Azad, warning that demonstrators and those who helped them would be “enemies of God” – a death-penalty charge.
On Sunday, demonstrators took to the streets in the capital Tehran; Iran’s second-largest city, Mashhad; and Kerman. However, the Iranian state TV aired footages of calm streets in several Iranian cities, except Tehran and Mashhad. It also broadcast footages of pro-government demonstrations in Qom and Qazvin.
