‘Legitimate targets’: Iran warns US of retaliation; Israel on high alert — will Trump order a strike?

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.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!

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.

Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf

“The people of Iran should know that we will deal with them in the most severe way and punish those who are arrested,” Qalibaf said.He went on to directly threaten Israel, “the occupied territory,” as he referred to it, and the US military, possibly with a preemptive strike.“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,” Qalibaf said. “We do not consider ourselves limited to reacting after the action and will act based on any objective signs of a threat.”116 dead in violent protests in IranAt least 116 civilians were killed and hundreds were injured in Iran as the country is witnessing one of the largest protests since 2022, when the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody sparked nationwide anti-government protests.Protests fuelled by a deepening economic crisis have swept Iran since they began on December 28, following the collapse of the Iranian rial, as soaring inflation has driven frustrated traders and university students into the streets of major cities, including Tehran.

Online videos sent out of Iran, likely using Starlink satellite transmitters, purportedly showed demonstrators gathering in northern Tehran's Punak neighborhood. There, it appeared authorities shut off streets, with protesters waving their lit mobile phones. Others banged metal while fireworks went off.The authorities have cut-off the internet and phone lines, forcing the nation into a near-total nationwide internet blackout.