Iran threatens US and Israel of retaliation amid protest crackdown

Tehran warned that US troops and Israel would be "legitimate targets" if the US strikes Iran, as President Donald Trump reiterated US support for Iranian protesters.

"In the event of a military attack by the United States, both the occupied territory (Israel) and centres of the US military and shipping will be our legitimate targets," Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said, speaking in parliament on Sunday.

Iran does not recognise Israel and considers it occupied Palestinian territory.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed in a phone call on Saturday the possibility of US intervention in Iran, according to German magazine Der Spiegel.

The warning comes after US President Donald Trump reiterated Washington is willing to step up to protect peaceful demonstrators. Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform wrote: “Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!"

Earlier this week, Trump warned he's willing to strike Iran kills protesters. The State Department separately warned: “Do not play games with President Trump. When he says he’ll do something, he means it".

Trump was reportedly presented on Saturday night with military options for a strike on Iran, according to The New York Times and Wall Street Journal, citing anonymous US officials, adding that he hadn't made a final decision yet.

Iran crossed the two-week mark of protests, with nationwide demonstrations continuing into Sunday as crowds took to the streets of the capital of Tehran, as well as Mashhad, the country’s second-largest city, to challenge Iran's theocracy.

The number of deaths in connection with the protests rose to 116 people, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. This number includes 37 members of security forces or other officials.

However, activists warn this number could be far higher, as the nationwide internet blackout, which is in its third day, limits the flow of information.

"The censorship measure presents a direct threat to the safety and wellbeing of Iranians at a key moment for the country's future," monitor Netblocks said on X, adding that the blackout is "now past the 60 hour mark".

Human rights groups have expressed concern over the blackout, and warn a "massacre" of protesters is underway.

"The complete Internet and communications shutdown in Iran is extremely alarming: the regime typically does this as a preface to the mass slaughter of protesters. In 2019, when protests broke out throughout the country, the Iranian authorities completely shut down the internet—and then proceeded to kill over 1000 protesters," the Centre for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) wrote in a statement.

According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 2,600 have been detained. Iran's national police chief confirmed on Sunday the arrest of key figures in the protest.

"Last night (Saturday evening), significant arrests were made of the main elements in the riots, who, God willing, will be punished after going through legal procedures," Ahmad-Reza Radan told state TV, without giving details on the number or identities of those arrested.