Iran has issued a stark warning to the United States, vowing retaliation against American and Israeli targets if President Donald Trump follows through on threats of military intervention amid Tehran’s intensifying crackdown on nationwide protests.
The warning was delivered by Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, during a parliamentary session broadcast live on state television. In unusually blunt language, Ghalibaf said Iran would not hesitate to strike US military assets and Israel if it comes under attack, describing both as “legitimate targets.”
“In the event of an attack on Iran, all American military centres, bases, ships in the region, and the occupied territory will be our legitimate targets,” Ghalibaf declared, using Tehran’s longstanding reference to Israel. He added that Iran would not wait to be struck first, insisting the country would act on what it perceives as clear signs of an imminent threat.
The statement triggered a charged atmosphere inside parliament, with hard-line lawmakers chanting anti-American slogans as tensions over the protests and foreign pressure continue to rise.
Iran has been gripped by widespread demonstrations for weeks, initially sparked by economic hardship but now increasingly framed by protesters as a rejection of the country’s theocratic system. Security forces have responded with force, leading to scores of deaths and thousands of arrests, according to rights groups. Precise figures remain difficult to confirm due to prolonged internet shutdowns and disrupted phone services across the country.
President Trump has repeatedly warned Iranian authorities against the use of lethal force on demonstrators, saying the United States is prepared to act if protesters are killed. In recent remarks, he suggested Washington could intervene without deploying ground troops, fueling speculation about possible military strikes.
Iranian leaders, however, have doubled down on defiance. Ghalibaf praised the security forces’ response to the unrest and warned that any US action would be met with a broad regional response, raising the stakes in an already volatile standoff.
Reports in the US media indicate that Trump has been briefed on various military options but has not yet made a final decision. Nevertheless, the exchange of threats has deepened fears of escalation, as internal unrest in Iran collides with mounting external pressure.
As protests continue despite crackdowns and blackouts, the confrontation between Tehran and Washington appears to be entering a dangerous phase — one where domestic dissent, regional rivalries, and superpower posturing risk tipping into open conflict.