Death Toll In Iran Protests Tops 500, Tehran Threatens Retaliation
2 days ago
Iran on Sunday warned it would retaliate against U.S. military bases and Israel if President Donald Trump were to carry out his repeated threats to intervene in the country to protect protesters.
The announcement comes as nationwide demonstrations in Iran have left more than 500 people dead, according to human rights activists. The protests, which began over rising prices in late December, have grown into broader anti-government demonstrations against the clerical leadership that has ruled since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Iranian authorities accuse the U.S. and Israel of encouraging the unrest, while social media videos, shared despite an internet blackout, show large crowds continuing to gather in Tehran. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf issued a warning to Trump, stating that any attack on Iran would make U.S. bases and Israel “legitimate targets” for retaliation.
President Trump responded on social media, saying the U.S. “stands ready to help” Iranians seeking freedom. Meanwhile, exiled opposition figure Reza Pahlavi urged Iranians to “not abandon the streets,” highlighting the ongoing uncertainty about the level of support he commands inside the country.
The announcement comes as nationwide demonstrations in Iran have left more than 500 people dead, according to human rights activists. The protests, which began over rising prices in late December, have grown into broader anti-government demonstrations against the clerical leadership that has ruled since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Iranian authorities accuse the U.S. and Israel of encouraging the unrest, while social media videos, shared despite an internet blackout, show large crowds continuing to gather in Tehran. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf issued a warning to Trump, stating that any attack on Iran would make U.S. bases and Israel “legitimate targets” for retaliation.
President Trump responded on social media, saying the U.S. “stands ready to help” Iranians seeking freedom. Meanwhile, exiled opposition figure Reza Pahlavi urged Iranians to “not abandon the streets,” highlighting the ongoing uncertainty about the level of support he commands inside the country.
