(The Hill) — Iran’s parliament speaker threatened to retaliate against the U.S. if President Trump followed through on his warnings to intervene as Tehran continues its crackdown on protesters.
During a parliament session broadcast live on Iranian state television, speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf gave a speech applauding the military force’s crackdown, cautioning that U.S. military and Israel are “legitimate targets” for Iran to strike.
Qalibaf, referring to Israel as “the occupied territory,” said Iran would not rule out a preemptive strike on either country.
“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 in his speech.
“We do not consider ourselves limited to reacting after the action and will act based on any objective signs of a threat,” he continued.
Qalibaf, who has run for the presidency in the past, delivered the warning as fellow hardline lawmakers rushed the dais and shouted, “Death to America!”
Nationwide protests challenging Iran’s theocracy have roiled the country in the last couple of weeks, as Iran continues to crack down on protests. Activists estimate that 116 people have died related to the protests, while 2,600 others have been detained, according to the U.S.-based Human Right Activists News Agency. The exact numbers are difficult to gauge because internet is down in the country and phone lines are cut off.
Trump has warned that the U.S. is prepared to intervene if Iran kills any protesters.
“If Iran shots and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go,” Trump said earlier this month.
“Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!” he said on his Truth Social platform.
The New York Times reported that Trump has been briefed on military options for a strike on Iran but hasn’t made a final decision.
The Associated Press contributed.
