Iranian parliament speaker warns US troops and Israel as US threatens military strike against Iran amid nationwide protests.
In a move that has heightened tensions between Iran and its adversaries, Iranian parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf vowed on Sunday to target the US military and Israel in any potential retaliation for a US-led strike. The warning comes amidst deadly, nationwide protests that have raged for over two weeks, leaving at least 116 dead.
Ghalibaf, a hardliner who has run for the presidency, praised police and Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard for maintaining order during the unrest. He vowed to punish those arrested during the protests, sparking concerns about a potential crackdown on dissent.
The speaker's warning against the US military and Israel marked a significant escalation in rhetoric between Tehran and Washington, with President Donald Trump having previously threatened to take military action against Iran if it did not curb its nuclear program.
In a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed Gaza, Syria, and the protests in Iran. While details of the conversation were not disclosed, the meeting is seen as an attempt to bolster cooperation between the two countries amid growing tensions.
The internet shutdown in Iran remains in place, with Netblocks reporting that it has now lasted more than 60 hours. Human rights groups have criticized the measure, stating that it poses a direct threat to the safety and well-being of Iranians at a critical moment for the country's future.
As protests continue to spread across various cities, including Mashhad, where footage showed protesters confronting security forces, the situation remains volatile. Iranian authorities have signaled a coming crackdown on dissent, despite warnings from US officials about potential repercussions for any violent response.
The demonstrations began in mid-December over economic grievances, but have since evolved into calls directly challenging Iran's theocratic system of government. The protests are seen as a significant challenge to the authority of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani.
As tensions between Iran and its adversaries continue to escalate, the international community watches with growing concern, wondering how the situation will unfold in the coming days.
In a move that has heightened tensions between Iran and its adversaries, Iranian parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf vowed on Sunday to target the US military and Israel in any potential retaliation for a US-led strike. The warning comes amidst deadly, nationwide protests that have raged for over two weeks, leaving at least 116 dead.
Ghalibaf, a hardliner who has run for the presidency, praised police and Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard for maintaining order during the unrest. He vowed to punish those arrested during the protests, sparking concerns about a potential crackdown on dissent.
The speaker's warning against the US military and Israel marked a significant escalation in rhetoric between Tehran and Washington, with President Donald Trump having previously threatened to take military action against Iran if it did not curb its nuclear program.
In a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed Gaza, Syria, and the protests in Iran. While details of the conversation were not disclosed, the meeting is seen as an attempt to bolster cooperation between the two countries amid growing tensions.
The internet shutdown in Iran remains in place, with Netblocks reporting that it has now lasted more than 60 hours. Human rights groups have criticized the measure, stating that it poses a direct threat to the safety and well-being of Iranians at a critical moment for the country's future.
As protests continue to spread across various cities, including Mashhad, where footage showed protesters confronting security forces, the situation remains volatile. Iranian authorities have signaled a coming crackdown on dissent, despite warnings from US officials about potential repercussions for any violent response.
The demonstrations began in mid-December over economic grievances, but have since evolved into calls directly challenging Iran's theocratic system of government. The protests are seen as a significant challenge to the authority of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani.
As tensions between Iran and its adversaries continue to escalate, the international community watches with growing concern, wondering how the situation will unfold in the coming days.
Tensions between Iran and US/Israel are super high right now 
. Iranian parliament speaker is being super defensive 
about police brutality during protests 
. He's also warning against any retaliation 
which could lead to more bloodshed 
. The internet shutdown in Iran is still on, which is totally unacceptable 
. I mean, can't they just let people express themselves freely? 
. It's like the world is holding its breath waiting for what happens next 
...
. Iran's already showing signs of getting desperate with all these protests going on, and now they're threatening to take out the US military and Israel? That's just a recipe for disaster 
. The fact that they're punishing people arrested during protests and threatening more violence now... it's all just so ominous 
. I'm seriously worried about how this situation will play out, especially with Israel getting involved too 
. This could go either way - maybe we'll see some sort of resolution, but I'm not holding my breath 
.
. Like, yeah, the internet shutdown is a bummer and all that, but have you seen the way the police and Revolutionary Guard have been handling things? They're literally keeping order on the streets! 
I mean, Trump did threaten some major heat if Iran didn't get its nuclear program under control. And Netanyahu is trying to be all diplomatic about Gaza and Syria... maybe there's more to this conversation than meets the eye?
this is getting super serious 
whoever is behind the protests needs to be heard 
and i'm all about supporting human rights groups in condemning this internet shutdown 
anyone got any ideas on how we can help bring an end to this situation? 
#StayVigilant Meanwhile, Iran is cracking down on dissent with an internet shutdown