DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, warned on Sunday that the United States and Israel would be “legitimate targets” if Washington carries out military strikes against Iran, as nationwide protests challenging the country’s theocratic leadership entered their third week. The warning came as activists said at least 203 people had been killed in violence linked to the demonstrations, with fears the toll could be significantly higher due to an ongoing internet and communications blackout. Qalibaf made the remarks during a live broadcast of a parliamentary session, praising Iran’s security forces for standing firm and declaring, “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.”
The protests, which began on December 28 over economic hardship and the collapse of Iran’s currency, have since intensified into direct challenges to the ruling system, spreading across Tehran, Mashhad and other cities. President Donald Trump offered public support for protesters, writing on social media that “Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!” Meanwhile, U.S. media reports said Trump had been presented with military options but had not made a final decision. Iran’s leadership has accused demonstrators of violence and warned against foreign interference, as the U.S. military said it remains “postured with forces that span the full range of combat capability” in the Middle East, and Israel said it was closely monitoring the situation.