WW3 fears rise as Iran hits again at Trump and vows revenge in opposition to any US assault
Tehran has vowed revenge against any US attack after President Trump said he was ‘ready to help’ protesters, amid fears hundreds have been killed in a brutal crackdown by the regime
Protests continue in Iran(Image: @gghamari/X)
Fears of a global conflict were growing on Sunday after Iran issued a chilling warning it would respond to an military strikes from the US.
Donald Trump vowed to hit Iran “very hard” if they “start killing people” and said he is “ready to help” protestors facing a crackdown from the brutal regime. He is also said to be weighing up military action on a number of Iranian targets.
Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf responded by shouting “Death to America” in a live broadcast – and warned the US and Israel that they would be “legitimate targets” if Trump carried out military strikes.
In a parliament session broadcast live on Iranian state television, Qalibaf gave a speech applauding police and Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard for having ‘stood firm’ during the protests.
He said: “The people of Iran should know that we will deal with them in the most severe way and punish those who are arrested.
“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.”
Demonstrations in the country were sparked by soaring inflation and have spread to more than 100 cities and towns across every province in Iran.
Now protesters are calling for an end to the clerical rule of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has dismissed demonstrators as a “bunch of vandals” seeking to “please” Trump.
Iran’s attorney general said anyone protesting would be considered an “enemy of God”, an offence that carries the death penalty.
In a post on his Truth Social network on Saturday night, Nobel Peace Prize hopeful Trump said: “Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!”
Reports in US media said the White House has held ‘preliminary discussions’ on plans for a potential strike against Iran. Trump was briefed with options to strike the country, but was yet to make a final decision, according to the New York Times.
And one option on the table is to launch a “large–scale aerial strike” against Iranian military targets, the Wall Street Journal said.
Brave protesters have taken to the streets for a 15th day despite human rights watchdogs reporting the death toll has risen to 116, while 2,600 people have been detained.
Staff at several hospitals said they have been overwhelmed with the injured and dead. BBC Persian said it had verified 70 bodies brought to one hospital in Rasht city on Friday night and a health worker reported around 38 people dying at a Tehran hospital.
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