Qalibaf threatens to target U.S. ships and bases if Iran is attacked

TEHRAN: Amid the escalating nationwide protests in Iran, international media have reported that the U.S. and Israel are considering military intervention options against Iran. Reuters cited Israeli sources indicating that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the potential for U.S. military intervention in Iran during a recent phone call. Simultaneously, The New York Times mentioned that military strike options against Iran are on the table for U.S. President Donald Trump, although the White House has yet to respond officially. Al-Arabiya reported that the Israeli security cabinet is scheduled to meet on Monday to discuss the situation in Iran, with Israel’s state of readiness heightened in response to the intensifying protests. In response, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, warned that any U.S. attack would be met with retaliation from Iran, stating that American and Israeli bases in the region are considered “legitimate targets.” He further threatened that U.S. military ships and bases would be targeted. Additionally, Iranian state television broadcast images of parliament members chanting “Death to America.” The nationwide protests in Iran have now entered their second week, with reports from the Iran Human Rights Organization indicating at least 116 fatalities linked to the unrest. Reports also suggest disruptions to internet and international communications within the country. In contrast, Eskandar Momeni, Iran’s Minister of Interior, has claimed that the unrest is “decreasing” and described the country’s security situation as “appropriate.”