Iran has issued a stark warning of immediate retaliatory attacks against the United States if former President Donald Trump moves to intervene in the latest wave of violent domestic unrest. The threat comes amid reports from human rights groups that over 500 people have been killed and approximately 10,000 arrested during the protests.
Chaos and Carnage on the Streets
Chaotic scenes have unfolded across Iran, from the capital Tehran to towns and cities nationwide. Anti-regime opposition groups based in Britain have relayed horrific accounts of security forces gunning down protesters. One unnamed medic described witnessing 'direct shots to the heads of the young people, to their hearts as well'.
Hospitals have been overwhelmed, with medical staff reporting that the influx of dying casualties was so severe that CPR could not even be attempted on many patients. A resident described a mortuary visit where families were shown around a hundred corpses while searching for a loved one.
Despite the extraordinary risks, acts of defiance have continued. Eyewitnesses reported scenes of pensioners confronting heavily armed police and soldiers by banging pots and pans, and protesters overturning and setting fire to dustbins while guns were pointed at them.
Official Threats and Accusations
The speaker of Iran’s parliament, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, explicitly warned that the US and Israel would become "legitimate targets" in the event of American action. "In the event of an attack on Iran, both the occupied territory and all American military centres, bases and ships in the region will be our legitimate targets," he declared, echoing chants of "Death to America".
Iran's President, Masoud Pezeshkian, blamed the United States and Israel for orchestrating the unrest, claiming they had trained individuals and brought terrorists into the country to attack mosques and markets. Meanwhile, Police Chief Ahmad-Reza Radan stated that the level of confrontation had been stepped up, with arrests of "key figures". He attributed a "significant proportion of fatalities" to "trained and directed individuals", rather than state security forces.
Information Blackout and International Reaction
The Iranian regime has imposed a nationwide internet blockade in an attempt to control the narrative. However, protesters have circumvented this using smuggled Starlink satellite terminals to send videos and eyewitness accounts to the outside world.
In response to the crisis, Donald Trump stated that the US "stands ready to help" and that Iran "is looking at FREEDOM". This potential for external intervention has directly triggered the Iranian government's threats of revenge.
Reza Pahlavi, the US-based son of Iran's last Shah, posted a video message acknowledging Trump's support and claiming the Islamic Republic was facing a "severe shortage of mercenaries". He urged protesters to continue but to stay in groups for safety.
The situation remains volatile, with Iran’s attorney general having previously stated that protesters or their helpers could face charges of being "an enemy of God", a crime punishable by death.
