Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has reportedly issued a strong warning to the United States and Israel, saying both would become “legitimate
targets” if Washington carries out a military strike on Iran, as threatened by US President Donald Trump. The comments come against the backdrop of rising tensions fueled by nationwide protests in Iran and increasingly sharp rhetoric from the Trump administration. “In the event of a US military attack, both Israel and US military and shipping centers will be our legitimate target,” Ghalibaf said, according to a report by Iran International. Also Read: Anti-Khamenei Protests in London - Man Climbs Iranian Embassy, Tears Down National Flag - Video Surfaces According to the report, Ghalibaf said Israel and US military and shipping facilities would be targetted if Washington attacks Iran. The Associated Press also reported the warning, saying it was made during a chaotic session in Iran’s parliament, where lawmakers rushed the dais and chanted “Death to America.” Several unverified videos of the parliamentary uproar have since surfaced on social media. In the clips, lawmakers appear to chant slogans in unison, though HT could not independently verify the authenticity of the footage. Ghalibaf further warned that Iran would not restrict itself to retaliatory measures alone. “Within the framework of legitimate defense, we do not consider ourselves limited to reacting after an action, and we are telling Trump and his allies in the region not to make a miscalculation,” he said, calling Trump “delusional,” the UK-based Iranian media outlet reported. In a separate statement during the same session, he reportedly reiterated the warning in stronger terms, saying: “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 warning comes as protests challenging Iran’s theocratic system entered their third week. Demonstrations continued in Tehran and Mashhad into Sunday, with activists saying at least 116 people have been killed in violence linked to the unrest, the Associated Press reported. With internet services disrupted and phone lines cut across large parts of the country, assessing the true scale of the protests from outside Iran has become increasingly difficult. However, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said around 2,600 people have been detained so far. Meanwhile, Trump posted on Truth Social, “Iran is looking at Freedom, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!” The New York Times and Wall Street Journal, citing anonymous US officials, reported that Trump has been presented with military options for a potential strike on Iran, though no final decision has been made. The US State Department also issued a warning, stating: “Do not play games with President Trump. When he says he will act, he means it.” The US military stated that its forces in the Middle East are “postured with capabilities spanning the full range of combat operations to defend our personnel, partners, allies and US interests.”
