Iran threatens to attack Israel if Trump strikes Tehran over crackdown on protesters

JTA – Iranian leaders say they could attack Israel if the United States (US) strikes Iran over its response to a sweeping anti-government protest movement. 

“Let us be clear: in the case of an attack on Iran, the occupied territories as well as all US bases and ships will be our legitimate target,” Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, a former commander in the country’s Revolutionary Guards, said on 10 January. Iranian officials use “the occupied territories” to refer to Israel, which the Iranian Islamic Republic regime has sworn to destroy and attack repeatedly. 

Qalibaf was responding to US President Donald Trump’s repeated comments signalling potential US retaliation against Iran in the event that Iranian officials begin killing anti-government protesters who have been demonstrating with increasing strength since late last month. 

On 12 January, Qalibaf reportedly escalated his threats at a pro-government rally in Tehran, saying Iran would deal Trump “an unforgettable lesson” if he follows through on his continued threats to intervene. Agence France-Presse reported that he spoke in front of banners reading “Death to Israel, Death to America” in Persian. 

Trump has openly said the US is considering weighing in against the Iranian government. “Iran is looking at freedom, perhaps like never before,” he wrote on Truth Social, his social media network, on Saturday. “The USA stands ready to help!!!” 

On Sunday, amid reports that the Iranian regime had embarked on a bloody crackdown, Trump said again that he was considering “very strong options” against Iran, though he also said Tehran had reached out to negotiate. Amid reports that he expected to be briefed on military options against Iran on Tuesday, Trump indicated that the US could act sooner. 

“Iran wants to negotiate, yes. We may meet with them – I mean a meeting is being set up,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One late on Sunday. “But we may have to act, because of what’s happening, before the meeting.” 

Protest leaders said hundreds if not thousands of protesters had been shot dead in Tehran on Sunday, though official numbers were much lower and impossible for independent news organisations to verify in part because of an internet blackout that the government put in place last week. 

“There seem to be some people killed that aren’t supposed to be killed,” Trump said. “These are violent – if you call them leaders, I don’t know if they’re leaders or just if they rule through violence. And we’re looking at some very strong options. We’ll make a determination.” 

The potential for armed conflict between the US and Iran, Israel’s sworn enemy, has prompted sharp concern in Israel, which last year waged a 12-day war with Iran that ended under US pressure following a US strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on Sunday to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Reuters reported that Israeli intelligence officials said the country was on “high alert”. 

At least one Israeli official has indicated that Israeli agents are active on the ground in Iran during the swelling protest movement, fuelling criticism from Tehran that the protests have been stoked by foreign actors. 

Demonstrations in support of the Iranian protesters, who are responding not only to the country’s repressive religious leadership but also an economic crisis, took place in cities around the world over the weekend. Some of the protests included Jewish Iranian expats and expressions of support for Israel.