Iran warns it will strike back if US attacks
Iran has warned that it will hit Israel and US military bases if the United States launches strikes on its territory, as mass protests continue across the country. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf told lawmakers that any US attack would be a serious mistake and said Iran would treat Israel, US bases and US ships as legitimate targets. Qalibaf is a former commander in the Revolutionary Guards, the elite force that plays a central role in Iran’s security. The warning comes as Iran faces its largest anti-government protests since 2022, driven first by soaring inflation and then by anger at the country’s clerical rule. Rights group HRANA says at least 116 people have been killed so far, including 37 members of the security forces. Authorities accuse the United States and Israel of fueling the unrest and have tightened their crackdown. […]