Tensions between Iran, the United States and Israel are escalating as protests continue to spread across Iranian cities and the country remains largely cut off from the internet. With the reported death toll climbing and diplomatic signals hardening, fears are growing that the crisis could spill beyond Iran’s borders.
Tehran Threatens Retaliation if US Intervenes
Iran has warned that any American military action would trigger direct retaliation against both US forces and Israel.
Speaking in parliament on Sunday, Iranian Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said that US troops, military bases and shipping interests — along with Israel — would become “legitimate targets” if Washington launches an attack. Iran does not recognise Israel and refers to it as occupied territory.
According to Germany’s Der Spiegel, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the possibility of American involvement in Iran during a phone call on Saturday.
President Donald Trump has publicly reiterated support for Iranian protesters, writing on Truth Social that the country is “looking at freedom, perhaps like never before,” and that the US “stands ready to help.” Earlier in the week, Trump warned that he was prepared to strike Iran over the killing of demonstrators, with the State Department backing his comments by saying he should be taken seriously.
US media outlets including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump was presented with military strike options on Saturday night, though no final decision has been announced.
Deaths Rise as Protests Enter Third Week
Iran’s protest movement has now passed the two-week mark, with fresh demonstrations reported on Sunday in Tehran and in Mashhad, the country’s second-largest city.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency says at least 116 people have been killed so far, including 37 members of the security forces or government officials. Activists caution that the true number may be significantly higher because communication across the country is severely restricted.
More than 2,600 people have reportedly been detained. Iran’s national police chief, Ahmad-Reza Radan, confirmed that arrests of “key figures” linked to the protests took place on Saturday night, though he did not give further details.
Internet Blackout Fuels Fears of Mass Crackdown
Iran’s nationwide internet shutdown has now lasted more than 60 hours, entering its third day and severely limiting the flow of information in and out of the country.
Netblocks, an organisation that monitors internet access, warned that the blackout poses a serious risk to public safety, describing it as a critical moment for the country’s future.
Human rights groups say the move is deeply troubling. The Centre for Human Rights in Iran said similar shutdowns in 2019 were followed by mass killings of protesters, with more than 1,000 people reportedly killed at the time.
As the blackout continues and international rhetoric sharpens, concern is growing that Iran’s internal crisis could rapidly become a wider regional confrontation.
