Iran Says US Bases Could Be Targeted Following Trump’s Warning Amid Unrest

Iran’s parliament speaker on Friday warned that US military bases and forces in the region would be treated.

As “legitimate targets” if Washington takes aggressive action, following President Donald Trump’s threat of intervention amid ongoing unrest in Iran. The warning came shortly after a senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said any US interference in Iran’s internal affairs would trigger widespread instability across the region.

Earlier, Trump said the United States would intervene if Iranian authorities used lethal force against peaceful protesters, as nationwide demonstrations continue. At least seven people have been killed in clashes between security forces and demonstrators since protests erupted on Sunday, according to reports. The unrest has been fuelled by growing public anger over worsening economic conditions.

The protests began in Tehran, where shopkeepers gathered to criticise the government’s handling of the economy, including the sharp fall of the rial, weak economic growth and rising prices. Official figures show inflation stood at 42.5 per cent in December.

Government response

Iran’s civilian government, led by President Masoud Pezeshkian, has sought to strike a conciliatory tone while warning against disorder. Speaking at an event broadcast on state television, Pezeshkian acknowledged the severity of economic hardship facing citizens.

“From an Islamic perspective, if we do not resolve the issue of people’s livelihoods, we will end up in Hell,” he said. However, the president has admitted that his ability to act is constrained as the rial continues to slide, with the dollar now trading at around 1.4 million rials.

Iran’s prosecutor general said on Wednesday that peaceful economic protests were legitimate but warned that any attempt to create insecurity would be met with a “decisive response”.