Iran has issued a stark threat of immediate retaliatory strikes against the United States should former President Donald Trump intervene in the country's latest wave of internal unrest. The warning comes amid reports of a significant death toll, with over 500 people killed and approximately 10,000 arrested during widespread protests.
Chaos and Carnage on the Streets
The capital, Tehran, and cities across Iran witnessed scenes of severe chaos as security forces clashed with demonstrators. Anti-regime opposition groups based in Britain relayed horrific accounts to the Mirror, detailing incidents where police were seen gunning down protesters.
Hospitals were reportedly overwhelmed, with one unnamed medic stating he had witnessed 'direct shots to the heads of the young people, to their hearts as well'. Another resident described a mortuary visit where families were shown around a hundred corpses while searching for a loved one.
Despite the grim violence, there were also displays of defiance. Eyewitnesses reported scenes of extraordinary bravery, including pensioners confronting heavily armed police and soldiers by banging pots and pans, and overturning and setting fire to dustbins while guns were pointed at them.
Official Threats and Accusations
In response to the potential of US involvement, senior Iranian officials issued direct threats. The speaker of Iran’s parliament, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, declared that the US and Israel would become "legitimate targets" if America struck Iran. He shouted "Death to America" in parliament, specifying that all American military centres, bases, and ships in the region would be in the crosshairs.
Iran's President, Masoud Pezeshkian, squarely blamed the United States and Israel for orchestrating the unrest, accusing them of training individuals, bringing terrorists into the country, and attacking public spaces like mosques and markets.
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief, Ahmad-Reza Radan, told state TV that confrontations had escalated, with "key figures" arrested on Saturday night. He claimed a "significant proportion of fatalities" were caused by "trained and directed individuals," rather than security forces.
Defiance and Digital Resistance
Despite a nationwide internet blockade, protesters managed to circumvent restrictions using smuggled Starlink satellite terminals. This allowed them to send videos and eyewitness accounts to the outside world, documenting the crackdown.
Verified videos from Saturday night showed masked protesters taking cover behind burning barricades in Tehran, with the sounds of gunfire and percussive protests filling the air. Other footage captured large crowds in districts like Gisha, Punak Square, and Heravi, calling for an end to the clerical establishment.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency confirmed the death toll of at least 500, stating most victims were killed by live ammunition or pellet gunfire, often at close range. The agency also reported the 10,000 arrests.
International Reactions and Exiled Voices
Former US President Donald Trump stated that America "stands ready to help" as Iran "is looking at FREEDOM". His comments were echoed by Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last Shah, who posted a video encouraging the protesters and claiming the regime faced a "severe shortage of mercenaries".
Razgar Alani, the UK representative of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan based in Brighton, expressed belief that the regime is crumbling. "The collapse of the clerical regime in Iran is not just a matter of when, but how," he said, calling for Western support to ensure the people's struggle is not in vain.
The situation remains highly volatile, with Iran’s attorney general having previously stated that protesters could face charges of being "an enemy of God," a crime punishable by death.
