Tehran: Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, issued a stern warning to the United States and Israel on Sunday, stating that both countries would be considered “legitimate targets” if the US carries out a military strike on Iran, following threats made by former President Donald Trump.
Speaking during a chaotic session in parliament, Ghalibaf said, “In the event of a US military attack, both Israel and US military and shipping centers will be our legitimate target.” According to reports by Iran International and Associated Press, lawmakers in the session rushed the dais and chanted slogans including “Death to America!” Several videos showing the uproar circulated on social media, though their contents could not be independently verified.
Ghalibaf emphasized that Iran would not restrict itself to reactive measures alone. “Within the framework of legitimate defense, we do not consider ourselves limited to reacting after an action,” he said, warning Trump and his regional allies “not to make a miscalculation,” and describing Trump as “delusional.” He reiterated the threat, stating, “In the event of an attack on Iran, both the occupied territory and all American military centers, bases and ships in the region will be our legitimate targets.”
The warnings come amid nationwide protests in Iran, which entered their third week. Demonstrations continued in Tehran and Mashhad, with reports of at least 116 deaths and around 2,600 arrests so far. Communication services have been disrupted across large parts of the country, making it difficult to independently verify the scale of unrest.
Trump has publicly expressed support for the protesters, posting on social media: “Iran is looking at FREEDOM, perhaps like never before. The USA stands ready to help!!!” US media outlets reported that military options for a potential strike have been presented to Trump, though no decision has been taken.
The US State Department issued a warning saying, “Do not play games with President Trump. When he says he’ll do something, he means it.” Meanwhile, the US military stated that its forces in the Middle East are “postured with forces that span the full range of combat capability to defend our forces, our partners and allies, and US interests.”
It remains unclear how far Iran is willing to escalate militarily, as any decision would ultimately require approval from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86. This warning also comes months after Iran’s air defenses were damaged during a 12-day conflict with Israel in June 2025.