In a stern response to the US warning of military action, Iran on Sunday (11th January) said that it would strike Israel and the regional military bases as ‘legitimate targets.’ Speaking during a Parliament session, Iran’s Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned the US that Israel and the US shipping centres would be considered legitimate targets by Iran if the US launched a military attack on it.

“Within the framework of legitimate defence, we do not limit ourselves to responding only after an action. In the event of a US military attack, both the occupied territories (Israel) and US military and shipping centres will be legitimate targets for us,” Ghalibaf said.

Ghalibaf further said that Iran, at present, is engaged in confrontation with the US and Israel on four different fronts, namely, economic, cognitive, military, and terrorist warfare. He added that all four fronts are “unfolding simultaneously.” Ghalibaf, who ran for the Iranian President in the past, lauded the Iranian police and paramilitary Revolutionary Guard for standing firm during the protests. “The people of Iran should know that we will deal with them in the most severe way and punish those who are arrested,” Qalibaf said.

Qalibaf’s remarks were welcomed by Iranian lawmakers, who chanted the slogans of “Death to America” during the session, which was telecast live on TV. As per reports, Israel is on high-alert in anticipation of a possible US action in support of the ongoing protests in Iran.

This comes after some US officials said on Saturday (10th January) that the US government was considering military options in response to the unrest in Iran. The US State Department also warned Iran, saying, “Do not play games with President Trump. When he says he’ll do something, he means it.”

In recent days, the US, seeking regime change in Iran, has declared support for the demonstrators in Iran. Expressing solidarity with the protestors in Iran, US President Donald Trump warned the Iranian regime against opening fire on the protestors. “You better not start shooting, because we’ll start shooting too,” Trump said on Saturday (9th January).

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