Death toll hits 500; Protests gaining strength amid stern warning from Iranian regime

TEHRAN: Iran threatened to destroy US military bases in the region amid the possibility of an intervention from the United States. This comes after US President Donald Trump said that he would intervene to "protect" protesters as anti-government protests rage in Iran.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that if attacked, they will target not only American bases but also Israel and US-affiliated ships. Meanwhile, Israel increased its alertness due to the possibility of US intervention in Iran. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by phone, discussed the situation.

President Trump, on the other hand, slyly mentioned the big trouble Iran is currently muddled in and of a possible attack if the regime continues to kill protestors. Meanwhile, former Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, who is in the US, urged protesters to continue to hit the streets against the government. Pahlavi kept hope of returning to his country soon.

Reza had assumed the symbolic leadership of the protesters in Iran. Reza had called on the people to take over the cities the other day. Meanwhile, countries including India are considering evacuating their citizens from Iran, considering the security situation.

👉 The internet shutdown has been in place for more than 60 hours. However, videos of the protests are being broadcast online via Starlink satellite terminals.

👉 There are also allegations that the government is trying to jam Starlink signals to prevent information from reaching the outside world.

👉 Protesters burnt down 26 buildings in Tehran

👉 More than 2,600 people have been arrested

Several youngsters were killed during the protests, while emergency wards are filling up with the injured, according to a foreign media report. A hospital in Rasht, northern Iran, received 70 bodies on Friday night alone and had to move the bodies to another room because the morgue was full, according to a foreign media report. Various organisations say that 500 people have been killed since December 28. Iranian national media confirmed that 109 security personnel were killed.