Iran says US and Israel ‘legitimate targets’ if Trump orders strikes over protests

Published January 11, 2026 9:30am ET



Iran threatened to strike U.S. and Israeli military bases in the Middle East, considering them “legitimate targets” if President Donald Trump decides to strike the Islamic Republic amid nationwide protests.

“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,” Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said on Sunday. “We do not consider ourselves limited to reacting after the action and will act based on any objective signs of a threat.”

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