Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran's last Shah, who was overthrown in the Islamic Revolution in 1979, has described the country's ongoing protests as "wonderful." He has called on ordinary Iranians to join the protests.
The United States has once again entered a confrontation with the Iranian government over the ongoing mass protests. US President Trump has repeatedly warned that Iran will respond with military strikes if it uses violent methods to suppress the protests.
More than 50 protesters have been killed so far. More than 2,500 people have been arrested.
In such a situation, the United States and Israel have discussed the possibility of US intervention in Iran.
The issue was discussed by phone between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday, Reuters reported.
Reuters also reported that Israel is on high alert for any possible US intervention in Iran.
On the other hand, Iran has strongly criticized the US threat.
US military bases in the Middle East and Israel will be considered "legitimate targets" in response to any US attack, Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf told Iran's parliament on Sunday.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a speech on Friday that "the Islamic Republic came to power with the blood of hundreds of thousands of martyrs and will not retreat in the face of protests."
He accused the US of fomenting protests in Iran. Ali Khamenei said the protesters were "trying to please the US president."
Israel on high alert
Israel is on high alert over possible US intervention in the country amid ongoing anti-government protests in Iran.
At least three sources from the illegal country who were present at the Israeli security meeting confirmed the matter, Reuters reported.
However, the sources did not provide any details on what exactly is meant by 'maximum alert'.
Previously, Israel and Iran were embroiled in a war after expressing such a cautious stance last June.
The war lasted 12 days, with casualties and damage on both sides. The United States also participated in the attack along with Israel, launching airstrikes on the country's nuclear facilities.
Six months after this incident, mass protests are seen in more than a hundred cities in Iran.
It is believed that hundreds of protesters have already been injured and killed in attacks by government forces.
In such a situation, after continuously threatening attacks over the past few days, US President Trump said on Saturday that the United States is ready to assist Iranian protesters.
"Iran wants freedom now, perhaps more than ever. The United States stands fully prepared to help them," Trump wrote on social media.
Despite discussions with the United States, Israel has not yet shown any signs of direct intervention in Iran.
However, tensions remain between the two arch-enemies due to concerns over Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
In an interview with The Economist published last Friday, Netanyahu warned that if Iran attacked Israel, the "consequences would be dire."
The Israeli Prime Minister also said that he is monitoring the ongoing mass protests in Iran.
Those who participate in the protests,
which are taking place in more than a hundred cities in Iran, will be considered 'enemies of God', the country's Attorney General Mohammad Movahedi Azad has announced.
He said on Saturday that the "punishment for such crimes is the death penalty."
Ignoring such warnings, protesters in Iran took to the streets on Saturday.
There have been reports of clashes between them and security forces in various cities, resulting in many casualties.
BBC Persian has confirmed that 70 bodies were brought to Pursina Hospital in the city of Rasht on Friday night.
Those who participate in the protests,
which are taking place in more than a hundred cities in Iran, will be considered 'enemies of God', the country's Attorney General Mohammad Movahedi Azad has announced.
He said on Saturday that the "punishment for such crimes is the death penalty."
Ignoring such warnings, protesters in Iran took to the streets on Saturday.
There have been reports of clashes between them and security forces in various cities, resulting in many casualties.
BBC Persian has confirmed that 70 bodies were brought to Pursina Hospital in the city of Rasht on Friday night.
Doctors at three hospitals in Iran have said their hospitals are struggling to cope with the influx of people injured and killed in the conflict and violence.
Doctors say most of the victims have gunshot wounds.
How the protests began
Two weeks ago, peaceful protests began in the country with a program called by businessmen to protest Iran's economic crisis, the continuous devaluation of the Iranian currency against the dollar, and the abnormal increase in commodity prices.
The ongoing movement is being seen as the largest anti-government protest in decades, following protests in the country over the death of Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in police custody in Tehran in 2022.
Gradually, the protests spread to all provinces of the country and hundreds of cities, and gradually turned violent.
It is reported that Iranian security forces are having to work very hard to contain the protests as they spread across the country.
The Iranian government has issued multiple coordinated warnings to protesters.
The country's National Security Council said it would take strict legal action against "armed attackers."
Meanwhile, Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran's last Shah, who was deposed in the Islamic Revolution in 1979, has described the country's ongoing protests as "wonderful".
He called on ordinary Iranians to join the protests.
"Our goal is no longer just to take to the streets. The goal now is to occupy the city centers," Reza Pahlavi said in a video message posted on social media.
It is reported that Pahlavi, who has been living in the United States for a long time, is now preparing to return home.
European Union President Ursula von der Leyen has expressed support for the Iranian protesters, condemning the "violent repression" on Saturday.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Friday that they were "deeply concerned" about the loss of life in the ongoing protests in Iran.
"People have the right to peacefully protest in all countries of the world, and governments should protect that right," he said.
French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz issued a joint statement on Friday.
There they called on Iranian authorities to "allow freedom of expression and peaceful assembly." Source: BBC
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