Iran warns U.S. and Israel against military actions after deadly protests crackdown

Iran warned the U.S. and Israel against military action as activists said at least 203 people have been killed in the nationwide protests, a toll they say is likely far higher.

A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:

President Trump won't rule out strikes on Iran, which is seeing significant protests, despite saying Tehran asked to negotiate.

LEILA FADEL, HOST:

He told journalists on Air Force One that the U.S. might have to act before the meeting because of, quote, "what's happening" in Iran. Protesters have been pouring into the streets for several weeks in the biggest challenge to the theocratic regime in years. In response, the Iranian government has cracked down hard, with a U.S.-based human rights activist news agency reporting almost 500 protesters killed.

MARTÍNEZ: NPR's international affairs correspondent Jackie Northam has been following all of this. Jackie, I mean, these are the biggest protests in Iran in years, and they seem to be picking up steam.

JACKIE NORTHAM, BYLINE: Oh, yes. I mean, the protesters are in virtually every corner of Iran now. And, you know, while they started out in late December in response to the country's terrible economy, they've now spread to anger at the hard-line regime. You know, there are chants of, death to the dictator, meaning Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. And videos we're seeing show massive crowds and some burning buildings, including mosques, but also dead bodies on the streets and in the morgues. Now, it's really difficult to verify information coming out of Iran. Internet and cellphone service has been cut by the regime for several days now. But, you know, there are still ways to get information and videos out of what's happening in Iran.

MARTÍNEZ: Yeah. Now, President Trump says the Iranians want to set up a meeting. Considering the U.S.' operation in Venezuela, I mean, are we seeing his threats maybe take on a little bit more weight?

NORTHAM: Well, the Iranians have not said anything publicly about negotiations with the U.S., but surely the Venezuela operation will likely be part of any of their calculations regarding the protests. Iran has said it would consider U.S. military bases and ships legitimate targets for preemptive strikes if it looks as though the U.S. would strike Iran. But, you know, all of this comes at a particularly vulnerable time for the regime. You know, many of the government's senior leadership were killed, and its military capabilities were badly weakened during the 12-day war with Israel last summer. The regime still has a stockpile of ballistic missiles, though.

I spoke with Nader Habibi, and he focuses on Middle East economics at Brandeis University. He left Iran in the late 1990s but is in daily contact with people there. And Habibi said the regime knows the U.S. could do considerable damage to the missile facilities as well as hit political targets. Here he is.

NADER HABIBI: I don't think they are underestimating the risk. That's why they are issuing some threatening postures in terms of retaliation, even though in reality, they might not be able to carry out those threats.

NORTHAM: Which is why the Iranians may have asked the Trump administration for negotiations.

MARTÍNEZ: Has the regime there, though, maybe addressed the grievances of the protesters to maybe cool off the situation before any possible U.S. strike?

NORTHAM: Yes. Iran's more moderate president, Masoud Pezeshkian, has said from the start that the government needs to sit down and listen to the protesters' concerns. And at one point last week, the regime tried to prop up the economy by throwing U.S. dollars into the market, but clearly, this has not stopped people from coming out. But, you know, no matter how big these crowds are, there are still millions of people who have not joined in because many Iranians who have seen other widespread protests over the years know what the security forces can do. And, you know, the regime still has support. In fact, tens of thousands of pro-government protesters took to the streets today.

MARTÍNEZ: All right. That's NPR's international affairs correspondent Jackie Northam. Jackie, thanks.

NORTHAM: Thanks so much.

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