Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday to discuss potential American military action against Iran, according to reports. Sources familiar with the conversation said the two discussed ongoing protests in Iran and possible US intervention. Reuters also reported that Israel is on high alert in anticipation of possible American support for a nationwide protest movement in Iran.
The conversation came amid reports of what was described as "mass killings, likely not confined to a few cities," following testimonies and footage depicting brutal violence against demonstrators and bodies "falling to the ground" in Iran.
An American official confirmed that the conversation took place but did not disclose its content. On Sunday morning, Iran warned US President Donald Trump that any American strike would trigger retaliation from Tehran, including attacks on Israel and American military bases across the region. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf called these "legitimate targets" during an address to the Iranian legislature.
Ghalibaf said: "Iran has warned US President Donald Trump that any American strike will lead Tehran to retaliate against Israel and regional US military bases."
According to the New York Times, Trump was briefed in recent days on a range of military options in Iran, from non-military targets to strikes against Iran's security services. The briefings were reportedly prompted by the regime's ongoing crackdown on protestors. Reuters cited an Israeli source present during the Netanyahu-Rubio conversation who confirmed they discussed the possibility of US intervention in Iran. An American source again confirmed the call but did not elaborate.
Escalating protests
Some estimates that are yet to be verified claim at least 2,000 people were killed in Iran over a 48-hour period during the recent protests. A doctor in Rasht, in northern Iran, told Iran International that a single hospital had received at least 70 bodies.
Despite a near-total internet blackout, videos and messages continue to reach international media via Starlink connections provided by Elon Musk. However, access to this technology remains limited to residents of larger, more affluent cities, leaving much of the country in an information blackout.
