The drumbeat of war is growing louder in the Middle East. Iran has issued a stark warning that any US military intervention to support anti-government protesters will be met with "crushing retaliation" against American bases and ships across the region.

The threat, delivered by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, came as lawmakers chanted "Death to America" in the Majlis. It is a direct response to President Trump’s statement that he is considering "very strong options" to stop the massacre of civilians in Iranian cities.

The "Legitimate Targets" Doctrine

For the first time, Iran has explicitly named Israel as a target in this specific escalation. "If Washington strikes, Tel Aviv burns," Ghalibaf warned. This expands the potential conflict zone from the Persian Gulf to the Levant.

• The Death Toll: On the ground, the situation is apocalyptic. Sources in Tehran describe streets "full of blood." The verified death toll has crossed 500, with mortuaries overwhelmed. Security forces are reportedly using heavy machine guns to clear squares.
• US Calculations: The Pentagon is reportedly weighing strikes on IRGC command centers. However, analysts warn that a kinetic strike could rally nationalist sentiment behind the regime, undoing the very protest movement the US wants to support.
• Israel on Alert: The IDF has raised its readiness level. There are fears that a desperate Iranian regime might launch missile salvos at Israel to deflect internal pressure, triggering a regional conflagration.

The standoff creates a terrifying binary: allow the regime to slaughter its people, or intervene and risk World War III. For the protesters dodging bullets in Isfahan, help cannot come soon enough.