Iran's Revolutionary Guards Vow Decisive Response to US or Israeli Attack

Iran's Revolutionary Guards have warned that the country is ready to respond “with decisiveness” to any attack by the US or Israel, accusing the two countries of stoking the recent protests rocking the Islamic Republic. The leader of the Revolutionary Guards, Mohammad Pakpour, accused US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of being the “killers of Iranian youth.” According to the non-governmental organization Iran Human Rights (IHR), at least 3,428 protesters have been killed in Iran since the start of the demonstrations, with over 10,000 people arrested. The number of victims has increased significantly compared to previous estimates, due to new information from sources within the Iranian Ministries of Health and Education. The IHR warns that the number of victims is an “absolute minimum,” as there are ongoing reports and testimonies indicating even greater violence. The organization stresses that the situation is critical and requires immediate international intervention. The protests in Iran began as a reaction to rising fuel prices, but quickly evolved into a broader movement challenging the country's political and economic situation. The government has violently suppressed the protests, drawing international condemnation.