CAIRO, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Fatalities from two weeks of nationwide unrest in Iran climbed on Sunday as Tehran warned it would strike U.S. and Israeli bases if Washington attacked Iranian targets under the excuse of "protecting" protesters.
State media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has topped 200, though this figure could not be independently verified.
The escalating violence has been accompanied by a sharp rise in regional tensions. Iranian Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf on Sunday threatened to retaliate against U.S. and Israeli military assets across the Middle East if Washington launched strikes against Iran.
"If you take action to attack Iran, both the occupied territories and all American military centres, bases and ships in the region will be legitimate targets," Qalibaf told parliament.
His remarks followed reports that U.S. President Donald Trump is considering military options to "protect" protesters. Qalibaf described the situation as a "terrorist war" following the 12-day conflict with Israel in June 2025, which Tehran said killed more than 1,000 Iranians.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his government is "closely monitoring" the situation in Iran.
"If the current leadership were overthrown, Israel and Iran would once again become faithful partners in building a future of prosperity and peace," Netanyahu said during a weekly cabinet meeting.
Also on Sunday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attempted to strike a balance between conciliation and force. In a televised interview with the state-run IRIB, he stated that his government is prepared to address the economic grievances driving the protests, but warned that "rioters" will not be tolerated.
"People have concerns, and we should sit with them and resolve those concerns," Pezeshkian said. "But our higher duty is not to allow a group of rioters to come and destroy the entire society."
Pezeshkian also detailed the government's plans to implement a major subsidy reform program aimed at stabilizing markets, boosting production, and increasing purchasing power, providing an update on its current progress.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and U.S. sanctions. To contain the unrest, the government has restricted internet access for four straight days, with monitoring group NetBlocks reporting a disruption lasting more than 60 hours.
The semi-official Tasnim news agency detailed a high toll among security personnel in the provinces. In Isfahan, Governor Ali Ahmadi confirmed 30 security personnel have died and reported the death of an infant among civilian casualties. Further fatalities included 12 security personnel in Fars province and eight police Special Units members in Tehran.
Tasnim also reported that 11 mosques have been set on fire in Isfahan and Mashhad, while two Red Crescent workers were killed in separate attacks in the north.
While state television aired footage of quiet streets in major cities on Sunday morning to project a sense of calm, the government remains focused on implementing a major subsidy reform program. Officials said the plan is intended to stabilize markets and boost purchasing power, though the immediate fallout has instead fueled the current wave of public anger. ■
