Iran Fears New US Attack as Protests Grip Nation

By Amir Daftari

U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran it would be “hit very hard” if more protesters die as demonstrations entered a second week, a threat issued only weeks after a brief but intense June conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States.

At the same time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved a new military plan, dubbed “Operation Iron Strike,” and expressed solidarity “with the aspirations of the Iranian people for freedom.”

The statements heightened tensions as protests continued to spread across Iran, and Tehran accused both the U.S. and Israel of seeking to “undermine its national unity,” reinforcing the sense that domestic unrest is colliding with renewed external pressure.

Newsweek reached out to the U.S. State Department and the Foreign Ministries of Iran and Israel for comment.

Why It Matters

Iran is still dealing with the consequences of the 12-day conflict in June, during which Israeli strikes and U.S. attacks on nuclear sites marked a sharp escalation in hostilities. That confrontation has continued to shape Iran’s security calculations and regional posture.

The renewed protests have challenged the government’s authority, while warnings from Trump and Netanyahu signal that military pressure has not receded since the fighting. The overlap of domestic unrest and heightened regional tensions increases the risk of escalation amid heightened uncertainty.

What To Know

According to the Israeli channel i24news, Netanyahu chaired a security meeting on Sunday that lasted about five hours, during which he outlined priorities for potential action against Iran.

The discussions included briefings for senior officials, including Defense Minister Israel Katz and Eyal Zamir, the chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), on exercises simulating possible war scenarios.

Israeli media reports indicate that the plan, known as “Operation Iron Strike,” could involve strikes against Iran, though its full scope and specific targets have not been publicly confirmed.

U.S. Military Moves

As those preparations were reported, open-source intelligence pointed to images circulating online over the past two days showing large-scale U.S. military aircraft movements toward Europe, which have been linked to the operation.

The developments come as protests continue to spread across Iran. On Sunday, Trump said that he was closely monitoring the situation, warning, “If they start killing people like they have in the past, I think they are going to get hit very hard by the United States.”

Protests have been reported in 222 locations nationwide, including rallies in 78 cities across 26 provinces, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA). The group says at least 19 demonstrators and one member of the security forces have been killed so far as the unrest in Iran continues.

Iran Responds

Meanwhile, Tehran has pushed back against the mounting pressure by accusing both the U.S. and Israel of interfering in its internal affairs, arguing that public statements from officials in Washington and Jerusalem were encouraging unrest amid the ongoing protests.

On Monday, the Foreign Ministry said the remarks were designed to inflame tensions and falsely present foreign governments as supporters of the Iranian public.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said comments from American and Israeli officials crossed international norms and amounted to incitement, rejecting what he described as outside efforts to influence developments inside the country.

“Actions or statements by figures such as the Israeli prime minister or certain radical and hard-line US officials regarding Iran’s internal affairs amount, under international norms, to nothing more than incitement to violence, terrorism, and killing,” Baqaei said.

What Happens Next

Tensions with Iran are building in a way reminiscent of the 12-day conflict in June, when Israeli strikes and U.S. attacks on nuclear sites sharply escalated regional hostilities.

With protests continuing across the country, Tehran faces pressure both internally and from external threats. The situation leaves the region on edge, with the possibility of a targeted or broader military confrontation between Iran and Israel, potentially involving U.S. support, remaining a key concern.