At least 116 people have been killed as nationwide protests challenging Iran’s theocracy have crossed the two-week mark, activists said.
As the death toll has risen, a further 2,600 others have been detained, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, and Donald Trump has threatened to intervene.
The US president warned Iranian leaders against using force against demonstrators and said the US stood “ready to help”.
On Sunday, local time, Iran threatened to retaliate against Israel and US bases in the event of US strikes on the country.
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Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, speaking in parliament on Sunday, warned the United States against “a miscalculation”.
“Let us be clear: in the case of an attack on Iran, the occupied territories [Israel] as well as all US bases and ships will be our legitimate target,” said Qalibaf, a former commander in Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.
Protests in Australia
Hundreds of people have gathered at Sydney’s Town Hall, urging Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to condemn the killing of protesters in Iran.
The protesters are calling for regime change, with some suggesting Iran’s monarchy take the reins of the country, while others are seeking democratic independence.
Tina Kordrostami joined the protest on Sunday afternoon in the CBD.
People gathered in Sydney asking for the prime minister to condemn the killing of protesters in Iran. (ABC News: Victoria Pengilley)
“We’re here in solidarity of what’s happening in Iran, with all the people in Iran, we want to make sure that their voices are being heard within Sydney, we’ve been fighting for the last 47 years,” she said.
“Many people here, their families in Iran are under attack, it’s a very sad and sensitive time.”
While the rally is peaceful, there is a growing feeling of despair among attendees.
Many protesters have been unable to communicate with their friends and family in Iran over the past 50 hours, due to the ongoing internet blackout and are concerned for their welfare.
Arta Beikzadeh, who was at a protest outside Sydney’s Town Hall on Sunday afternoon, said it had been about three days since she last heard from her sisters and father in Iran.
“There is a complete blackout in Iran, they shut down everything, we are so concerned,” Ms Beikzadeh said.
“This time, everyone says, ‘Enough is enough.'”
Tina Kordrostami joined the protest in Sydney. (ABC News: Victoria Pengilley)
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has issued a joint statement with Canada and the EU condemning the killings, and use of violence.
“We strongly condemn the killing of protesters, the use of violence, arbitrary arrests, and intimidation tactics by the Iranian regime against its own people,” the statement read.
But protesters said they wanted to see a stronger response from the Australian government.
Ali Be joined the demonstrations in Sydney’s CBD on Sunday, and said the government’s response was “lacking”.
“We see words of condemnations, but they’re not answering to the calls of the Iranian people … they want the Islamic regime gone in its entirety,” Mr Be said.
He said protesters were calling on the federal government to “cut all ties with the Islamic regime”.
ABC/wires