PARIS, Jan 11 (Agencies): At least 192 people have been killed in two weeks of protests against the government and economic strain in Iran, a rights group said on Sunday, in a sharp rise from an earlier death toll of 51.
"Since the start of the protests, Iran Human Rights has confirmed the killing of at least 192 protesters," the Norway-based NGO said, warning that the toll could be much higher as a days-long internet blackout hampered verification.
Meanwhile, Protesters in Iran defied a government crackdown on Saturday night, taking to the streets despite medics at two hospitals telling the BBC more than 100 bodies have been brought in over a two day period. Videos verified by the BBC and eyewitness accounts appeared to show the government was ramping up its response.
Iran's attorney general said anyone protesting would be considered an "enemy of God" - an offence that carries the death penalty.
US President Donald Trump has threatened to hit Iran "very hard" if they "start killing people". Iran's parliament speaker warned that if the US attacks Iran, Israel and all US military and shipping bases in the region would be legitimate targets.
The protests were sparked by soaring inflation, and have spread to more than 100 cities and towns across every province in Iran. Now protesters are calling for an end to the clerical rule of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Khamenei has dismissed demonstrators as a "bunch of vandals" seeking to "please" Trump.
Trump on Saturday said the US "stands ready to help" as Iran "is looking at FREEDOM".
As protests intensify, the number of deaths and injuries continues to rise. Two human rights groups have reported more than 100 people, including security personnel, killed.
Staff at several hospitals told the BBC they have been overwhelmed with the injured and dead, with BBC Persian verifying 70 bodies brought to one hospital in Rasht city on Friday night and a health worker reporting around 38 people dying at a Tehran hospital.
Iran would target US military, shipping if attacked, says parliament speaker
Iran on Sunday warned US President Donald Trump that any US military action against the Islamic Republic would make Israel and regional US military bases "legitimate ?targets" for an Iranian strike.
The speaker of Iran's parliament, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, made the threat to the US during a parliament session convened to discuss the ongoing mass protests.
The parliament session was broadcast live by the state television.
Lawmakers were seen rushing to the front of the assembly shouting: "Death to America!"
Qalibaf also threatened Israel directly, referring to it as "the occupied territory."
"In the event of an attack on Iran, both the occupied territory and all American military centers, bases and ships in the region will be our legitimate targets," Qalibaf said.
"We do not consider ourselves limited to reacting after the action and will act based on any objective signs of a threat," the hard-liner, who has previously run for president, added.
Israel on high alert for possibility of US intervention in Iran
Israel is on high alert for the possibility of any US intervention in Iran as authorities there confront the biggest anti-government protests in years, according to three Israeli sources with knowledge of the matter. President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to intervene in recent days and warned Iran's rulers against using force against demonstrators. On Saturday, Trump said the US stands "ready to help".
The sources, who were present for Israeli security consultations over the weekend, did not elaborate on what Israel's high-alert footing meant in practice. Israel and Iran fought a 12-day war in June, in which the US joined Israel in launching air strikes.
