Israel says supports Iranian people’s ‘struggle for freedom’

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Sunday that Israel supports the Iranian people in what he described as their "struggle for freedom", as major protests shake the Islamic republic.

Iran has been gripped by days of deadly protests, initially ignited by anger over the rising cost of living but rapidly evolving into a broader movement challenging the theocratic government that has ruled the country since the 1979 revolution.

"We support the Iranian people's struggle for freedom and wish them success," Saar said in a video interview posted on his X account.

"We think they deserve freedom... We don't have any hostility with the people of Iran.

"We have a huge problem, which is not only our problem, it's a regional and international problem, with the Iranian regime which is the number one exporter of terrorism, radicalism," Saar added.

In a separate statement, an Israeli military official said the army was "monitoring developments in Iran".

"The protests are an internal Iranian matter. Nevertheless, the IDF is preparing defensively and is continuously improving its capabilities and operational readiness," the official said.

"We will be equipped to respond with power if need be."

Iran has repeatedly accused the United States and Israel of inciting violence and trying to undermine the Islamic republic's national unity.

Earlier on Sunday, Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf told lawmakers that Iran would strike US military and shipping targets if the country was attacked by the United States.

"In the event of a military attack by the United States, both the occupied territory and centres of the US military and shipping will be our legitimate targets," Ghalibaf said in comments broadcast by state TV, apparently also referring to Israel, which the Islamic republic does not recognise and considers occupied Palestinian territory.

Arch-foes Iran and Israel engaged in a war in June, with an unprecedented Israeli attack on Iranian military and nuclear facilities.

The United States briefly took part in the strikes, hitting three major Iranian nuclear sites.