Iran defense ministry spokesman threatens 'harsh response to any attack'

Iran’s health ministry said nearly 13,000 surgical operations had been carried out on people wounded in recent protests.

“12,986 surgical operations have been carried out for those injured in the recent incidents, but it should be noted that when people suffer trauma in various incidents they may require multiple surgeries, and this figure reflects the number of operations performed,” Hossein Kermanpour, head of the ministry’s public relations office, said.

He added that about 3,000 people wounded in protests had gone to hospitals over the past six days.

Kayhan, a hardline newspaper overseen by a representative of Iran’s supreme leader, warned against pardoning some protesters after recent unrest.

“There are whispers about pardoning some rioters who did not have weapons in their hands,” the paper wrote, asking, “if these individuals had not been present and had not supported those with weapons, would the armed ones have dared to commit such crimes?”

The paper also accused public figures of encouraging protests from behind the scenes. “Some celebrities and some cafe owners, without being present themselves, knowingly invited and incited young people and teenagers to street protests,” it wrote, adding that “all these supporters and fire-starters share responsibility for the human and financial losses.”

Italy’s foreign minister said he would urge the European Union to list Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization, citing civilian deaths during protests in Iran.

“The losses suffered by the civilian population during the protests require a clear response,” Antonio Tajani said in a post on X, adding that he would propose including the Revolutionary Guards on the EU’s terrorist list and imposing individual sanctions on those responsible at a meeting of European foreign ministers in Brussels on Thursday.

Israeli airlines El Al, Israir and Arkia said on Monday they would allow customers to cancel flights or receive vouchers, citing uncertainty in the region and the risk that any escalation involving Iran could trigger retaliatory strikes on Israel.

El Al said it would allow cancellations for any reason up to 48 hours before departure at no extra cost for flights bought in the next t Computer wo weeks, for travel through March 17, Reuters reported.

Israir said it was selling flight protection for $35 for bookings made over the next month, covering flights through the end of 2026.

Arkia said it would allow free cancellations up to 48 hours before departure on routes booked through February 9, with passengers receiving a voucher.

“We have gained extensive experience from two complex years of security-related events,” Arkia CEO Oz Berlowitz said.

The European Parliament said in a post on X on Monday that it condemned Iran’s brutal repression and stood with people demanding freedom, dignity and democracy.

It called for an end to the crackdown, the release of political prisoners, sanctions on Iranian authorities and for Iran to allow UN investigations.