News Wrap: Iran threatens retaliation if U.S. intervenes in protest crackdown

John Yang:

Good evening. I'm John Yang. As anti-government protests in Iran and the ruling regime's bloody crackdown on them both intensify, Tehran warned the United States to stay out of it. White House national security advisers are said to be weighing a broad range of potential responses, including direct military strikes to present to President Trump, who says he states stands ready to help the protesters. Today, the hardline speaker of Iran's parliament said U.S. intervention could have dire consequences.

Mohammad Begher Qalibaf, Iran's Parliament Speaker (through translator):

And I have a message for the delusional American president in order to avoid miscalculations. Be aware that if you take action to attack Iran, both the occupied territories and all U.S. military centers, bases and ships in the region will be considered legitimate targets by us.

John Yang:

While numbers are hard to know with any certainty because Iran's internet and phone service are blocked, human rights watchdog group told the Associated Press that more than 500 people have been killed and 10,000 detained.

Iran's top prosecutor said rioters would be dealt without leniency, mercy or appeasement.

Bob Weir, guitarist, songwriter and founding member of the Grateful Dead, has died. Weir co-wrote one Grateful Dead classic, "Sugar Magnolia," and sang lead vocals on another, "Truckin." His inventive timing on guitar helped define the group sound which became the soundtrack of 1960s counterculture.

In a statement, Weir's family said he had beaten cancer but died as a result of underlying lung issues. Bob Weir was 78 years old.