Iran's parliamentary speaker warned on Saturday that Tehran could carry out preemptive strikes against Israel and U.S. military assets in the region, sharply escalating rhetoric as tensions rise across the Middle East. Speaking during a session of parliament broadcast live on Iranian state television, Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said Israel -- which he referred to as "the occupied territory" -- as well as U.S. military centers, bases and ships would be considered "legitimate targets" in the event of an attack on Iran, according to media reports. "We do not consider ourselves limited to reacting after the action," Qalibaf said. "We will act based on any objective signs of a threat."