In a dramatic escalation of regional tensions, Iran has issued a stern warning to the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, threatening to target their military bases and naval vessels stationed in the Middle East should they interfere with Tehran’s ongoing retaliatory strikes against Israel.
The warning was broadcast Saturday by Iranian state media and comes amid growing international concern over the expanding conflict between Israel and Iran. Iranian officials stated that any attempt by Western powers to halt Tehran’s military actions would be viewed as a hostile act and would provoke direct retaliation.
A senior Iranian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, declared that Iran is fully prepared to “strike back decisively” if foreign bases or warships in the Persian Gulf or surrounding areas are used to obstruct Iranian military operations. “All enemy assets within reach are legitimate targets,” the official stated, as quoted by state-run media.
Tehran has vowed to continue its strikes on Israeli targets in response to the deadly bombardment on its soil earlier this week. In a tragic development, at least 60 people, including 20 children, were reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike on a residential building in the Iranian capital. Among the victims was a 6-month-old baby, underscoring the devastating toll the conflict is taking on civilians.
On Friday, Iranian health authorities confirmed that 78 people in total had been killed from recent Israeli attacks, many of them in urban residential areas, raising alarm from humanitarian organizations and prompting calls for international restraint.
Iranian officials have emphasized that their military actions are a direct response to what they describe as “aggression and war crimes” committed by Israel, and that their campaign will persist “until justice is served.” Meanwhile, the United States and its allies have been scrambling to prevent a wider war in the region, urging both sides to de-escalate.
However, Tehran has remained defiant. “Any interference will bear a heavy cost,” warned the Iranian defense ministry. Intelligence sources indicate that Iran may already be moving advanced missile systems closer to the Gulf region, preparing for potential conflict beyond Israel’s borders.
This marks a significant turning point in the Middle East, as the possibility of a broader confrontation involving major world powers looms large.