Iran Warns UK, US and France Amid Rising Toll in Israel–Iran Strikes
LONDON — Iran has issued a stark warning to the United Kingdom, United States and France, vowing to target their military bases and ships in the region if they intervene in support of Israel. The warning comes amid one of the most serious escalations between Tehran and Tel Aviv in recent memory.
The statement reported by Iranian media was clear: if Western powers help intercept Iranian strikes aimed at Israel, they will be treated as active participants in the conflict.
So far, London has remained publicly silent. A Downing Street spokesperson declined to comment, but sources suggest the UK has not participated in any military operations, including defensive action on Israel’s behalf.
The warning comes as both Israel and Iran trade devastating blows, with deadly consequences on each side. Iranian media reported that 60 people, including 20 children, were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a residential building in Tehran. Meanwhile, in Israel, at least three civilians have been killed and dozens more injured following retaliatory missile strikes.
Rescue workers in the Tel Aviv suburb of Rishon LeZion described chaos on the ground. “We sent in sniffer dogs first to check for unexploded bombs,” one responder told media. “Then we started digging. A roof came down just minutes ago.”
‘Tehran Will Burn’
Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, responded to Iran’s latest barrage with blunt force. “Tehran will burn if these attacks continue,” he said during a military briefing. “The Iranian dictator is turning his citizens into hostages.”
Katz’s comments came after Israel targeted over 150 sites inside Iran, including facilities linked to its nuclear programme. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) now claim nine nuclear scientists were killed in those operations up from six previously reported.
Iran has described the Israeli strikes as “criminal” and maintains its response is legitimate retaliation. The growing concern is that the conflict is now dragging other nations closer to the frontlines.
Empty Streets, Silent Cities
In Tehran, fear has gripped residents. Streets are eerily quiet. Supermarkets are stripped bare.
“Nothing is normal,” said Ramin Mostaghim, a journalist. “People are hoarding rice, oil anything they can get their hands on.”
Teenagers like TK, a high school student in the city, are trying to hold onto any semblance of routine. “I’m supposed to sit my university entrance exam in two weeks,” she said, speaking by phone. “But who can study when the city’s shaking?”
Across the region, the fear is that one more strike could spiral into full-scale war one that draws in foreign armies and leaves thousands more dead.
Caution from the West
Despite the heated warnings from Tehran, Western powers appear hesitant to engage directly. UK defence officials said on background that no formal request for support has come from Israel. Unlike previous flare-ups such as the April drone strikes there has been no public deployment of RAF jets from British bases in Cyprus.
But some analysts believe it’s only a matter of time. “If more civilians die, public pressure in Israel and Iran will intensify,” said Dr. Leila Khatami, a Middle East analyst. “And if any foreign soldier is killed, the whole region could erupt.”
In Jerusalem, Israel has sealed off parts of the Old City. Tourists were turned away from Damascus Gate, and Al-Aqsa Mosque has been temporarily closed. “Shops are shuttered. People are staying home. You can feel the tension in the air,” reported correspondents on the ground.
No End in Sight
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, facing pressure at home and abroad, is framing the strikes as a matter of national survival. Former Shin Bet chief Ami Ayalon echoed that view, telling media: “Iran is seen as an existential threat. We had to act.”
But as missiles continue to fly and more bodies are pulled from the rubble, the human cost is mounting fast and diplomacy appears dangerously out of reach.
“This isn’t just another round of fighting,” said Ayalon. “It’s a defining moment for the region. And it could get worse before it gets better.”
