Iran has threatened to launch attacks on American, British, and French military bases and warships across the Middle East if the three nations intervene in defense of Israel amid an escalating conflict marked by heavy missile exchanges.
The warning was delivered through Iranian state media on Saturday after Israel conducted a new wave of airstrikes, which Tehran claims killed at least 60 civilians in its capital, including 20 children.
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Explosions have rocked Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Tehran in what analysts say is the most intense direct confrontation between the two countries in decades.
The Israeli military claims it has struck more than 150 sites in Iran within the last 24 hours, targeting strategic nuclear infrastructure in Isfahan and Natanz, and that operations are ongoing. Among the dead, according to Israeli sources, are nine senior Iranian nuclear scientists.
Iran’s UN ambassador had earlier reported 78 fatalities from initial Israeli strikes, though it’s unclear if the more recent figures are included in that total. The numbers have not yet been independently verified.
In Israel, officials report at least three deaths and dozens injured due to Iranian missile strikes, which have reached major cities and triggered air defense systems.
Nuclear Negotiations in Jeopardy
The flare-up has cast serious doubt over scheduled nuclear talks between Iran and the U.S., which were set to resume in Oman. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi now says the attacks have rendered dialogue “pointless.”
“The brutal assault on our scientists and civilians makes continued negotiations meaningless,” he said in a statement to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
Tehran has accused the U.S. of backing Israel’s actions and undermining months of indirect negotiations. Just days earlier, the International Atomic Energy Agency officially declared Iran in violation of its non-proliferation commitments—the first such resolution in over 20 years.
Global Reactions and Rising Tensions
Despite Iran’s threats, the UK insists it has not participated in any military support for Israel. A spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and both leaders agreed on the urgent need to reduce tensions.
“The UK remains committed to working with international partners to pursue a diplomatic path,” the spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned of intensified retaliation if Iran continues its strikes: “If Iran pushes further, Tehran will face destruction,” he declared in a military update.
He accused Iran’s leadership of sacrificing its own people in pursuit of conflict.
With tensions escalating, diplomatic efforts strained, and military assets on high alert, the region now faces its most serious threat of broader war in years—potentially drawing in global powers. While the U.S. has yet to engage militarily, former President Donald Trump has urged Iran to return to the negotiating table “before more lives are lost.”
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