Iran has issued a stark warning to the United States, the United Kingdom, and other Western powers, cautioning that any country assisting Israel in its defense could become a target in the
escalating conflict between Tehran and Tel Aviv.
According to Iran’s state-run Mehr News Agency, "Any country that participates in repelling Iranian attacks on Israel will be subject to Iranian forces targeting all regional bases of the complicit government." Though the agency did not cite specific officials, the threat is being taken seriously across the international community.
France was also mentioned as a potential target, as fears grow that the conflict could spark a wider regional war. In response, Israel issued a blunt warning: “Tehran will burn” if Iranian attacks on civilians continue.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated, “The Iranian dictator is turning his own citizens into hostages. Tehran, and particularly its residents, will pay a heavy price for the criminal harm inflicted on Israeli civilians.”
Echoing that sentiment, Israeli military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin claimed that Israeli operations had cleared the way for future strikes, saying, “We have created aerial freedom of action from western Iran all the way to Tehran... Tehran is no longer immune.”
The direct confrontation between Iran and Israel marks a dramatic and dangerous new phase in their long-standing rivalry, which has mostly played out through proxy wars until now.
The violence erupted after Israel launched a large-scale air assault early Friday, targeting Iranian military infrastructure and nuclear facilities. Iran confirmed the strikes, reporting the deaths of senior commanders and dozens of civilians. Its ambassador to the UN stated that the initial wave of Israeli attacks killed 78 people and wounded more than 300.
In response, Iran launched waves of drones and missiles overnight, many of which lit up the skies over Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Three people were killed and at least 76 injured in the barrage.
Israel’s military has named its campaign Operation Rising Lion, which it says is focused on crippling Iran’s ability to carry out further attacks. The strikes have intensified fears that the Middle East is on the brink of a full-scale war, especially with key diplomatic talks—such as those concerning Iran's nuclear program—now seemingly off the table.
As the conflict escalates, the possibility of broader involvement from Western nations and regional powers raises the specter of a prolonged and devastating war across the region. Photo by Tasnim News Agency, Wikimedia commons.