Iran has warned US President Donald Trump that any American attack on the country would lead to retaliation against Israel and US military bases in the region. The warning was delivered by Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf during a parliamentary session on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Israel has gone on high alert amid concerns that the United States could intervene in Iran, as the country faces its largest anti-government protests in years, according to three Israeli sources.
President Trump has repeatedly threatened intervention in recent days and warned Iran’s leadership against using force on protesters. On Saturday, he said the United States was “ready to help”.
Israeli officials involved in security discussions over the weekend did not provide details on what the heightened alert involves. Israel and Iran previously fought a 12-day conflict in June, during which the United States joined Israel in carrying out airstrikes.
According to an Israeli source, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the possibility of US intervention in Iran during a phone call on Saturday. A US official confirmed the call but did not disclose its details.
Despite rising tensions, Israel has not publicly indicated plans to intervene in Iran’s internal situation. Relations between the two rivals remain strained, mainly due to Israel’s concerns over Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.
In an interview published by The Economist on Friday, Netanyahu warned that Iran would face serious consequences if it attacked Israel. Referring to the ongoing protests, he said the situation inside Iran was still unfolding.
