IRAN has warned the US, UK andFrance that theirmilitary bases and ships will be targeted if they help block the Iranian missile and drone retaliation for Israel’s attack, threatening to widen an already bloody war over Tehran’snuclearprogramme. DonaldTrump has said the USwillhelpdefendIsrael,and American officials have been quoted in news reports saying that US forces have already helped shoot down Iranian drones and missiles as they approached Israel.

 

France’sPresident,Emmanuel Macron, also said on Friday that his country would help defend Israel against Iranian reprisals. TheUKGovernmenthassaid its forces had not provided any military assistance to Israel as the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has emphasised the need for de-escalation. Tehran is seeking to deter western support for Israel’s defence at a time most of the missiles and drones it fires at Israel are being intercepted before they reach their targets. However,followingthroughon the threat, delivered on Saturday through state media, would be an enormous gamble for Iran, drawing western forces into the conflict when it is already reeling under the force of sustained Israeli bombing