Iran warns it may target US bases if Washington intervenes

Tehran has warned nearby countries that host US troops that it will respond if the United States intervenes in Iran’s ongoing protests. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Iran would retaliate against American bases if Washington follows through on its threats.

According to three diplomats, some US personnel have been advised to leave the main American air base in the region. However, there are no signs of a full evacuation like the one seen last year before Iran launched missile attacks. One diplomat called the move a “posture change” and not an “ordered evacuation”.

US President Donald Trump has openly threatened to intervene in Iran, where protests have continued and a rights group claims hundreds of people have been killed during a crackdown.

Trump said in an interview that he would take “very strong action” if Iran executes protesters, adding, “If they hang them, you’re going to see some things.” He also encouraged Iranians to continue protesting and said “help is on the way”.

The Iranian official said Tehran has asked regional allies to “prevent Washington from attacking Iran” and warned that “US bases in those countries will be attacked” if Iran is targeted. The official also confirmed that direct talks between Iran’s foreign minister and the US special envoy have been suspended.

Meanwhile, Iran has been in contact with countries like Turkiye, the UAE, and Qatar. Iranian media reported that officials stressed Iran’s determination to defend its sovereignty and security from foreign interference.

The situation inside Iran remains unclear due to an ongoing internet blackout that has lasted over 132 hours. Netblocks said, “Metrics show #Iran remains offline as the country wakes to another day of digital darkness.”

Despite limited information, videos verified by international media showed bodies in a morgue near Tehran, with families searching for loved ones. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on the United States and Israel, accusing them of backing what they call terrorist actions.

Iran’s chief justice has urged fast legal action against those involved in violence, saying courts must act quickly to prevent such events from happening again. State media also reported that funerals were held for civilians and security personnel killed during the unrest.

President Trump later said military action was one of the options he was considering to “punish Iran”, while also admitting that the full situation was still unclear. The US has also announced new trade penalties and urged its citizens to leave Iran.

Tehran has rejected these warnings, calling them a “pretext for military intervention”, while Iran’s UN mission said Washington’s “playbook” would “fail again.”

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