Tehran has warned United States allies in the Middle East that it will strike US bases on their soil if Washington attacks Iran, a senior Iranian official said on Wednesday, amid escalating tensions following President Donald Trump’s threats to intervene in support of nationwide protests.
The unrest, now the most serious challenge to Iran’s clerical establishment since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, has left nearly 2,600 people dead, according to US-based rights group HRANA. Iranian authorities report that approximately 2,000 individuals have been killed, while more than 18,000 people have been arrested.
The anonymous Iranian official said Tehran had reached out to regional powers—including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey—warning them that US military installations in their countries would be legitimate targets if Washington launched attacks on Iranian soil.
The official added that direct diplomatic contacts between Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff had been suspended, reflecting growing tensions in the region.
An Israeli source said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet was briefed late Tuesday on the potential for US intervention or even regime collapse in Iran. Israel, which fought a 12-day war with Iran last year, is closely monitoring the situation. Another Israeli official confirmed to Reuters that Trump has decided to intervene in some form, though the timing and scope of any action remain unclear.
In a CBS News interview on Tuesday, Trump vowed “very strong action” should Iran execute protesters. “If they hang them, you’re going to see some things,” he said, while also urging Iranians to continue protesting and seize control of institutions, adding vaguely that “help is on the way.”
The United States maintains a substantial military presence across the Middle East, including the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the forward headquarters of US Central Command. Last year, Iran retaliated against US airstrikes on its nuclear facilities by launching missiles at Al Udeid.
Iranian state media reported that the head of the country’s top security council, Ali Larijani, had engaged in talks with Qatar’s foreign minister, while Araqchi spoke with his counterparts in the UAE and Turkey. During the discussions with the UAE’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Araqchi stressed that Iranians were determined to defend their sovereignty and security from any foreign interference.
Meanwhile, communication from Iran has been heavily restricted due to widespread internet blackouts, hampering independent reporting. HRANA has verified the deaths of 2,403 protesters and 147 government-affiliated individuals, highlighting the scale of the crackdown.
Iranian authorities have blamed the United States and Israel for fomenting the unrest, accusing “terrorists” of attacking security forces, mosques, and public property. The judiciary has emphasized swift punishment for those accused of extreme violence, with Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei visiting a Tehran prison to underline the urgency of trials for individuals accused of beheadings and killings during the protests.
State media reported that funeral processions for more than 100 civilians and security personnel would be held in Tehran on Wednesday. In Karaj, Hengaw, a Kurdish rights group, reported that a 26-year-old man arrested for participating in protests, Erfan Soltani, was scheduled for execution. Due to the ongoing communication blackout, confirmation of whether the sentence was carried out remains unavailable.
Pro-government rallies were held across Iran on Monday, signaling continued support for the clerical establishment. Analysts note that, despite previous periods of unrest, there have been no signs of fracture within the security forces, which have consistently suppressed mass protests over the past decades.
The current wave of unrest comes at a time when Iran’s regional influence is under strain. The country is still recovering from last year’s conflict and facing weakened positions of its allies, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah, following the Hamas-led attacks against Israel in October 2023.
Trump has hinted at a range of possible responses to Iran’s crackdown, including military action. Speaking to reporters after returning from Detroit, he said, “The killing looks like it’s significant, but we don’t know yet for certain,” adding that he expected to receive additional reports later Tuesday.
In a separate move, the US announced a 25% import tariff on products from countries that continue business with Iran, a measure aimed at intensifying economic pressure on the major oil exporter. The State Department also issued an urgent travel advisory, urging all American citizens in Iran to leave immediately, including by overland routes through Turkey or Armenia.
As the standoff between Tehran and Washington intensifies, the region faces heightened risks of escalation. The Iranian government has made it clear that any US strike will trigger retaliatory attacks on bases in allied countries, raising fears of a wider regional confrontation. Meanwhile, Iranians continue to demonstrate despite the lethal crackdown, signaling both the depth of domestic dissent and the potential for prolonged instability.
