Iran Warns of Retaliation if Trump Orders Strikes, Regional States Including Türkiye Alerted

Summary:

Iran has warned neighboring countries that U.S. military bases across the Middle East would be targeted if Washington launches strikes against Tehran, according to a senior Iranian official. The warning comes amid escalating unrest inside Iran and repeated threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to intervene in support of anti-government protesters. Rising regional tensions have prompted the United States to withdraw some personnel from key bases as a precaution.

U.S. Begins Precautionary Drawdown in the Region

The United States has started withdrawing some personnel from military bases in the Middle East, a U.S. official said on Wednesday, citing heightened regional tensions. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official described the move as a precautionary measure rather than a full-scale evacuation.

Three diplomats told Reuters that some personnel had already been advised to leave the main U.S. air base in the region, Al Udeid Air Base, although there were no signs of a mass troop withdrawal similar to that seen last year ahead of an Iranian missile attack in retaliation for U.S. airstrikes.

One diplomat characterized the move as a “posture change,” noting that troops were not being relocated to nearby civilian facilities, as had occurred during previous crises. The U.S. embassy in Doha declined immediate comment, while Qatar’s foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

Trump Threats Heighten Risk of Escalation

Tensions have risen sharply as U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened intervention in Iran, framing his remarks as support for protesters opposing clerical rule.

In an interview with CBS News on Tuesday, Trump vowed “very strong action” if Iran carries out executions of protesters. He also urged Iranians to continue demonstrations and seize institutions, declaring that “help is on the way.”

According to an Israeli assessment cited by an Israeli official, Trump has already decided to intervene, although the timing and scope of any action remain unclear.

Iran: U.S. Bases Would Be Hit

A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran has formally warned regional states — including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Türkiye — that American military bases on their territory would be attacked if the United States strikes Iran.

The official added that direct contacts between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff have been suspended.

The United States maintains extensive military infrastructure in the region, including the forward headquarters of U.S. Central Command in Qatar and the headquarters of the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain.

Unrest in Iran Reaches Unprecedented Scale

Iran is grappling with what both Iranian authorities and Western governments describe as the most violent unrest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Protests that began two weeks ago over dire economic conditions have rapidly escalated into nationwide demonstrations against clerical rule.

Iranian officials say more than 2,000 people have been killed. The U.S.-based HRANA human rights group puts the death toll above 2,600. Iran’s Armed Forces Chief of Staff Abdolrahim Mousavi said the country had “never faced this level of destruction,” blaming foreign enemies. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot described the crackdown as “the most violent repression in Iran’s contemporary history.”

Diplomatic Activity Intensifies

Iranian authorities accuse the United States and Israel of fomenting the unrest, describing protesters as terrorists. Information from inside the country has been severely restricted due to widespread internet blackouts.

State media reported that Iran’s top security official, Ali Larijani, held talks with Qatar’s foreign minister, while Araqchi spoke with his Emirati and Turkish counterparts. Araqchi told UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed that “calm has prevailed” and that Iran is determined to defend its sovereignty against foreign interference.

President Masoud Pezeshkian told a cabinet meeting that as long as the government retains public support, “all enemies’ efforts against the country will come to nothing.” State television broadcast images of large funeral processions in Tehran, Isfahan and Bushehr, with crowds waving flags and portraits of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

West Says Regime Not on Verge of Collapse

Despite the scale of the unrest, Western officials say the Iranian government does not appear close to collapse. One Western official said the protests caught authorities off guard at a vulnerable moment, but the security apparatus remains firmly in control.

HRANA reported more than 18,000 arrests so far. Kurdish rights group Hengaw said a 26-year-old man, Erfan Soltani, arrested during protests in Karaj, faced execution on Wednesday, although it could not confirm whether the sentence had been carried out.

Source: Reuters

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