ISTANBUL
Tehran warned Friday that European countries would become “legitimate targets” if they join the US and Israel in military attacks against Iran.
In an interview with France 24, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi said Tehran had already cautioned European states about involvement in the conflict.
“We have already informed the Europeans and everybody else that they should be careful not to be involved in this war of aggression against Iran,” he said.
Takht-Ravanchi warned that if any country “joins America and Israel in the aggression against Iran, they will also be legitimate targets for Iran's retaliation.”
His comments come as the joint defense staff announced Friday that France is deploying the Tonnerre, an amphibious helicopter carrier, to the Mediterranean, according to broadcaster BFM TV.
It will join the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, which reportedly arrived in the region earlier in the day after having been previously deployed in the Baltic Sea.
Meanwhile, the British government is increasing its military presence in the Gulf region. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer held talks with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain on Thursday, offering to deploy jets to provide defensive air cover to the Gulf state.
Separately, Starmer announced Thursday that four additional Typhoon fighter jets will be deployed to Qatar following requests from allies.
He said the move was part of efforts “to strengthen our defensive operations in Qatar and across the region.”
Regional tensions have escalated since the US and Israel launched a large-scale attack on Iran on Saturday, killing more than 1,000 people, including Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, over 150 schoolgirls, and senior military officials.
Iran has retaliated with sweeping barrages of its own that have targeted US bases, diplomatic facilities, and military personnel across the region, as well as multiple Israeli cities. The attacks have continued to escalate.