After Trump Threats, Iran Issues Stark Warning to Neighbours Hosting US Forces

Iran has issued a clear warning to countries hosting American military forces, signalling that US bases across the region could be targeted if Washington launches an attack.

The message comes as former US President Donald Trump escalates rhetoric over Iran's ongoing unrest, raising fears of wider regional fallout amid one of the most violent crackdowns in the country's recent history.

Iran Warns Regional States Over US Bases

A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran has conveyed its position to neighbouring countries, warning that American military installations would be struck if the United States targets Iran.

"Tehran has told regional countries, from Saudi Arabia and UAE to Turkey, that US bases in those countries will be attacked" if the US targets Iran, the official said.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, added that Iran had urged US allies in the region to "prevent Washington from attacking Iran". According to the same source, direct contacts between Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff have now been suspended.

Iranian authorities have blamed both the United States and Israel for fuelling the unrest, accusing what they describe as terrorist elements of orchestrating the protests.

US Military Adjustments Signal Heightened Tensions

Three diplomats told Reuters that some personnel were advised to leave the US military's Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar by Wednesday evening. One diplomat described the move as a "posture change" rather than an "ordered evacuation".

There were no signs of a mass withdrawal similar to last year, when US troops were temporarily moved to nearby civilian facilities before Iran launched missiles at the base in retaliation for US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites.

The United States maintains a significant military presence across the region, including the forward headquarters of its Central Command at Al Udeid and the US Navy's Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain. The US embassy in Doha declined to comment, while Qatar's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for clarification.

Trump's Threats and Calls to Protesters

Trump has repeatedly threatened intervention in Iran, particularly in response to reports of executions linked to the protests. In an interview with CBS News on Tuesday, he vowed "very strong action" if Iran carries out executions.

"If they hang them, you're going to see some things," he said.

Trump also urged Iranians to continue protesting and seize institutions, declaring that "help is on the way". Asked later what he meant by that remark, he told reporters they would have to figure it out, adding that military action remained among the options under consideration.

On Monday, Trump announced 25 percent import tariffs on goods from any country conducting business with Iran. The US State Department also urged American citizens to leave Iran immediately.

An Israeli official said Trump had decided to intervene, though the scope and timing of any action remain unclear. Israel's security cabinet was briefed late on Tuesday on the likelihood of regime collapse or US intervention.

Crackdown, Arrests, and International Reactions

Information from inside Iran has been restricted by an internet blackout. The US-based HRANA rights group said it had verified the deaths of 2,403 protesters and 147 government-affiliated individuals, while an Iranian official told Reuters that about 2,000 people had been killed.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said he suspected "this is the most violent repression in Iran's contemporary history and that it must absolutely stop".

A Western official said the Iranian government did not appear to be facing imminent collapse, noting that the security apparatus remained in control and that the crackdown had restored some calm, even though authorities had been shaken by unrest at an unprecedented level.

Iranian state television broadcast footage of large funeral processions in cities including Tehran, Isfahan and Bushehr, with mourners waving flags, holding images of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and displaying anti-riot slogans.

Iran's Chief Justice, during a visit to a Tehran prison holding detained protesters, said swift punishment of those "who beheaded or burned people" was essential to prevent future unrest. HRANA reported 18,137 arrests so far.

Rights group Hengaw reported that a 26-year-old man, Erfan Soltani, arrested in Karaj, was due to be executed on Wednesday, though this could not be independently confirmed.

Despite surviving past protest movements, Iran is facing this latest upheaval while still recovering from last year's war and a weakened regional position following setbacks to allies such as Hezbollah after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks on Israel.