Iran will fight off enemy attacks ‘until the last drop of blood’, defence chief warns after Trump vowed ‘strong action’ if protesters are hanged: Live updates

NBC reported that hundreds of troops are being moved from Qatar’s al Udeid Air Base to others in the Middle East.

Sources told the broadcaster that this is to put them out of harm’s way, in case Iran decides to retaliate against an American attack.

The base is the US’ largest in the region, ordinarily home to around 10,000 troops.

In June, troops were removed from the base amid the so-called 12-Day War.

The German government is taking a close look at its trade with Iran, keeping an eye on how Berlin could increase pressure on Tehran.

Germany traded about £1.3billion with Iran in 2024, with this number likely falling in 2025 amid increased EU and US sanctions.

France’s foreign minister has today said he is considering sending Eutelsat satellite terminals to Iran to circumvent the internet blockade.

In 2022, Eutelsat accused Iran of jamming two of its satellites amid the Mahsa Amini protests.

Russia will continue trading with Iran despite America’s threats, its foreign minister today said.

Asked about Trump’s pressure on Iran’s trading partners, Sergey Lavrov said Russia will push bilateral agreements despite the threats.

He called the US out for breaking up international norms regarding foreign intervention and trade: ‘Our American colleagues look unreliable when they act in this way’.

Iran’s defence minister, Aziz Nasirzadeh, said amid an escalating war of words that his nation was prepared to defend itself fully if it is attacked.

He told local media: ‘If these threats are turned into action, we will defend the country with full force and until the last drop of blood, and our defence would be painful to them’.

Nasirzadeh added that any nation that provides assistance for any strikes on Iran will become ‘legitimate targets’.

Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions, Keir Starmer said he was working with allies to place more sanctions on Iran.

He said: ‘Can I start by condemning in the strongest possible terms the sickening repression and murder of protesters in Iran.

‘The contrast between the courage of the Iranian people and the brutality of their desperate regime has never been clearer.

‘We’ve called out this brutality face to face, we’re working with allies on further sanctions and doing all we can to protect UK nationals’.

Iran International reported that plainclothes security forces and members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have targeted the homes of families of people killed in recent protests in eastern Tehran.

Sources told the dissident outlet that security forces are intimidating people by firing shots and ransacking homes.

They added that families were told by officers they would be charged fees related to the use of live ammunition.

Several governments in the Middle East have pleaded with the US not to invade Iran.

Governments who spoke to the US include Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.

An Arab Gulf diplomat told Reuters that these governments fear ‘unprecedented consequences’ if the US takes military action against Iran.