Iran-Israel attack latest: ‘Clear’ Netanyahu has chosen to respond to Tehran, says David Cameron

Iran has warned its military is ready to confront any attack by Israel.

Tehran’s air force said it was “prepared for any operation”, while Iran’s navy commander said also that it was escorting Iranian commercial vessels to the Red Sea.

“Any attack by the Zionist regime on our soil will be dealt with a severe response,” Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi was reported by state media as saying at a parade held for Iran’s Army Day. Mr Raisi reportedly warned that the “tiniest invasion” by Israel would bring a “massive and harsh” response.

The commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force warned at the same event that its warplanes, including Russian-made Sukhoi-24s, were in their “best state of preparedness” to counter any Israeli attack.

“We have full readiness in all fields, including our air coverage and bombers, and are prepared for any operation,” Brigadier General Amir Vahedi said.

Israel’s war in Gaza Strip has killed at least 33,899 Palestinians and wounded 76,664 since Hamas’s attack on 7 October, the Hamas-run health ministry has said in its latest update.

Fifty-six Palestinians have been killed and 89 injured in the past 24 hours, the health ministry alleged.

Pakistan’s premier Shehbaz Sharif has said that Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi will visit the South Asian nation “very soon”.

The statement from his office, following a cabinet meeting, also said that the billions of dollars would be invested by Saudi Arabia following a visit led by the country’s foreign minister to Pakistan this week.

The 25 crew members of the shipping container seized by Iran on Saturday are safe, shipping firm MSC has said, adding that discussions with Iranian authorities are in progress to secure their earliest release.

“We are also working with the Iranian authorities to have the cargo discharged,” the company said.

Portugal’s foreign ministry summoned Iran’s ambassador on Tuesday to condemn Saturday’s attack on Israel by Tehran and to demand the immediate release of the Portuguese-flagged container ship MSC Aries.

MSC leases the Aries from Gortal Shipping, an affiliate of Zodiac Maritime. Zodiac is partly owned by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer.

More can and should be done to sanction Iran following its attack on Israel, David Cameron has said.

Speaking during a trip to Israel, Britain’s foreign secretary told broadcasters: “We want to see coordinated sanctions against Iran.

“Britain has in many ways led the way with our new sanctions regime, sanctioning dozens of people in Iran, sanctioning the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) in its entirety, and I think there is more that we can do to show a united front, that Iran is behind so much of the malign activity in this region, backing Hamas, backing Hezbollah, backing the Houthis.

“They need to be given a clear and unequivocal message by the G7 and I hope that will happen at the weekend.”

British foreign minister David Cameron has said it is clear Israel has decided to respond to the Iranian drone and ballistic missile attack – and urged this to be carried out in a way that minimises escalation.

“It’s clear the Israelis are making a decision to act,” Lord Cameron told reporters after landing in Israel for talks with Benjamin Netanyahu. “We hope they do so in a way that does as little to escalate this as possible and in a way that, as I said yesterday, is smart as well as tough.

“But the real need is to refocus back on Hamas, back on the hostages, back on getting the aid in, back on getting a pause in the conflict in Gaza.”

Britain wants to see coordinated sanctions against Iran, he said, adding: “They need to be given a clear unequivocal message by the G7.”