Iran says to target U.S. bases if conflict breaks out

Iran threatens U.S. bases amid nuclear deal talks; Trump less confident, embassy staff reduced, UK navy warns ships.

Iran threatened on Wednesday (June 11, 2025) to target U.S. military bases in the region if conflict breaks out, while President Donald Trump said he was “less confident” about reaching a nuclear deal.

Amid escalating tensions, a U.S. official said staff levels at the embassy in Iraq were being reduced over security concerns, while the U.K. Maritime Trade Operations, run by the British navy, advised ships to transit the Gulf with caution.

Also read: Iran says sixth round of U.S. talks planned for June 15

Tehran and Washington have held five rounds of talks since April to thrash out a new nuclear deal to replace the 2015 accord that Mr. Trump abandoned during his first term in 2018.

Since returning to office in January, Mr. Trump has revived his “maximum pressure” campaign on Tehran, backing nuclear diplomacy but warning of military action if it fails.

“All its bases are within our reach; we have access to them, and without hesitation we will target all of them in the host countries,” Iran’s Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh said in response to U.S. threats of military action if the talks fail.

“God willing, things won’t reach that point, and the talks will succeed,” the Minister said, adding that the U.S. side “will suffer more losses” if it came to conflict.