The victim, believed to be around 60 years old, died in Tel Aviv following a missile impact, according to Magen David Adom, which added that two others sustained minor injuries.

The Israel Defense Forces said it had identified missiles launched from Iran toward Israeli territory, with air defense systems activated to intercept the threat.Search and rescue teams were deployed to multiple impact sites in central Israel, the military said, while witnesses reported seeing missile trails over Jerusalem.

Explosions were also heard in Jericho in the occupied West Bank.Emergency responders were seen at the scene in Tel Aviv, where a main road was partially sealed off following the strike.

Israeli authorities said earlier that at least 18 civilians had been killed since the start of the conflict, including 13 Israelis, four minors, a Filipino caregiver and a Thai national, in missile attacks attributed to Iran.

The military warned that additional missile launches were detected as Saturday approached, indicating the continuation of hostilities.Iran signals retaliationIranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said earlier that Tehran would impose a “heavy price” for Israeli actions, following reported strikes on major Iranian steel facilities and nuclear sites.

The exchange of attacks marks an intensification of the conflict between the two countries, with both sides continuing cross-border strikes amid mounting civilian casualties.

Responding to escalating tensions and recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump hinting at military involvement against Iran, Marandi declared that if the United States were to enter into war with Iran, the governments of Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain “would not last more than a few days, or even a few hours.”

“It’s time to leave Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain immediately,” Marandi added ominously — a clear signal that Iran sees U.S. bases and partnerships in these countries as legitimate wartime targets. The statement comes amid increasing regional anxiety following Israeli strikes in Syria and Lebanon, and fears that a broader war involving Iran could engulf the Middle East.

Yet, what was more telling than Marandi’s threat was his silence on Saudi Arabia — the region’s heavyweight. This omission was not lost on analysts.

Aimen Dean, former MI6 spy inside Al-Qaeda and author of Nine Lives, pointed out the striking inconsistency. He wrote, “Iran’s Ariana News Agency just issued a threat that if the United States attacks Iran then it will retaliate against Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and UAE! No mention of Saudi Arabia, yet it’s all the same, as these countries are part of a mutual GCC defence treaty with Saudi.”

Strategic Messaging or Calculated Restraint?

Marandi’s threats appear designed to create fear and pressure among Gulf states that host American military assets, such as Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar and the Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. These are not empty words — they serve as psychological warfare aimed at dividing the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), deterring further cooperation with Washington, and shaking the confidence of local populations.

But the absence of Saudi Arabia in this threat matrix is intriguing. Some analysts believe it reflects Tehran’s ongoing efforts to preserve the fragile diplomatic thaw with Riyadh. Since the China-brokered rapprochement in 2023, Iran and Saudi Arabia have restored diplomatic ties and engaged in dialogue over Yemen, energy coordination, and regional security. Directly threatening Saudi Arabia now could reverse months of careful detente.

Others argue that Iran’s silence on Saudi Arabia is purely tactical. “Tehran knows that any overt threat to Riyadh would trigger a massive and unified GCC—and potentially wider Arab—response,” said a Gulf-based security expert. “It’s playing chess, not checkers.”

A Wider Conflict Looms?

As tensions soar between the United States and Iran, the Gulf region once again finds itself caught in the middle of a high-stakes confrontation. While Iran frames its threats as a response to potential aggression, its messaging exposes the vulnerability of smaller Gulf states and highlights their strategic importance to Washington’s military presence in the region.

The United States, for its part, has not publicly responded to Marandi’s threats. However, military readiness has increased in the region. Additional U.S. naval deployments to the Gulf and increased coordination with Israel signal that Washington is preparing for multiple scenarios.

Meanwhile, GCC member states are left to weigh the risks. The threat of being used as a battlefield in a confrontation between Washington and Tehran looms large. Yet, so does the cost of abandoning decades of military and economic cooperation with the United States.

The high-level statement came just days after Israel launched preemptive strikes on Iranian military installations—an operation it claims was aimed at preventing Tehran from advancing toward nuclear weapon capabilities. Iran responded with retaliatory attacks, triggering a new phase in the already volatile regional dynamics since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023.

“We affirm that Israel has a right to defend itself. We reiterate our support for the security of Israel,” read the G7 communiqué, which also emphasized that “Iran is the principal source of regional instability and terror.”

The leaders of the G7—comprising the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, and Japan—also reiterated a critical demand: “Iran can never be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon.”

Rising Death Toll and Escalation Fears

The conflict has already resulted in tragic civilian casualties. Iranian sources report over 220 deaths, including women and children, while Israel has confirmed 24 civilian fatalities. Both sides have accused each other of targeting civilian infrastructure, heightening fears of further escalation.

On Monday, an Israeli airstrike reportedly targeted Iran’s state broadcaster headquarters, intensifying panic among Tehran’s residents. U.S. President Donald Trump, attending the G7 summit in Canada, abruptly announced his early departure to return to Washington, citing the urgent regional developments.

In a social media post, Trump warned: “Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran.”

U.S. Stance: Awareness Without Involvement?

While the United States has publicly distanced itself from direct involvement in the Israeli operations, Trump admitted that Washington had prior knowledge of the strikes and called them “excellent.” Nevertheless, the U.S. has issued stern warnings to Iran not to retaliate against American personnel or assets stationed in the region.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a series of calls with foreign counterparts in Europe to coordinate diplomatic responses and assess regional fallout. Despite the heated tensions, Washington maintains that it still seeks a nuclear agreement with Iran—underscoring the fragile balance between deterrence and diplomacy.

Nuclear Standoff: Two Realities

Iran has long denied ambitions to build nuclear weapons, insisting its nuclear activities are for peaceful energy purposes as permitted under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), to which it is a signatory.

In contrast, Israel—while not a party to the NPT—is widely believed to possess an undeclared nuclear arsenal. It neither confirms nor denies this status, maintaining a policy of strategic ambiguity.

Call for Regional De-escalation and Gaza Ceasefire

Beyond the immediate hostilities between Israel and Iran, the G7 emphasized the need for a broader ceasefire across the Middle East, including Gaza.

“We urge that the resolution of the Iranian crisis leads to a broader de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East, including a ceasefire in Gaza,” the statement read.

The G7 also expressed readiness to collaborate in ensuring energy market stability, amid concerns that the conflict could disrupt global oil supply lines and inflate prices.

As tensions remain high, international observers warn that without swift and strategic diplomacy, the Israel-Iran showdown could spiral into a multi-front conflict with far-reaching global implications.