London/Tehran: As tensions between Israel and Iran spiral into a full-blown regional crisis, the United Kingdom has confirmed that it is repositioning military assets, including fighter jets, to the Middle East in anticipation of further escalation.

The move comes after Iran issued a stern warning to the US, UK, and France, declaring that any interference in its retaliatory strikes against Israel would render their regional military installations "legitimate targets." Iranian state media reported the warning on Saturday, underscoring the growing risk of wider involvement in the conflict.

"We are moving assets to the region, including jets, and that is for contingency support," UK PM Starmer told reporters travelling with him on his plane to Ottawa.

The UK leader said he had spoken with both US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since Israel launched its first attacks on Iran early Friday, hitting military and nuclear sites.

According to officials, dozens have been killed including top army and Revolutionary Guards commanders as well as civilians.

Iran has responded with barrages of drones and missiles fired at Israel overnight Friday into Saturday.

The volatile situation follows a series of Israeli airstrikes that hit key Iranian military and nuclear-linked sites, reportedly killing at least three senior Iranian officers. In response, Iran launched a barrage of missiles and drones targeting Israeli cities, triggering air raid sirens and explosions across Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a televised message, declared, “They started the war. We will not allow them to escape safely from this great crime they committed.”

Putin, Trump discuss Middle East, Ukraine in call: Kremlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the conflict between Israel and Iran, as well as efforts towards a Ukraine settlement, in a phone call with US counterpart Donald Trump, the Kremlin said Saturday.

It was the fifth phone call between the two leaders under efforts to reset relations since Trump took office, in a stark pivot from the approach of his predecessor, Joe Biden's administration.

"The dangerous escalation in the Middle East was ,of course, at the centre of the exchange," the Kremlin said, after Israel on Friday bombarded Iran, prompting Iran to launch strikes at Israel in return.

The Russian president said Moscow was ready to mediate between Israel and Iran, it added.