Iran designates Royal Navy, RAF and MI6 hostile as US standoff deepens

Iran's foreign ministry has declared Britain's Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and MI6 "terrorist and hostile" organisations, while Tehran says it has received a letter from US Vice President JD Vance but will not talk until seven conditions are met. The Wall Street Journal reports Washington has told Gulf states to prepare for a short, intensive campaign against Iran after the US midterms. Drawing a European ally formally into the confrontation widens the potential theatre of war around Israel and the Gulf, though the reports describe preparation and diplomacy, not a confirmed new attack.