Iran: MP threatens: ‘If the US attacks us, we will strike Europe and Italia’

“The Israeli people have voted for change and to replace the current government.” This was written on X by the leader of Yashar!, Gadi Eisenkot, addressing his “friends in the United States and around the world”. “Our democracy remains strong and vibrant. We are working to fulfil the will of the Israeli people by forming a new government as soon as possible – a government of national emergency,” he added, promising leadership that serves all Israelis and “a Jewish and democratic Israel”, committed to defending liberal values and equality for all. “I look forward to working closely and constructively with President Trump and his administration, whose friendship and commitment to Israel we deeply appreciate,” he added. Eisenkot gave assurances that under his leadership the bipartisan foundations of the relationship with Washington would be strengthened: “Israel will remain one of America’s most reliable and capable strategic partners in the Middle East”. The aim, he emphasised, is to work with allies to foster a region characterised “not merely by the absence of conflict, but by the presence of opportunities and cooperation”.

“Radical Islam is the challenge that is currently destroying European countries: from the outside, through Iran and its proxies; and from within, through Islamist parties that support terrorism aimed at erasing the Jewish identity of the State of Israel. A government that depends on these parties will not be able to tackle the challenge of radical Islam; not only that, it will destroy us from within. Only a broad national government, led by Likud and myself, which includes all components of the national bloc and all Zionist parties wishing to join, will be able to tackle this challenge.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this in a video statement.

Israel Beitenu, Avigdor Liberman’s party (7 seats), has put forward the name of Gadi Eisenkot to President Isaac Herzog for the formation of the next government. During the consultation, Herzog pressed the party delegation on Liberman’s stance, which involves numerous vetoes – against the Arab parties, the ultra-Orthodox parties and Netanyahu – regarding the formation of the coalition. “What, then, remains to form a government?” asked Herzog. In response, MP Oded Forer ruled out cooperation with the Arab parties because ‘they include elements that support terrorism’, whilst he proved more open to the possibility of cooperation with the ultra-Orthodox parties, ‘to avoid new elections’.

The Arab party Ra’am has officially announced that it will put forward the name of Gadi Eisenkot to President Isaac Herzog for the task of forming the next government in Israel. The party is due to meet with the President tomorrow for consultations.

Representatives of Shas, the Sephardic ultra-Orthodox party (6 seats), have put forward Benjamin Netanyahu’s name to President Isaac Herzog for the formation of the next government, stating that they support a ‘broad national government’. Herzog acknowledged the ‘mediating’ role that has characterised Shas’s politics over the years, highlighting the frustration felt by those in Israeli society who serve in the military regarding the stance of the ultra-Orthodox parties, which oppose extending the conscription law. “We are extending a hand, but first we ask that the value of Torah students be recognised,” said MP Inon Azulay.

Iran has inflicted a “political defeat” on Donald Trump following the Republicans’ defeat in the US elections, which came in the wake of a “strategic” military defeat, the country’s security chief has stated. “The Iranian nation has inflicted a strategic defeat on Trump on the battlefield and in the Strait of Hormuz, and a political defeat in Washington,” Mohsen Rezaei wrote on X, adding that “anyone who attacks Iran will pay the price”.

“If America uses its bases in Europe, including those in Italy and Germany, Iranian missiles will be launched towards Europe,” Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani, a member of the Iranian parliament’s National Security Committee, told Euronews. State media in Tehran have reportedly warned that any new clash with the United States could extend to strike “the heart of Europe”, after Mojtaba Khamenei on Saturday ordered a response “without geographical restrictions” to any enemy threat. “In the two previous conflicts we did not do so, but this time we will not allow Europe’s support for America in an attack on Iran to go unpunished,” added Ardestani.

Donald Trump has asked his advisers, both in person and over the phone, whether Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth should remain in his post following the Republicans’ disastrous defeat in the mid-term elections. This is reported by CBS News, citing multiple sources, according to whom some of the blame will be attributed to Admiral Brad Cooper, head of CENTCOM, and General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: both played a key role in providing guidance on the war in Iran. One source said that the name of the outgoing Republican Governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, is being mentioned as a possible replacement for Hegseth.

“The days of the Senate bowing to Trump are over.” This was the assurance given by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer. When asked about the war in Iran, Schumer replied: “We will bring the conflict to an end; some Republicans are with us, and we hold the power” over the spending bill. “We will work to bring down prices for Americans, with or without Trump.”

The IDF spokesperson reports that today they struck ‘two suspects who were monitoring IDF soldiers from the Qabrikha area, outside the Security Zone in southern Lebanon. “The attack was carried out to neutralise the threat; the IDF remains committed to upholding the agreement between Israel and Lebanon.”

The former leader of the Arab party within the Joint List, Ayman Odeh, is reported to have received cash from a foreign source, according to Israeli media reports, after the head of the Shin Bet, David Zini, is reported to have summoned him to give evidence – on his own and no longer alongside three other Israeli Arab politicians, as had initially been reported – as part of the investigation into alleged external interference in the elections, interference which is said to have been minimal and not significant enough to have influenced the outcome of the vote. Odeh will not be a member of the new Knesset. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara had criticised Zini’s request, emphasising that no one can be questioned without sufficient evidence. Odeh described the investigation as “political persecution”. “The historic turnout among Arab citizens has driven Netanyahu mad; they’re firing in all directions. And as the date of the Knesset’s swearing-in and the end of Netanyahu’s time in power draws nearer, there will be more and more lies,” he said.

HAIFA – A new war against Iran is a real possibility. ‘Tehran continues to rearm, partly thanks to assistance from China and Russia’. Sarit Zehavi, a former Israeli military intelligence officer, is the founder and chair of the Alma Research and Education Centre, a think tank comprising former intelligence officers that specialises in analysing security threats along Israel’s northern border, with a particular focus on Hezbollah and Iran. Zehavi has little doubt about the risk of a new war. But she warns: keep an eye on Hezbollah too.

How realistic and imminent is a joint US-Israeli military operation against Iran? Israel has resumed talk of regime change.

Abdul El-Sayed, the Democrat who won the Senate race in Michigan, has backed Donald Trump’s decision to halt military aid to Israel, amounting to around $4 billion a year. “I believe the President is actually right on this policy,” said El-Sayed, calling for an end to “the sale to Israel of weapons that are used to commit the worst atrocities, including genocide and apartheid”.

An Israeli drone carried out an attack on a motorbike in the town of Qabrikha, in southern Lebanon. This was reported by the Lebanese media.

According to initial reports, the raid is said to have left one person dead and another injured. The Lebanese health authorities have not yet issued any statements on the matter.

A demonstration calling for a government of national unity between Netanyahu and Eisenkot has been organised for tomorrow outside President Isaac Herzog’s residence in Jerusalem, where consultations are taking place. The rally has been jointly organised by ten non-partisan civil society organisations and calls on the two leaders to, ‘in the face of the options of a minority government or new elections, form a unity government based on common principles regarding security, conscription and education. Any party that commits to upholding these principles will be invited to join’. ‘Bibi and Gadi, unity is the only solution: you were elected to lead Israel’s two largest parties; sit down together and take joint responsibility for the future of the State of Israel. “Not ready? Go home!”, reads the appeal, calling on the public to gather at 6.30 pm (5.30 pm Italian time, ed.), when delegations from Eisenkot’s and Netanyahu’s parties are expected to arrive, marking the conclusion of the first round of consultations.

The war between the US and Israel on the one hand and Iran on the other has been “catastrophic” for the cost of living in the UK and for its international consequences, and the British Labour government is determined to renew its commitment to “de-escalation”. This was stated today in the House of Commons by the First Secretary of State, Louise Haigh, the UK’s de facto Deputy Prime Minister, who stood in for Prime Minister Andy Burnham during Wednesday’s Question Time whilst he was attending the Commonwealth Summit in Antigua and Barbuda. Haigh emphasised this warning in response to a question from the Liberal Democrat deputy leader, Daisy Cooper, who commented in the Chamber that the result of the US mid-term elections represented a rejection of the “warmongering” policy attributed to President Donald Trump in the US, urging the Labour government to take a firmer stance against any suggestion of “a resumption of the illegal war waged by Trump and Netanyahu”.

The chairman of Israel’s Central Elections Committee, Noam Sohlberg, presented the results of last week’s elections to President Isaac Herzog at the President’s official residence. This handover, together with publication in the State Gazette, constitutes the formal certification of the election result. Herzog stated that he had confidence “in the work of the Shin Bet, the police and the law enforcement agencies regarding the investigation” into alleged electoral fraud. He added: “I respect the head of the Shin Bet, David Zini, and his work. I also respect the government’s legal adviser, Gali Baharav Meyara, and her work. I spoke to both of them this morning. There has always been tension between the General Security Service and the Legal Advisory Board in Israel, and there will continue to be. It is a tension inherent in a democratic country”.

The Lebanese Prime Minister has warned of the risk of dragging the country into a new war should the conflict in the Middle East flare up again; a warning that appears to be clearly directed at Hezbollah. “Faced with the risks of a resumption of conflict in the region, I reiterate my warning about the dangers of dragging Lebanon into a new, senseless adventure in the service of external interests,” said Nawaf Salam. Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has dragged Lebanon into war against Israel twice in the space of a few years; the most recent incident dates back to March, when the group attacked Lebanon’s southern neighbour on behalf of Tehran. “We cannot accept the country becoming, once again, a theatre for other people’s conflicts,” added Salam, stressing that Lebanon has “already paid a very high price”.

China is calling for a resumption of hostilities in the Middle East to be avoided and says it is ready to strengthen dialogue with Saudi Arabia, Iran and other countries in the region to facilitate a diplomatic solution to the ongoing crises, including that relating to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. This was stated by the spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Mao Ning, who emphasised that Beijing supports negotiations between Tehran and Washington and a political solution to the conflict in Yemen. During the daily press conference, Mao was asked about the recent visits to China by Saudi National Security Adviser Musaad bin Mohammed al-Aiban and the Deputy Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Bagheri Kani, who arrived in Beijing at the same time. “In the face of the current escalation of tensions in the Middle East, China is willing to strengthen communication and dialogue with Saudi Arabia, Iran and other countries in the region. The most urgent priority is to prevent hostilities from resuming in the Middle East, causing further suffering to the people of the region,” the spokesperson said.

The US Embassy in Saudi Arabia has issued a security warning advising US nationals of the risks of possible Houthi attacks, which could target airports. “The Houthis, supported by Iran, have carried out hostile actions against Saudi Arabia, including attacks on civilian airports and other critical infrastructure, resulting in civilian casualties and severe disruption to transport. These hostilities could rapidly escalate beyond the immediate area affected,” reads the embassy’s advisory, which adds that “US citizens should be aware of the possibility of attacks on airports, airspace closures, flight cancellations and transport disruptions. Please exercise the utmost caution if you choose to use airports in Saudi Arabia”. “It is recommended that you check the status of your flight directly with the airline and the airport”, it adds.

The Israeli Electoral Commission has stated that it found no evidence of any breach of electoral integrity in last week’s vote, following repeated allegations of fraud levelled by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against the Israeli Arab minority. “An investigation has been completed. All complaints submitted by the political parties have been examined and nothing has come to light to suggest that the integrity of the election was compromised,” reads a statement from the Central Electoral Commission, released a few hours before President Isaac Herzog officially receives the results.

“Following the Shin Bet’s revelations regarding suspicions of foreign funding and electoral interference involving substantial sums of money, and the involvement of thousands of people, I call on the head of the Shin Bet, David Zini, to take immediate action, even without the approval of the Attorney General, to arrest all the leaders of the Arab parties and interrogate them in the Shin Bet’s underground facilities until the suspicions have been fully cleared up, and to immediately block the certification of the election results and the formation of the government”. Israel’s Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, wrote this on X. “The elections have been rigged here in the State of Israel. We cannot remain silent and we must leave no stone unturned to bring the truth to light,” he added.

Il ministro della Sicurezza nazionale israeliano Itamar Ben-Gvir, leader del partito “Potere ebraico” (Otzma Yehudit), osserva i risultati degli exit poll presso la sede elettorale del partito durante le elezioni nazionali israeliane, a Modiin, Israele, il 28 ottobre 2026. REUTERS/Rami Shlush

The IRGC has promised a response “without geographical limits” to any US-Israeli attack. This was reported by the Iranian news agency Fars. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has warned that any new US-Israeli attack against Iran will be met with a comprehensive and effective response, dismissing the threats and psychological warfare against Tehran as baseless. The Pasdaran added that they had updated their list of targets to include “the enemy’s tangible and intangible assets within range”, emphasising that the force will provide “an immediate and effective response, without geographical limitations, to threats of any level or type”. “The Armed Forces and the Iranian nation will determine when and under what circumstances the enemy’s attacks will cease,” the statement read. The capabilities of the Iranian Air Force remain intact and ready for combat, Brigadier General Alireza Sheikh, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Armed Forces, also stated, promising that the country’s armed forces would keep “their finger on the trigger” to respond to any level of enemy threat.

“The remarks made last night by Zini (head of the Shin Bet, ed.), combined with this morning’s US election results, have led to an unexpected consequence: they effectively rule out any possibility of a national unity government led by Netanyahu”. This was written in X by the Israeli opposition leader, Yair Lapid. “Israel cannot afford to let him remain Prime Minister. This puts our security at risk, undermines our democracy and will ruin our standing on the global stage.”

The leader of the Israeli Yashar party, Gadi Eisenkot, has stated that he will take action to prevent Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from “entrenching himself” in power. “We will act as quickly as possible to prevent Israel from being dragged into another election and to stop Netanyahu from continuing to entrench himself in power.” Eisenkot said he had met with other opposition leaders on Tuesday to discuss the formation of a “national emergency government”.

Four oil tankers caught fire after striking mines whilst attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz. This was announced by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. The incident occurred the day after US President Donald Trump stated that the United States had launched attacks against the Islamic Republic, following reports of a raid on Qeshm, the largest island in the strait. “Four unauthorised oil tankers, which were attempting to pass through the prohibited southern passage of the Strait of Hormuz, were destroyed after striking naval mines and are still ablaze”, stated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in a statement broadcast on state television. “Two further unauthorised vessels have been intercepted.” The Guard also reported that it had shot down a drone over the Strait. Tehran claims control over Hormuz, a vital global energy hub, and, since the start of the conflict, has targeted vessels attempting to pass through it without its authorisation.

The United States has no immediate plans to strike Iran. Donald Trump said this in an interview with the Financial Times, emphasising: “It seems we are getting everything we want.” When asked about the clear signals sent by Benjamin Netanyahu regarding a possible attack by the end of the week, Trump said: “I’m ready, we’re ready. We’re ready to take action, if necessary, but there may be no reason to do so.” The President then explained that the United States is not at war with Iran. “We’re not really at war. I don’t consider us to be at war in the same way as in Ukraine, or as in the First or Second World War,” he emphasised.

Il presidente degli Stati Uniti Donald Trump punta il dito verso il primo ministro israeliano Benjamin Netanyahu mentre si stringono la mano durante una conferenza stampa al termine di un incontro tenutosi presso il club Mar-a-Lago di Trump a Palm Beach, in Florida (Stati Uniti), il 29 dicembre 2025. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/Foto d'archivio

Donald Trump has no regrets about starting the war with Iran, whilst admitting that the conflict played a part in the Republicans’ defeat in the mid-term elections. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, the president said: “I did the right thing, I’d do it again”. In an interview with Fox News, the President also said: “People agree with what I’m doing on Iran, but they probably weren’t prepared to face the initial, short-term consequence of paying more for petrol.” “You know, I understand that,” he added, “but I don’t agree: it’s a short-term problem for a long-term benefit. It’s a shame.”

“Whether out of conscience or because of the cost of living, Americans have said NO TO WAR, and we support this message.” This was written in X by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament and chief negotiator in the talks between Iran and the United States, commenting on the results of the US mid-term elections in which the Republicans suffered a defeat. “If the US government betrays the will of its own public to serve its international masters and blackmailers,” he adds, “it will find that our ‘NO’ will be accompanied by a nightmare.”