"Thousands of Iranians gathered at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad on Saturday in a show of support for the country following joint US and Israeli strikes, as tensions escalated across the region. Footage shows large crowds assembled at the shrine complex, waving Iranian flags and chanting slogans backing the country’s leadership. Similar rallies were reported in several cities, including the capital, Tehran, where demonstrators condemned the strikes and expressed solidarity amid fears of wider conflict. Donald Trump confirmed 'major combat operations' in Iran in a video posted on his Truth Social: "To the members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the armed forces and all of the police, I say tonight that you must lay down your weapons and have complete immunity - or in the alternative, face certain death." Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said it was a joint operation to "remove the existential threat posed by the terrorist regime in Iran". He later called on the Iranian people to 'take their fate into their own hands'. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps said that 'widespread missile and drone attacks' against Israel were underway. US bases were reportedly targeted in the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Iraq and Kuwait. Iran's Foreign Ministry stated: "History bears witness that Iranians have never bowed their heads in submission to foreign aggression". Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi added: "Netanyahu and Trump's war on Iran is wholly unprovoked, illegal, and illegitimate". Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, who mediated the latest talks between the US and Iran, stated: "I urge the United States not to get sucked in further. This is not your war." The UK, France and Germany issued a joint statement: "Iran must halt its nuclear programme. We did not take part in the strikes, but we are in contact with our allies". Emmanuel Macron added: the ongoing escalation is dangerous for all. It must stop". Russia, China, France, Bahrain and Colombia called an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council for Saturday night. It comes following three rounds of talks between the Iranian and American sides, one in Muscat and two in Geneva in recent weeks."