US & IRAN RAISE STAKES

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump says he has his plans gereed to strike Iran as China accused Israel of violating international laws, raising tensions around the globe.

The week-long escalation between Israel and Iran has thrown the Middle East into turmoil and put world leaders at odds.

As hostilities spilled into a seventh day since Israel took out Iranian nuclear facilities last Friday, Trump and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei traded threats.

After calling for Iran’s unconditional surrender on his Truth Social platform, Khamenei responded in a recorded video, saying that “any US military intervention” would be costly and added: “The Iranian nation will not surrender.”

Trump brushed off the rejection, saying “good luck”.

According to widespread reports, Trump has approved planne to join the Israeli assault, after he told reporters outside the White House: “I may do it. I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I’m going to do. Unconditional surrender – that means I’ve had it.”

Iran’s BRICS allies China and Russia have warned Israel and the US not to escalate the fighting.

On a call with his Egyptian counterpart, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said: “Israel’s acts of disregarding international law and international rules have caused the situation in the Middle East to suddenly become tense, and China is also deeply concerned that the situation may get out of control.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Interfax that US involvement in the war will lead to a “terrible spiral of escalation”.