Israel prepares for likely retaliatory attack by Iran as tensions mount

US says it has prepared for significant attacks by Iran or proxies as Tehran stresses right to respond to assassinations

Iran has insisted on its right to an appropriate and deterrent response" against Israel as the White House said it had prepared for what could be significant attacks by Iran or its proxies as soon as this week.

The comments come as the US announced it had ordered the deployment of the USS Georgia, a nuclear-powered guided-missile submarine, to the Middle East, amid mounting concern over the determination by Iran and its proxies to retaliate for Israel's assassination of Hamas's political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran. Iran's acting foreign minister, Ali Bagheri Kani, made the comments to his Chinese counterpart on Monday, according to state media.