The United States is withdrawing some personnel from bases in the Middle East, according to a US official, after a senior Iranian official said Tehran had warned neighbours it would hit American bases if Washington strikes.

Tehran is seeking to deter US President Donald Trump's repeated threats to intervene on behalf of anti-government protesters.

The UN Security Council has been due to meet in Iran today at the request of the United States.

Ali Ansari is Professor of Iranian History & Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews. He joins Ciara to discuss.

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