UK faces threat of Iran AI 'grey zone' warfare as Trump weighs up launching fresh attacks

The Middle East is on a knife-edge as US President Donald Trump weighs up whether to wage further war on Iran after Tehran dismissed the latest US peace proposals. Iranian military leaders claim they have sent 10,000 deadly drones to local “Artesh” troops from Tehran’s regular army, making ready to respond to an American-Israeli attack. It is believed the massive drones stash was deployed some time ago to be used against foreign troops if ground forces were launched inside Iran. And intelligence assessments have also raised the alert level over Iran’s progress in developing artificial intelligence to be used as a means of waging asymmetrical or ‘grey zone’ warfare. Britain in particular could be targeted and one report seen by the Daily Mirror warns: “For the United Kingdom , the threat is likely to manifest through attempts to disrupt public services, target universities, compromise research networks, intimidate diaspora communities, and probe firms linked to defence, energy, finance and telecommunications. The UK’s close alignment with Washington makes it an attractive target for retaliation, espionage and coercive signalling. “Iranian AI-enabled cyber activity could be used not merely to steal information, but to create political pressure, embarrass institutions, disrupt essential services or undermine confidence in government competence during a wider Middle Eastern crisis.” But on the war front alarming reports suggest Trump is considering restarting hostilities after claiming the current ceasefire is on ‘life support’ in a major hint Iran could come under attack again. The Daily Mirror has learned six US military Stratotanker air-refuelling and air-life planes have been seen landing in Israel in the past two days in preparation for military action. It follows Trump’s dismissal as ‘garbage’ Iran’s response to an American settlement plan after Tehran insisted Lebanese Hezbollah be included in the deal and the nuclear issue should be deferred. The latest alert went up amid a race against time to free up the Strait of Hormuz waterway, with the UN warning millions could face mass starvation if the Hormuz chokehold is not freed. Jorge Moreira da Silva, executive director of the United Nations Office for Project Services warned 45 million could face ‘hunger and starvation.’ He based that assessment on the fact that much of the world ’s fertiliser components pass through the Strait of Hormuz, including ammonia and sulphur. Da Silva said: "We have a few weeks ahead of us to prevent what will likely be a massive humanitarian crisis. We may witness a crisis that will force 45 million more people into hunger and starvation." He said the "planting season can't wait" much longer, as African nations within weeks need the fertiliser and in Asia people will be hit too. The US -based Institute for the Study of War said in its latest assessment: “Iranian leaders are trying to dictate the terms for ending the war, which illustrates that the Iranian regime perceives that it has the upper hand in the conflict at this time. “Iran’s proposed terms would require the United States to give up its leverage over Iran before any negotiations could take place, which would likely make it more challenging to extract nuclear concessions from Iran.” The institute’s experts also believe Lebanese Hezbollah have been supplied with extra drones to be used if the war with Israel officially starts again.