Israel launched a series of airstrikes across Iran early Friday, targeting critical nuclear facilities in Iran.

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia's Foreign Ministry on Friday urged Russian citizens to refrain from travelling to Iran or Israel and told those "in the conflict zone" to stay well away from military objects and busy public places.

Israel is believed to have carried out numerous highly secretive attacks on Iranian soil over the years, though it has rarely acknowledged them. Most have been aimed at Iran’s nuclear program, though Iran has also accused Israel of targeting its natural gas pipelines and of assassinating Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK has “grave concerns” about Iran’s nuclear program and backed Israel’s right to self-defense, while calling for de-escalation in a conflict that risks engulfing the Middle East.

Israel and Iran opened a new chapter in their long history of conflict when Israel launched a major attack with strikes early Friday that set off explosions in the Iranian capital of Tehran.

The decision comes as officials say they believe that Israel is preparing to launch a military attack on Iran. Tehran condemned the vote.

Rising tensions over Iran's nuclear program have escalated amid diplomatic breakdowns, military preparations, and threats of conflict across the Middle East.

The US has ordered the evacuation of its embassy in Iraq as tensions rise in the region - with the Trump administration trying to reach a deal with Iran to curtail its nuclear programme.