Iran has threatened US troops sent to defend Israel, warning that their lives are “at risk” from its attacks.

The Pentagon confirmed on Sunday it would send a crew of troops to operate a missile defence battery in the region as it braced for an exchange of attacks.

Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian foreign minister, issued the warning amid reports that the US would send a THAAD missile battery and operators to Israel to defend against further missile attacks.

In a tweet, he said Joe Biden was “putting lives of its troops at risk by deploying them to operate US missile systems in Israel,” adding: “We have no red lines in defending our people and interests”.