Israel-Iran conflict Highlights: Israel tells UN it won't stop Iran strikes, Tehran raises alarm over US role

Iran said on Friday it would not discuss the future of its nuclear programme while under attack by Israel, as Europe tried to coax Tehran back into negotiations and the United States considers whether to get involved in the conflict.

A week into its campaign, Israel said it had struck dozens of military targets overnight, including missile production sites, a research body it said was involved in nuclear weapons development in Tehran and military facilities in western and central Iran.

The Israel Defense Forces later said they had struck surface-to-air missile batteries in southwestern Iran as part of efforts to achieve air superiority over the country. Explosions were heard in Iran's southwestern Khuzestan province and at least four people there were killed, IRNA news agency reported.

At least five people were injured when Israel hit a five-storey building in Tehran housing a bakery and a hairdresser's, Fars news agency reported. Iranian air defences were activated on Friday evening, Fars news agency reported.

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Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Friday Tehran backed the continuation of discussions with Germany, France, Britain and the EU and would be prepared to meet again in the near future following talks in Geneva.

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 US President Donald Trump presided over a national security meeting about Iran with top aides at the White House on Friday, a US official said.

The official also said US special envoy Steve Witkoff is in regular contact with the Iranians, both directly and indirectly, with Qatar acting as an intermediator.

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Arab League foreign ministers will convene an extraordinary meeting in Istanbul on Friday to discuss the Iran-Israel conflict, regional diplomatic source said.

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Ireland will temporarily relocate embassy personnel from Tehran, the Irish foreign minister said on Friday.

"In light of the deteriorating situation, following consultation with my officials and in close consultation and coordination with EU partners, I have decided to temporarily relocate our personnel from Tehran," Simon Harris said in a statement.

Arrangements had been made for the embassy to continue its operations from Dublin, he said.

Earlier on Friday, Britain said it was temporarily withdrawing British staff from its embassy in Iran.

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Iraq's representative to the United Nations said 50 Israeli warplanes planes violated Iraqi airspace shortly before a U.N. meeting on the Israel-Iran conflict on Friday.

Abbas Kadhom Obaid Al-Fatlawi, charge d'affaires of Iraq's U.N. mission, told the UN Security Council the aircraft came from the Syrian-Jordanian border areas.

"Twenty airplanes started, followed by 30 airplanes heading to the south of Iraq, and they flew over Basra, Najaf and Karbala cities," he said.

"These violations are violations of international law and the UN Charter," he said, adding: "They also constitute a threat to the sacred sites and regions which might cause strong popular reactions, considering the importance of these holy sites for our peoples."

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Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Russia was sharing unspecified ideas with Israel and Iran about how to end the bloodshed and said he believed that there was a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

Putin said Russia was in contact with "our Israeli and Iranian friends" and that Moscow's proposals were currently being discussed.

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Britain's ambassador to the United Nations on Friday urged all parties in the Israel-Iran conflict to protect civilians and said restraint was vital to prevent further escalation.

"This is a dangerous moment for the entire region, and further escalation is in no one's interest. Civilians must never be targeted, and we deplore the loss of civilian life," Ambassador Barbara Woodword told the UN Security Council.

"Restraint is vital to protect further escalation and loss of life.... Military action cannot put an end to Iran's nuclear capabilities," Woodword said.

(Input from Reuters)

"I am here at an IDF Intelligence base with the Head of IDF Intelligence, and with our amazing people, the soldiers, both conscripts and reservists, who are doing sacred work in providing us with the intelligence that wins wars," Netanyahu said [translated from Hebrew].

"I cannot exaggerate the importance of the work that has been done, and which is being done at the moment, in achieving the total victory. Head of IDF Intelligence, thank you very much. For myself, the citizens of Israel and the Government of Israel, please convey my gratitude to everyone," he added.

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Iran launched 35 missiles at Israel in the latest barrage, according to Yossi Fuchs, the cabinet secretary for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli media reported. 

Overall, Iran has launched roughly 520 missiles at Israel since last Friday, Fuchs told Israel’s Channel 12 in an interview on Friday.

The head of the UN nuclear watchdog, International Atomic Energy Agency, on Friday warned against attacks on nuclear facilities and called for maximum restraint amid Israel's strikes on Iran.

"Armed attack for nuclear facilities should never take place and could result in radioactive releases with great consequences within and beyond boundaries of the state which has been attacked," Rafael Grossi, director of the International Agency for Atomic Energy, told the UN Security Council. "I therefore, again call for maximum restraint."

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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Friday that expansion of the Israel-Iran conflict could ignite a fire no one can control and called on parties to conflict and potential parties to the conflict to "give peace a chance."

Guteres made the remarks to the United Nations Security Council as European foreign ministers met their Iranian counterpart on Friday hoping to test Tehran's readiness to negotiate a new nuclear deal despite there being scant prospect of Israel ceasing its attacks soon.

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China, at the United Nations Security Council, said that Israel should cease fire in the Iran conflict as soon as possible to prevent the situation escalating.  It called for immediate ceasefire.

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Iranian air defences are activated in Bushehr in southern Iran, semi-official YCJ news reported.

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Israel seeks genuine efforts on Iran's nuclear capabilities from Friday's meeting between European and Iranian ministers, not just another round of talks, Israel's UN ambassador said.

"We have seen diplomatic talks for the last few decades, and look at the results," Danny Danon told reporters at the United Nations. "If there will be genuine effort to dismantle the capabilities of Iran, then that's something we can consider, but if it is going to be like another session and debates, that's not going to work.

"If it is going to be just another round of talks, that's something which we cannot accept," Danon said.

(Input from Reuters)

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that the new wave of operations targeted Israeli military installations, defense industries, command-and-control centers, and facilities involved in malicious activities, Iran's IRNA news agency reported.

Britain said on Friday it was temporarily withdrawing UK staff from its embassy in Iran, and would continue to operate its embassy remotely.

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Israel's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva has raised "vehement objection" to Iran addressing the Human Rights Council ahead of talks with European counterparts in Geneva to try to de-escalate the conflict, according to a letter seen by Reuters.

"Affording the Iranian foreign minister the floor before this body continues to undermine the council's credibility and constitutes a blatant betrayal of the many victims of this regime worldwide," Daniel Meron said in a letter addressed to council president Jurg Lauber

The council said on Friday said that Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was due to be given the floor. Shortly afterwards, he is due to hold talks with the EU foreign policy chief and his counterparts in Britain, France and Germany in order to de-escalate the conflict.

In the letter, Meron accuses Iran of using the council as a international stage to "promote the regime's despotic campaign."

On Wednesday, the Iranian Ambassador to the UN in Geneva addressed the council and accused Israeli attacks as representing an act of "war against humanity".

Israel began attacking Iran last Friday, saying it aimed to prevent its longtime enemy from developing nuclear weapons. Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes on Israel. It says its nuclear programme is peaceful.

(Input from Reuters)

"The Iranian regime has just launched a barrage of ballistic missiles at Haifa—a city where Jews and Arabs live side by side in peace. One missile struck next to a mosque," Israel's foreign ministry wrote on X.

The Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, on Friday called Israel's attacks on nuclear facilities in Iran grave war crimes, speaking at the United Nations in Geneva ahead of talks with European counterparts in the Swiss city, as reported by Reuters.

The Swiss foreign ministry said on Friday it has decided to temporarily close its embassy in Iran, citing intense military operations there and the highly unstable situation on the ground, as reported by Reuters.

The Swiss foreign ministry said on Friday it had decided to temporarily close its embassy in Iran, citing intense military operations there and the highly unstable situation on the ground.

"All expatriate staff have now left Iran and are safe," the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement, adding that the staff would return to Tehran as soon as the situation allows.

(Input from Reuters)

 Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has arrived at the Geneva venue where he is due to hold talks with European counterparts about his country's nuclear and missile programmes on Friday.

(Inputs from Reuters)

The Israeli military has said that it has launched strikes on military infrastructure in western and central Iran, as reported by Reuters.
 

Saudi Arabia's Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Commission said on Friday that any military attacks on civilian nuclear facilities violate international law, following Israel's strikes on Iranian nuclear sites amid an air war between the two countries, as reported by the news agency Reuters.

Iran has arrested a Mossad agent who was allegedly sending information related to Iranian air defence system installations to Israel using Whatsapp, as reported by Reuters.

Iran will likely be a topic of discussion at next week's NATO summit, a German government spokesperson said during a news conference on Friday, as reported by Reuters.

Qatar's prime minister said on Friday that Israeli targeting of economic facilities in Iran could lead to catastrophic regional and international repercussions, particularly in connection with the stability of energy supplies, as reported by Reuters.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday strikes on civilians and on civilian infrastructures had to stop in the week-long conflict between Israel and Iran, as reported by the news agency Reuters.

"For several days now, France has had a clear, simple voice: there is no justification for strikes against energy infrastructures and civilian populations," he told reporters when he arrived at the Paris airshow.

Israel's Defense Minister announced that he has directed the military to intensify strikes on Iranian regime targets in Tehran, with the aim of destabilising the government and hitting all symbols of state power. The minister said that the need for Israel to act decisively against the regime. According to Israeli media, early reports suggest a nuclear scientist was killed in a targeted strike in Tehran on Friday. In a related incident, a hospital in Tehran was reportedly hit by an Israeli rocket attack, according to Iran’s Health Ministry via state media.

An Iranian diplomat said that Iran maintains an independent foreign policy, neither reliant on the West nor the East, while demonstrating a willingness to engage both sides through a wise, balanced and pragmatic approach, particularly in its relations with Europe.

Syed Baqir Majlisi Rizvi, a doctoral student from Basirhat, North 24 Parganas, is trapped in Qom, Iran, as intense Iran-Israel hostilities escalate. Having traveled to Qom in 2018 for his PhD in Persian at Al-Mustafa International University, Baqir’s scheduled return flight on June 20 was cancelled after Iran banned commercial air travel. Now, he faces daily missile strikes, frequent sheltering in underground bunkers and highly unstable communication, leaving his family in India anxious and desperate for news.

Baquir’s family has appealed to senior Indian officials, including the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister of West Bengal, seeking urgent assistance to evacuate him. District authorities and the Indian Embassy in Tehran are coordinating evacuation efforts through India’s “Operation Sindhu,” but with no commercial flights operating and hostilities ongoing, Baqir and many other Indian students remain stranded, anxiously awaiting a safe route home. 

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Khatibzadeh said that diplomacy will be pursued as an alternative if aggression ceases, according to ISNA news.

Amid rising regional tensions, Israel’s Energy Minister assured the public that the country’s energy sector is operating flawlessly, with no shortages of fuel reported.

Iranian Foreign Minister stated on national television that Iran’s upcoming discussions with the E3 in Geneva will be strictly limited to nuclear and regional issues, firmly ruling out any negotiations over Tehran’s ballistic missile program, which he declared as non-negotiable. 

An Israeli drone struck an apartment in a residential building in Tehran's central Gisha district on Friday, the Iranian news website Asriran reported on Friday.

According to Reuters, Container shipping company Maersk said on Friday it had decided to temporarily pause vessels calling at Israel's Haifa port.

The Kremlin has expressed deep concern over the deteriorating situation in the Middle East, describing it as potentially dangerous for Russia and warning that the region is plunging into instability and war. While President Putin has offered to mediate, the Kremlin admits it's uncertain whether his proposal will be accepted. Nonetheless, Moscow remains hopeful about the prospects for diplomacy and continues to engage in close, substantive communication with Iran, maintain working dialogue channels with Israel, and uphold contact with Washington. The Kremlin also reiterated that Putin has secured guarantees from Israel regarding the safety of Russian personnel at Iran’s Bushehr nuclear facility, according to Reuters.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed his country’s longstanding commitment to peace and stability but said that the only path to ending what he described as an imposed war is for the enemy to cease its aggression unconditionally. He also asserted that Iran must establish a definitive deterrent to permanently halt the actions of what he termed "Zionist terrorists," signaling a firm stance against perceived threats from Israel.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in an interview with state TV, said that Iran never targets civilian areas especially not hospitals, as opposed to Israel which has intentionally targeted hospitals in Gaza. 

Russia on Friday informed that the country’s specialists were still working at the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran. According to the head of Russia's nuclear energy corporation, Alexei Likhachev, the situation there was normal and under control. Likhachev hoped that Russia's warnings to Israel not to attack the site had been received by the Israeli leadership. Russia, which has close ties with Iran, has warned strongly against US military intervention on the side of Israel.

What did the IDF accomplish in Iran overnight?

Iran's air defense systems were activated in Tehran on Friday afternoon, according to a report by Iran’s Mehr News Agency. The alert prompted defensive measures in the capital, though details regarding the cause or nature of the potential threat remain unclear. 

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in a televised interview, said that Iran is not prepared for talks with anyone while Israel continues its strikes on the nation, adding that, he believes that after their resistance against Israel, the countries will likely distance themselves from the conflict. 

According to reports in Iranian state media, a close adviser to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ali Shamkhani is now in stable condition after being injured in an Israeli attack a few days back. 

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in a post on X informed that key buildings at Iran's Khondab heavy water research site were damaged in Israeli strikes, including the distillation unit. IAEA also said that the reactor has been hit but there were no radiological effects.

In the past week, five hospitals in Iran have sustained damage and patient care has been affected following Israeli airstrikes in nearby areas, according to the head of Iran's emergency services. The official shared this information during an interview with state television, as per Reuters. 

According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), at least 657 people have been killed and 2,037 were injured in Israeli attacks on Iran over the past seven days. The agency also added that the casualties included two Iranian soldiers killed in Abhar, which is located in Zanjan province of Iran. 

The Israeli military claimed that it attacked “three missile platforms ready to be launched from Iran into Israel” a short while ago, according to reports in Al Jazeera. The military also added that it struck the “military commander who was preparing to launch them”, without providing more details.

Israel’s Defense Minister has issued a stern warning to Hezbollah, accusing its Secretary-General of failing to learn from the mistakes of past leaders and acting under the influence of Iran’s regime. He described Hezbollah as a Lebanese proxy of Iran and cautioned its leadership to tread carefully, stating that Israel has lost patience with continued threats from groups it labels as terrorists.

Slovakia's foreign ministry on Friday announced that they would temporarily close its embassy in Tehran. Furthermore, the ministry said that it was fully evacuating staff from Iran due to the ongoing military escalation.

Hezbollah’s Sheikh Naim Qassem sharply criticised US President Donald Trump for threatening military action against Iran, accusing Washington of fueling regional chaos and global instability, The Jerusalem Post reported. Qassem said Iran has the right to defend itself and urged support from “free people of the world.” He reiterated Hezbollah’s commitment to Iran, vowing to stand with Tehran in its fight for independence, sovereignty and regional resistance.

The potential use of tactical nuclear weapons by the US in Iran would be a disastrous move, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Friday, according to Russian state news agency TASS. He was responding to what he described as speculative media reports on the matter.

Australia announced on Friday it has suspended operations at its embassy in Tehran due to the worsening security situation, as Israel launched fresh strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and the conflict showed no signs of easing.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australian defence forces and aircraft are being deployed to the Middle East under contingency plans to assist with the evacuation of citizens and diplomatic staff once airspace reopens. She clarified that the personnel will not be involved in any combat operations.

The Israeli Air Force announced that over 60 fighter jets carried out a large-scale overnight operation on Thursday, striking multiple military sites in the heart of Tehran. According to the statement, the jets deployed approximately 120 precision-guided munitions during the coordinated assault.

“Military industrial sites for the production of missile components and sites for the production of raw materials used to cast missile engines were attacked. They were built over years and formed the industrial center of gravity of the Iranian Ministry of Defense and Nuclear Affairs,” it said in a post. 

Tension gripped the area near the US Consulate in Gachibowli, Ranga Reddy district in Telangana as members of various Left parties staged a protest condemning Israel's recent airstrikes on Iran and voicing strong support for Palestine. Protesters raised slogans denouncing what they described as Israeli aggression and called for immediate international action to halt the ongoing violence. As the demonstration grew, Gachibowli Police intervened, detaining several activists to prevent any escalation. Security was quickly ramped up in the vicinity, and officials confirmed that the situation was brought under control. 

The Israeli military announced it had carried out a series of coordinated overnight airstrikes deep within Iran’s capital, Tehran, targeting multiple high-value sites. According to Israeli officials, the operation struck several industrial facilities involved in missile production, as well as dozens of military installations across the region. Among the most significant targets was the headquarters of the SPND, Iran’s Organisation for Defensive Innovation and Research, which Israel alleges is central to the country’s covert nuclear weapons program. 

The Israeli army reported that air raid sirens were activated after missiles were fired from Iran.

A fire erupted near a Microsoft office in Israel’s Be’er Sheva (Beer Sheva) following an Iranian missile strike, according to Reuters.

The Iranian government has urged citizens to participate in mass nationwide gatherings following Friday prayers, according to Reuters.

The Israeli military has announced that citizens in several regions can now safely leave protected areas, indicating the immediate threat from Iranian attacks has passed. Meanwhile, military forces are active at a site where a report of a fallen projectile was received, according to Reuters.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with UK Foreign Minister David Lammy and held separate calls with his Australian, French and Italian counterparts to address the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. According to the US State Department, all parties agreed that Iran must never be allowed to develop or obtain nuclear weapons. Lammy echoed the sentiment on X, warning that the Middle East remains in a dangerous state but noted a two-week window for diplomacy may still exist.

The Israeli military has reported that missiles were launched from Iran toward Israel, marking a continued escalation between the two nations on day eight, according to Reuters.

India is set to launch evacuation flights from Mashhad, Iran, as part of Operation Sindhu. The Indian Embassy in Tehran is coordinating efforts to assist nationals across various regions of Iran.

Hezbollah's deputy leader Sheikh Naim Qassem pledged unwavering support to Iran in its standoff with Israel and the US, according to The Jerusalem Post. In a Thursday speech, Qassem defended Iran’s nuclear program as peaceful and aimed at national development. He claimed the global opposition to Iran stems not from its nuclear ambitions, but from its stance on “faith, knowledge and freedom” that empowers the oppressed.

The air conflict between Israel and Iran entered its second week on Friday, as European diplomats pushed to bring Tehran back to negotiations. US President Donald Trump said a decision on possible US involvement would come within two weeks. With tensions high, foreign ministers from the UK, France, Germany and the EU were set to meet Iran’s foreign minister in Geneva to push for de-escalation. 

British Foreign Minister David Lammy urged urgent action to avoid wider regional conflict. Israel launched strikes last Friday, claiming it was to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks, insisting its nuclear program is peaceful. Meanwhile, Russia and China condemned Israel’s actions and called for calm, according to the Kremlin.

US intelligence agencies reportedly assess that Iran has yet to make a decision on whether to pursue a nuclear weapon, according to The New York Times, citing unnamed officials. The assessment aligns with remarks made by DNI Tulsi Gabbard in March.

The aerial movement over Tehran has increased as tensions between Israel and Iran escalate into the eighth day of conflict, CNN reported. 

The Israeli intelligence agency Shin Bet is reportedly expanding efforts to protect Israelis abroad amid intelligence pointing to Iranian attempts to target diplomatic missions and airline-related sites, Channel 12 reported.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel is ahead of schedule in its military campaign against Iran.
 

The Israeli Air Force announced it intercepted an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) launched from Iran early Friday morning. Sirens were activated between 2:57 and 3:00 AM (local time) in the Dead Sea region due to the intrusion of the hostile aircraft. The military confirmed the alerts were triggered in line with standard policy.

The Israeli military on Thursday accused Iran of firing a missile armed with cluster munitions, marking the first reported use of such weapons in the ongoing seven-day conflict between the two countries. According to Israeli officials, the missile was intended to increase civilian casualties.

While the military did not release full details, local media reports cited officials saying the missile’s warhead exploded at an altitude of about seven kilometres, dispersing around 20 submunitions across a five-mile radius in central Israel. The claim has further intensified the already fraught situation, though independent verification of the use of cluster munitions remains pending.

Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy said on Thursday that a narrow window remains open for a diplomatic resolution with Iran over its nuclear programme, following high-level talks at the White House. Speaking after his meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, Lammy emphasised the urgency of avoiding a broader regional conflict.

“The situation in the Middle East remains perilous. We are determined that Iran must never have a nuclear weapon,” Lammy said in a statement issued by the UK embassy in Washington.

He added that both sides discussed the need for Iran to return to the negotiating table. “A window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution,” Lammy stated, underlining the importance of seizing the moment to prevent the crisis from escalating further.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has said that while diplomacy can always play a role in resolving the crisis with Iran, Israel is prepared to act independently if the United States chooses not to intervene. In an interview with Politico, Herzog said, "We know what to do. We’ve shown that we know what to do," when asked about the possibility of the US staying out of the ongoing conflict.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy will travel to Geneva on Friday for discussions with his French and German counterparts, EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, and Iran’s foreign minister in a renewed push for a diplomatic resolution to Iran’s nuclear programme, the UK Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday.

The talks come amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and follow Lammy's recent visit to Washington, where he held meetings with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff.

“A window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution,” Lammy said in the ministry’s statement.

Senior Iranian official Mohsen Rezaee has said that Israel's alleged plan to create chaos in Iran by targeting top military leaders was unsuccessful. He claimed that the broader aim was to turn Iran into another Syria and trap it in a decade-long conflict, but those efforts were repelled.

Iran has appointed a new head of intelligence at its Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), days after Israeli strikes killed his predecessor. According to the official Irna news agency, Brigadier General Majid Khadami has been named as the new intelligence chief by IRGC commander Major General Mohammad Pakpour.

The move comes amid escalating tensions with Israel, which has reportedly targeted high-ranking Iranian officials in recent operations. Pakpour succeeds Mohammed Kazemi, who was killed on Sunday along with two other Revolutionary Guards officers, Hassan Mohaghegh and Mohsen Bagheri, in an Israeli strike.

Pakpour himself had only recently been appointed after his predecessor, Hossein Salami, was killed in an Israeli attack on June 13.

The Israeli army has said that its air force intercepted a drone launched from Iran over the Haifa area. According to the IDF, no sirens were sounded as the drone did not pose any threat to civilians.

As tensions continue to rise, Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee has issued a warning to residents of the Iranian village of Kolesh Taleshan, urging them to evacuate an industrial area immediately. The military has signalled that it plans to launch an attack on the site.

Adraee said the army was attacking "military infrastructure".

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia’s backing of Iranian authorities highlights the urgent need for stronger sanctions against Moscow.

Pointing to Russia’s use of Iranian-designed Shahed drones and munitions sourced from North Korea, Zelensky argued that such developments indicate the current level of pressure from Kyiv’s allies remains inadequate.

He stressed that Russia’s continued military cooperation with nations like Iran and North Korea is a signal that tougher and more comprehensive sanctions are necessary to weaken Moscow’s war effort.

Australia has suspended operations at its embassy in Tehran and directed all diplomatic staff to leave Iran, citing the worsening security situation in the country.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed the decision, saying it was taken in response to the deteriorating environment on the ground.

“Australia’s ambassador to Iran will remain in the region to support the government’s response to the crisis,” Wong said in a statement.

She added that contingency planning is underway to assist Australian citizens who may wish to leave Iran, and that Canberra remains in close coordination with international partners.

Iran's Foreign Ministry has summoned the German ambassador in Tehran to protest what it described as “unwise and irresponsible” remarks by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz supporting Israeli military actions.

According to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency, Tehran condemned Berlin’s stance, claiming that the Israeli strikes violate international law and that Germany’s backing of them undermines diplomatic norms.

US President Donald Trump will receive intelligence briefings from the National Security Council on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the White House has announced.

The briefings will focus on the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, with the President closely monitoring developments. Earlier, Trump said he would decide within the next two weeks whether the United States would participate directly in the ongoing conflict.

An explosion occurred at the residence of the Norwegian ambassador to Israel in Tel Aviv, according to a statement from Norway’s foreign ministry.

“We have been in contact with the embassy tonight. No staff with the embassy was injured during the incident,” the ministry confirmed via email, without specifying the cause of the explosion.

Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, stated on X that he had spoken with Norwegian Ambassador Per Egil Selvaag shortly after the incident.

As Israel and Iran trade blows in an escalating conflict, ordinary Iranians say daily life has been disrupted. Constant fear, disrupted routines, and a growing sense of distrust now define everyday existence.

With the threat of more attacks looming, many are avoiding public spaces, stocking up on essentials, and anxiously monitoring news updates. 

Iran has warned of an impending attack on the offices of Israel’s Channel 14 news station, which it accuses of serving as a propaganda outlet for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Iran's state-run broadcaster IRIB reported. 

Nearly 12,500 Iranian pilgrims are stranded in Medina after flights to Iran were suspended due to the ongoing conflict with Israel, Iranian state media reported. The pilgrims had traveled to Saudi Arabia for Hajj and Eid al-Adha earlier in June.

Israeli military strikes targeted Iran’s Khondab Heavy Water Research Reactor, which was still under construction and not yet operational, according to the UN nuclear watchdog on Thursday. The attack also caused damage to a nearby heavy water production plant.

Amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran, United Airlines and American Airlines have suspended select Middle East routes, CNN reported. United paused its Newark-Dubai service, citing regional conflict, and said it’s monitoring the situation while assisting impacted passengers.

Amid escalating conflict with Israel, Iran has started assessing damage to homes hit in recent Israeli attacks. Urban Development Minister Farzaneh Sadegh pledged “maximum support” for rebuilding affected residences, state media IRNA reported. 

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem has voiced strong support for Iran, condemning Israeli actions and recent US threats. In a detailed statement, he criticized US President Donald Trump’s remark about assassinating Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, calling it an “aggression” against the entire region.

Following Thursday morning’s Iranian ballistic missile attack, Israel’s Health Ministry reported that 271 people sought hospital care. Of these, four were in serious condition, 16 moderate, and 220 in good condition. Additionally, 24 were treated for acute anxiety and seven are still being evaluated.

Iran has reportedly prepared missiles for strikes on US bases in the Middle East if the Americans join the conflict. Iranian officials also said their country could start to place mines in the Strait of Hormuz if the US joined the conflict, reports The New York Times. READ MORE HERE

The White House said on Thursday that President Donald Trump will make a decision on whether the US will get involved in the Israel-Iran conflict in the next two weeks.

Citing a message from Trump, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters: "Based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks."