Both Israel and Iran claim victory after US-brokered ceasefire: As it happened

25 June 2025

The Iranian authorities have announced the gradual easing of internet restrictions, following the implementation of a ceasefire with Israel.

"The communication network is gradually returning to its previous state,” the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ cyber unit said in a statement, according to the local media.

It explained the need for the curbs by the fact that during the 12-day conflict, Israel had been waging a “widespread cyber war” with the aim of disrupting digital services and “abusing the network infrastructure to collect information and intensify the aggression.”

Iranian Communications Minister Sattar Hashemi also said in a post on X that “with the normalization of conditions, the state of communication access has returned to its previous conditions.”

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei has told Al Jazeera that the country’s nuclear facilities have been “badly damaged” in the strikes by Israel and Iran.

”That is for sure because [they have] come under repeated attacks,” he said.

When asked to elaborate, Baghaei replied that he had “nothing to add on this issue because it is a matter of technical issue.”

The spokesman insisted that Tehran “has every right under the NPT [Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons]… to enjoy using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. And Iran is prepared to reserve that right under any circumstances.”

US President Donald Trump has warned that he will strike Iran again if it decides to restart its nuclear enrichment program.

Speaking to reporters at the NATO summit in The Hague, Trump replied to a question on whether the US might get involved by saying: “sure.”

He also drew parallels between the American attack on Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend and the US dropping an atomic bomb on Japan during the Second World War in 1945.

"That hit ended the war. I do not want to use an example of Hiroshima, I do not want to use an example of Nagasaki, but that was essentially the same thing that ended that war. This ended that, this ended that war,” Trump said.

Israel and Iran “would have been fighting right now” if the US had not attacked Tehran’s nuclear facilities, he insisted.

The Iranian parliament’s vote to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is “a direct consequence of the unprovoked attack on Iran... of the strikes on nuclear facilities, which are quite unprecedented,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.

"The reputation of the IAEA has been seriously damaged in this situation,” Peskov adding, acknowledging that Moscow is concerned by the development.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, has said that it is “the Number One priority” for the UN nuclear watchdog to return to Iran and examine the damage done to its nuclear facilities by US strikes, Reuters has reported.

Grossi also revealed that he received a letter from Tehran on June 13, when the initial Israeli attack took place, saying that Iran would take “special measures” to protect its nuclear materials and equipment.

"They did not get into details as to what that meant but clearly that was the implicit meaning of that. We can imagine this material is there,” he said, suggesting at least some of Iran’s enriched uranium survived the bombardment.

Earlier in the day, the Iranian parliament passed a bill calling for the suspension of Tehran’s cooperation with the IAEA. It now needs to be approved by Iran’s top security body, the Supreme National Security Council.

US President Donald Trump has claimed that Israel sent agents into Iran’s Fordow nuclear site after the American strike this weekend, who confirmed that the underground facility has been destroyed.

"You know they have guys that go in there after the hit, and they said it was total obliteration,” Trump told journalists at the NATO summit in The Hague.

"Israel is doing a report on it now, I understand, and I was told that they said it was total obliteration,” he added.

Kan public broadcaster reported later that Israeli officials told it that they were unaware of any operations by Israeli spy agencies inside Fordow after the US attack.

A total of 221 members of the Iranian parliament voted in favor of the bill calling for the suspension of Tehran’s cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). There were no votes against the proposal and just a single abstention, Mehr news agency has reported.

The legislation now needs to be approved by Iran’s top security body, the Supreme National Security Council.

The American strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites were a “tremendous victory for everybody, even for Iran,” US President Donald Trump has claimed without elaborating.

Speaking at the NATO summit at the Hague, Trump expressed confidence that Tehran will not have the ability to enrich uranium after attacks by Israel and the US.

"The last thing they want to do is enrich anything right now. They want to recover… They are not going to have a bomb and they are not going to enrich,” he insisted.

The Iranians “have got oil and they are very smart people and they can come back,” the US president said, adding that he believes that Washington “will end up having somewhat of a relationship” with Tehran eventually.

IDF spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin has said it is still “too early” to speak about the exact damage done by Israeli attacks on Iran’s nuclear program.

"We met all the objectives of the operation as defined for us, even better than we thought. But it is still too early to determine, we are investigating the results of the strikes on the different sections of the nuclear program,” Defrin said during a press conference.

"The assessment is that we significantly damaged the nuclear program, and I can say we set it back by years,” he claimed.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has told Politico that Iran is “much further away from a nuclear weapon” after the US strikes on its nuclear facilities.

"That is the most important thing to understand — significant, very significant, substantial damage was done to a variety of different components, and we are just learning more about it,” he said.

Rubio denied a CNN report claiming that the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) had assessed that the US attacks were only able to set Tehran’s nuclear program back by a matter of months.

“That story is a false story, and it is one that really should not be reported because it does not accurately reflect what is happening,” he insisted.

The Iranian parliament has approved a bill suspending cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), according to local media.

High-ranking MP Alireza Salimi told journalists that the IAEA’s experts “do not have the right to enter the country for inspections unless the security of the country’s nuclear facilities and peaceful nuclear activities are guaranteed.”

The legislation now needs to be approved by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Salimi added.

Iran has arrested some 700 Israeli agents during the 12 days of conflict between Tehran and West Jerusalem, Nour News has reported, based on data from the country's security and judicial bodies.

Those detained are suspected of operating drones, manufacturing improvised explosive devices and providing images and information on Iranian military facilities to Israeli spy services, it said.

In the Iranian capital Tehran alone, more than 10,000 UAVs have been seized in recent days, the report read.

Speaking at the UN Security Council, Russian envoy Vassily Nebenzia accused Israel and Western countries of spreading falsehoods about Iran’s nuclear program.

He stated that reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency clearly affirm that there is “no evidence” Iran is developing nuclear weapons.

US President Donald Trump has doubled down on his claim that Iran’s nuclear sites were “completely destroyed,” and accused CNN and The New York Times of trying to “demean one of the most successful military strikes in history.”

The news outlets cited intelligence assessments suggesting that the June 22 strikes likely set Iran’s nuclear program back by months rather than dismantling it.

US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff has said that the conflict between Israel and Iran “was never going to be a forever war,” and that President Donald Trump’s sole objective was “the total destruction” of Iran’s capacity to enrich uranium.

Witkoff expressed confidence in the ceasefire. “The proof is in the pudding. No one is shooting at each other. It’s over,” he said.

The Pentagon’s Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) has concluded that US strikes failed to destroy the core components of Iran’s nuclear program and only set it back by months, CNN has reported, citing four people familiar with the assessment.

According to CNN’s sources, Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium was not destroyed, and the centrifuges remain largely “intact.”

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt disputed the assessment, insisting on the “total obliteration” of the targets.

24 June 2025

The 10-country BRICS group, which includes Russia, China, Brazil, India, and South Africa, has issued a joint statement condemning the Israeli and US strikes on Iran as violations of international law.

“We underscore the urgent need to break the cycle of violence and restore peace,” the statement read.

“We call on all parties to engage through existing channels of dialogue and diplomacy, with a view to de-escalating the situation and resolving their differences through peaceful means,” it added.

Israeli envoy to the UN, Danny Danon, has said that US President Donald Trump deserves a Nobel Peace Prize.

“We thank the United States for its support and its critical role in helping remove the Iranian nuclear threat,” Danon told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York.

US envoy to the UN Dorothy Shea has claimed that Washington’s strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities “effectively fulfilled our narrow objective: to degrade Iran’s capacity to produce a nuclear weapon”.

”These strikes – in accordance with the inherent right to collective self-defense, consistent with the UN Charter – aimed to mitigate the threat posed by Iran to Israel, the region and to, more broadly, international peace and security,” she said during the United Nations Security Council

Video on social media appears to show Esmail Qaani, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard’s elite Quds Force, who was previously believed to have been killed in an Israeli strike.

The New York Times earlier reported that Qaani was among those killed in Israeli strikes, although the IDF never claimed this.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked US President Donald Trump for the “historic” involvement of the US in the Iran-Israel conflict.

“We have never had a greater friend in the White House,” he added.

Netanyahu also claimed that, hours before the ceasefire, West Jerusalem carried out the most “devastating” strike on Tehran in 50 years.

“We eliminated hundreds of regime operatives and members of the Revolutionary Guard.”

Israel will respect the ceasefire with Iran “as long as the other side does,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said, as quoted by CNN.

Katz added that he had informed US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth about this, while thanking President US Donald Trump for his decision to “act with Israel” against Iran.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said his country is ready to “resolve issues” with the US, Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported.

In a call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Pezeshkian added he welcomes “any assistance” from friendly countries.

It comes as Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan is in Doha, Qatar, for an emergency meeting with his counterparts from the Gulf Cooperation Council. The bloc includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

According to the Saudi Foreign Ministry, the meeting is set to discuss Iran’s strikes on the US military base in Qatar on Monday.

In a message to the nation carried by the official Irna news agency, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced the end of the conflict with Israel.

“Today, after the courageous resistance of your great and history-making nation, we are witnessing a ceasefire and a halt to the 12-day war that was imposed on the Iranian nation by the adventurism and incitement of the Zionist regime.”

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir has said that the “campaign against Iran is not over.”

“Now, the focus returns to Gaza, to bringing the hostages home and toppling Hamas rule,” he added.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has lauded US President Donald Trump for his “decisive action” in Iran, according to screenshots shared by the latter on social media.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that Tehran will respect the truce with West Jerusalem if Israel does same.

"If the Zionist regime does not violate the ceasefire, Iran will not violate it either,” Pezeshkian told Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on the phone, according to the presidential website.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has confirmed that he spoke with US President Donald Trump after West Jerusalem accused Tehran of targeting its territory and announced retaliatory strikes on Iran despite agreeing to a Washington-brokered ceasefire.

”President Trump expressed his immense appreciation for Israel, which achieved all of its war goals. The president also expressed his confidence in the stability of the ceasefire,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.

Axios reported earlier that Trump had called the Israeli PM to urge him in “exceptionally firm” terms not to respond to Iran.

US President Donald Trump has called Prime Minister Netanyahu on the phone and asked him not to attack Iran, an Axios journalist claimed in a post on X, citing an unnamed Israeli official.

Netanyahu allegedly told Trump that he is unable to call off the attack, but promised that it would be significantly scaled back, hitting just a single target, according to the report.

Iranian news agencies have reported that Israel has launched attacks in the western part of the country after agreeing to the Washington-brokered ceasefire. ISNA said that were explosions were heard near the cities of Babol and Babolsar, while Mehr claimed that the projectiles landed in an empty, unpopulated area.

Israeli officials told The Times of Israel that the IDF has carried out “a small strike” against an Iranian radar north of Tehran in response to an earlier attack by Tehran.

US President Donald Trump has accused both Israel and Iran of breaching the Washington-brokered ceasefire.

Trump told journalists that he was not happy with both countries, but especially Israel, which he said had “unloaded” right after agreeing to the truce.

In a separate post on his Truth Social platform, the US president wrote in all capital letters: “ISRAEL. DO NOT DROP THOSE BOMBS. IF YOU DO IT IS A MAJOR VIOLATION. BRING YOUR PILOTS HOME, NOW!”

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei has said that Tehran’s missile attack on American Al Udeid base on Monday was an act of self-defense, which “had nothing to do with our friendly neighbor Qatar.”

Moscow welcomes the ceasefire between Israel and Iran, and hopes that it will be “sustained,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.

”This is what Russia has been calling for from the very beginning of this conflict. So yes, this can and should be welcomed,” Peskov told journalists.

According to Moscow’s information, the truce was a result of “contacts, mediated by Qatar, between US President [Donald Trump] and a number of his counterparts in the Middle East,” the spokesman said.

Russia supported Iran during the crisis through “the clear stance that it has taken,” Peskov said. “Of course, we intend to further develop our relations with Iran,” he added.

Iran has agreed to a ceasefire with Israel now that Tehran’s military campaign against West Jerusalem has achieved its goals, the Iranian Supreme National Security Council has announced.

The Iranian military “without any trust in the words of the enemy and with their hands on the trigger, are ready to deliver a decisive and deterring response to any violating act by the enemy,” it warned.

Tehran delivered a “humiliating and exemplary response to the enemy’s cruelty,” including a missile attack on the US base in Qatar on Monday and the latest wave of strikes against Israel.

"The courage and sacrifice” of the Iranian military “forced the enemy into regret and accepting defeat and the unilateral cessation of its aggression,” it added.

Iranian nuclear scientist Seyyed Mostafa Sadati-Armaki and his whole family were killed in an Israeli strike on Iran before the ceasefire between the sides took effect, Press TV has reported.

The IDF said earlier that it had “assassinated another senior nuclear scientist.”

The authorities in Tehran have rejected Israeli claims that Iran launched missiles towards Israel after agreeing to a ceasefire, broadcaster IRIB and ISNA news agency have reported.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that he has told the IDF to “respond forcefully to Iran’s violation of the ceasefire with intense strikes against regime targets in the heart of Tehran.”

The IDF has published footage of its warplanes hitting Iranian missile launchers in the west of the country, saying that they were about fire projectiles towards Israel.

According to Iranian Mehr news agency, Tehran launched five missiles at Israeli territory an hour before US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between the sides.

The IDF says it has detected a new launch of ballistic missiles from Iran, around an hour after West Jerusalem confirmed it had agreed to a ceasefire with Tehran.

“At this time, the IAF (Israeli Air Force) is operating to intercept and strike where necessary to eliminate the threat,” it said.

The military noted that “the defense is not hermetic” and urged the public to follow the instructions of the Home Front Command and take shelter.

Some Israeli politicians have criticized the ceasefire with Iran, insisting that total victory must be achieved.

A member of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Likud Party, Dan Illouz, wrote on X that the only agreement the Israeli government should sign is Iran’s “surrender agreement.”

“The regime in Iran is not a regime with which agreements are made – but a regime that must be defeated,” Dan Illouz insisted. If it does not happen, Tehran will come up with new ways to harm Israel, he said.

Former Israeli Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman, who heads the Yisrael Beytenu opposition party, said that “a ceasefire without a clear and unambiguous agreement will certainly lead us to another war in two or three years, and under much worse conditions.”

Liberman expressed regret that “instead of unconditional surrender, the world has entered into difficult and tedious negotiations, with the ayatollah regime having no intention of giving up – not on uranium enrichment on Iranian soil, not on the production and equipping of ballistic missiles, nor on supporting and financing terrorism in the region and around the world.”

Israel has officially confirmed that it has agreed to the ceasefire with Iran announced earlier by US President Donald Trump.

“In full coordination with President Trump, Israel has agreed to the president’s proposal for a bilateral ceasefire,” the Office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.

However, it warned that West Jerusalem “will respond forcefully to any violation of the ceasefire” by Tehran.

"Israel thanks President Trump and the US for their support in defense and their participation in eliminating the Iranian nuclear threat,” the prime minister’s office said.

According to the statement, Netanyahu held a meeting with his cabinet “to report that Israel had achieved all of the objectives of Operation Rising Lion, and much more.”

“Israel has removed a dual immediate existential threat – both in the nuclear and ballistic missile fields,” it claimed.

The death toll from the Iranian missile strike on an apartment building in the Israeli city of Beersheba has risen to four people, the Times of Israel has reported, citing rescue workers. Two were hospitalized in moderate condition and 20 others suffered minor injuries and acute anxiety, the outlet added.

US President Donald] Trump has published another post on his Truth Social platform, urging Israel and Iran to uphold the truce.

"The ceasefire is now in effect. Please do not violate it! Donald J. Trump, president of the United States,” he wrote.

An unnamed Israeli official has told the Walla news website that Israel is willing to stick to the truce if Iran does the same.

“Trump announced a ceasefire. If all sides uphold it, it will hold,” the official stressed.

US President Donald Trump has claimed that West Jerusalem and Tehran approached him almost at the same time, urging an end to the hostilities.

"Israel & Iran came to me, almost simultaneously, and said, ‘PEACE!’ I knew the time was NOW. The World, and the Middle East, are the real WINNERS! Both Nations will see tremendous LOVE, PEACE, AND PROSPERITY in their futures,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

"They have so much to gain, and yet, so much to lose if they stray from the road of RIGHTEOUSNESS & TRUTH. The future for Israel & Iran is UNLIMITED, & filled with great PROMISE. GOD BLESS YOU BOTH!” he added.

“The military operations of our powerful Armed Forces to punish Israel for its aggression continued until the very last minute, at 4am,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has written on X.

“Together with all Iranians, I thank our brave Armed Forces who remain ready to defend our dear country until their last drop of blood, and who responded to any attack by the enemy until the very last minute,” he added.

At least three people were killed after an Iranian missile struck an apartment building in Beersheba, the Times of Israel reported, citing medics.

Pakistan’s former national security minister, Naeem Khalid Lodhi, told RT on Monday that Iran “has more incentive to produce nuclear weapons” following the Israeli attacks. He said Iran would not engage in direct negotiations with the US on its nuclear program, as it believes “the Americans have broken their trust again and again.”

Lodhi argued that Israel has failed in its efforts to achieve regime change, noting that Iranians have rallied around their government in response to what he called “external aggression.”

Despite US President Donald Trump’s ceasefire announcement, additional missiles were launched at Israel on Tuesday, the IDF said.

An impact was reported in Beersheba, in southern Israel.

According to Iran-linked Telegram channels, fewer than ten missiles were fired at Israel after the ceasefire was supposed to take effect.

CNN cited a senior White House official as saying that Israel agreed to the ceasefire on the condition that Iran halt its attacks.

According to the network, President Donald Trump negotiated the deal with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff engaged with Iranian officials through direct and indirect channels.

Iranian media, meanwhile, reported new Israeli strikes in the early hours of Tuesday.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has stated that there is no ceasefire agreement in place at the moment.

However, he added that Iran would end hostilities if Israel “stops its illegal aggression” by 4 a.m. Tehran time (12:30 a.m. GMT).

Influential Russian Senator Aleksey Pushkov has argued that the Middle East conflict would not spiral into a global war, even if the US invades and attempts to occupy Iran.

“The US has joined the strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, but it is unlikely that it is eager to deploy ground troops to occupy the country. Even if the Americans make such an attempt, success would be far from guaranteed – and it would not trigger World War III. Rather, it would remain a regional conflict, pitting the US and Israel against Iran and its remaining close allies, such as the Houthis and pro-Iranian groups in Iraq,” Pushkov wrote on Telegram.

He added that characterizing the ongoing hostilities as World War III is misleading.

23 June 2025

Iranian media reported that another Israeli Hermes 900 drone was shot down over Tehran.

Earlier on Monday, Iranian news agencies published images of UAV wreckage said to have been intercepted by air defenses.

US President Donald Trump has announced that Israel and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire, which would bring an end to their “12-day war.”

US Ain al-Asad air base in Iraq had activated its air defence system out of concern for a potential attack, Reuters wrote citing military sources. However, no confirmation on whether the attack happened was made by the Iraqi or Iranian authorities yet. 

President Donald Trump has thanked Iran for “early notice” after the country attacked a US air base in Qatar, adding that he would like Tehran to “proceed to Peace and Harmony in the Region,” promising to “encourage Israel to do the same.”

“I am pleased to report that NO Americans were harmed, and hardly any damage was done.”

Trump has also thanked Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani “for all that he has done in seeking Peace for the Region”. The US president added that there were no Qataris killed or wounded in Iran’s attacks.

Kuwait and Bahrain have reopened their airspaces after closing them off due to Iran’s attacks on an air base in Qatar.

In the United Arab Emirates, the Dubai Airports authority said it has resumed operations at its airports, noting that some flights “could experience delays or cancelations”.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has called for an immediate halt to the escalation between Iran, Israel, and the US.

”The attacks by the US and Israel on Iran, as the Russian side warned, are leading to a sharp escalation and radical destabilization of the situation in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf,” the ministry wrote after Tehran launched strikes on US military bases in Qatar and Iraq.

In the statement, the Russian MFA added that the “unprovoked aggression of the United States and Israel against Iran” and “the blatant attempts” to overthrow the authorities in the country violate the UN Charter and international law.

“We once again call for a halt to the unleashing of armed escalation, and to refrain from provocative actions and rhetoric. Today, more than ever, a return to political and diplomatic efforts and compliance with international law is necessary.”

President Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, has remained in contact with Iranian officials since US strikes on the country’s nuclear facilities over the weekend, two sources have told CNN.

According to the unnamed officials, Trump's administration is continuing to seek a diplomatic resolution, but that efforts “are facing significant challenge from Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has been exceedingly difficult for Iranian officials to reach after he retreated to a hidden location amid escalating tensions.”

Before the weekend, US officials communicated that actions would remain contained and that Trump was still looking to resolve the situation diplomatically, CNN sources said.

President Trump has claimed that the nuclear sites the US hit in Iran “were totally destroyed,” calling out several outlets and journalists for casting doubt.

Footage on social media shows chaos in a shopping center in Qatar after Iran unleashed a missile barrage on the country.

Following the closure of airspace by Qatar and Bahrain, Kuwait Airways has suspended flights, citing regional developments.

Iranian Defense Minister Amir Nasirzadeh has spoken with his Russian counterpart, Andrey Belousov, Iranian media claims.

”Our decision is to punish the aggressor with all our might, and we will not accept an imposed peace,” the statement quoted by Irna reads.

It also quoted Belousov as saying that Russia will support Iran.

The Pentagon claims Iran’s strikes on its military bases in Qatar and Iraq caused no casualties, according to Fox News.

Iranian media has shown the moment missiles were launched towards US bases in Qatar and Iraq.

Bahrain temporarily suspended air traffic on Monday after Iran attacked a US base in neighbouring Qatar in retaliation for American strikes.

Iran warned Qatar of the impending attack beforehand to minimise the potential casualties and collateral damage, The New York Times reported citing Iranian sources. The strike was primarily of symbolic value, needed to demonstrate retaliation for US attacks while leaving room for de-escalation, the sources claimed.

US military base Al Tanf in Syria is put on full alert, Iranian state media has said. 

Three missiles hit US Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Iranian state media claims. “Planes and ships are retreating from the sky and the Persian Gulf,” Irna channel added.

Iran has launched a “powerful and destructive missile attack” on the American Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in response to US strikes, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has said in a statement quoted by CNN.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran, relying on Almighty God and the faithful, proud people of Iran, will never leave any aggression against its territorial integrity, sovereignty, or national security unanswered.”

Iran has reportedly launched missiles at a US military base in Qatar, the Times of Israel has reported. Tehran is also targeting a US military installation in Iraq in retaliation for Washington’s strikes on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear sites over the weekend, the outlet claimed.

Sounds of explosions are being heard over the Qatari capital Doha, according to several accounts on X.

Footage published by Irna shows the hospital building and administrative building of Evin prison in Iran after the Israeli attack Monday morning.

Videos published online also show the destruction of the gate of the prison.  

Qatar has closed its airspace “until further notice,” the country’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The British Foreign Office called on its citizens to refrain from traveling to the UAE and Qatar earlier.

Tehran wants the US to “directly pay for the war, rather than standing behind Israel and pursu[ing] its project without having to pay the cost,” a senior Iranian official told CNN on Monday.

”Morale is high and the immense demand by the Iranian people to strike Israel is unprecedented,” he said, adding that calls by the Iranian public to strike Israel are “an element in intensifying Iran’s battle plans.”

US military and intelligence officials say they have detected signs that Iranian-backed militias are preparing to attack American bases in Iraq and Syria, an unnamed official told The New York Times.

French national carrier Air France has suspended all scheduled flights to Tel Aviv until July 14, citing security concerns.

The company stressed it has been “constantly monitoring developments in the geopolitical situation of the territories served and overflown by its aircraft, to ensure the highest level of flight safety and security.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi have discussed the “prospects for bringing the situation in the Middle East onto a peaceful trajectory” during talks in Moscow, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said.

Peskov also condemned the Israeli and US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, saying that they delivered “a massive blow” to the nuclear nonproliferation regime.

Iran is prepared to “go up to the end” in its conflict with Israel, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh has told Al Jazeera.

Tehran is “very much determined to push back” against the “unjust” and “unprovoked” Israeli attacks, he insisted.

Khatibzadeh also did not rule out the possibility of Tehran attacking US military bases in the Middle East in response to American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend.

“Iran will decide on how, when and at which level to respond to [the] Americans,” he noted.

Israel is looking to wrap up its conflict with Iran “soon,” the Wall Street Journal has reported, citing Israeli and Arab officials. The US told its Arab partners to pass this message to Iran, it added.

West Jerusalem expects to get through its list of targets in Iran “in the coming days,” the report said.

The outlet stressed that a lot will depend on Tehran, which has to decide whether to retaliate for American strikes against the Iranian nuclear facilities or return to negotiations.

The IDF has claimed that it targeted access roads to Iran’s underground Fordow nuclear facility to “disrupt” the site’s accessibility.

Fordow had been hit by an American “bunker-buster” bomb over weekend, with US President Donald Trump claiming that the facility had been “completely and totally obliterated.” According to Tehran, the site suffered no serious damage and only ground-level buildings were affected.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has described the strikes on Iran as “an unprovoked aggression,” for which “there can be no justification.”

The actions of Israel and the US are “illegitimate” and violate international norms, Putin said during his meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Moscow.

The president noted that he was glad to see Araghchi in Moscow, saying that his visit would allow Russia and Iran “to discuss these pressing issues and jointly think about a way out of the current situation.”

The meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has started at the Kremlin.

Araghchi said earlier that he was traveling to Moscow due to the need for “closer, more precise, and more serious consultations” with Russia in the wake of the attacks launched by the US on Sunday.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has said the IDF is “currently striking, with unprecedented force, regime targets and governmental repression bodies in the heart of Tehran.”

“For every [missile] fired at the Israeli home front, the Iranian dictator [Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei] will be severely punished, and the strikes will continue with full intensity,” he said.

The IDF has announced that it has started a new wave of attacks on Tehran, shorty after Iran targeted five Israeli cities with missiles.

Videos purportedly made in the Iranian capital captured several explosions in the city and massive plumes of smoke rising into the air.

The Iranian parliament intends to put the country’s cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on hold, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, the Speaker of the Majlis, has said.

"We plan to pass a bill... that would suspend Iran’s cooperation with the IAEA until we receive objective guarantees of the professional conduct of this international organization,” Ghalibaf announced during a parliament session.

“The world has clearly seen that the IAEA has not fulfilled any of its obligations and has turned into a political tool,” he insisted.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has said that it has carried out another wave of missile and drone attacks on Israel.

The operation involved both “solid and liquid fuel missiles and utilizing special tactics to penetrate the layers of the Israeli air defense shield,” the IRGC has said, as cited by Tasnim news agency.

There have been missile impacts in the Israeli cities of Safad, Tel Aviv, Ashkelon, Ashdod, and Beisan, it added.

Iran has launched another missile attack at Israel, the IDF has said, instructing residents to take shelter.

According to the Times of Israel, air raid sirens have been heard around Jerusalem and in some parts of southern Israel.

Medics have been responding to reports of a ballistic missile impact in the city of Ashdod in the southern part of the country, the paper said. According to Quds News, a power station was hit in the area.

Videos purporting to show a plume of smoke rising into the air following the strike in Ashdod have been shared on social media.

A large crowd took to the streets of the Indonesian capital Jakarta to show support for Iran following the US strikes on the country’s nuclear facilities.

The participants of the peaceful rally carried Iranian and Palestinian flags as well as a large banner reading: “I stand with Iran.”

One of the demonstrators told RT that the Indonesians are backing Tehran because it “was attacked” and because it “defends Palestine.”

Russian leader Vladimir Putin will hold a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Moscow later in the day, the president’s foreign policy aide, Yury Ushakov, has confirmed.

When asked by journalists if the talks will take place, Ushakov replied by saying: “Yes, they will.”

Araghchi earlier explained his visit to the Russian capital by the need for “closer, more precise, and more serious consultations” with Moscow in the wake of this weekend's US strikes on Iran.

The commander of Iran’s military, Major General Amir Hatami, has said that every time the Americans have committed crimes against the Islamic Republic, they have received a decisive response, and it will be the same after Washington’s strikes on Tehran’s nuclear facilities, Fars news agency has reported.

Following a US drone strike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in 2020, Tehran retaliated by firing missiles towards American bases in Iraq. There were no fatalities, but more than 100 US servicemen were later diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries, including concussions.

The US military and intelligence officials have detected signs of Iranian-backed militias preparing to attack American bases in Iraq, and possibly in Syria, in retaliation for this weekend's strikes on nuclear facilities in the Islamic Republic, the New York Times has reported.

Iraqi officials are currently “working hard” to dissuade the militias from taking action, a US official told the paper.

The IDF has announced that the Israeli Air Force is currently conducting airstrikes on military infrastructure targets in Kermanshah, western Iran. No further details were immediately provided, and Iranian authorities have not yet commented on the reported strikes.

China has warned that the US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities have not only endangered regional stability but also severely undermined Washington’s credibility as a diplomatic actor. Following an emergency UN Security Council session, Chinese Ambassador to the UN Fu Cong said the strikes had inflicted harm on Iran but also damaged the United States “both as a country and as a participant in any international negotiations,” as cited by Reuters.

“All parties should restrain the impulse of force, avoid exacerbating conflicts and adding fuel to the fire,” Fu told the Security Council earlier in the day. Fu specifically called on Israel to “immediately cease fire to prevent the situation from escalating and avoid the spillover of war.”

The Israeli military said it intercepted a drone approaching the southern city of Eilat. The origin of the UAV was not disclosed. The interception followed a reported overnight missile attack allegedly launched by Iran. Israeli media said the attack involved a single missile, which was successfully intercepted.

US President Donald Trump has claimed that recent American airstrikes caused “monumental damage” to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, declaring on Truth Social that the operation delivered a “bullseye” blow to deeply buried facilities.

“Monumental Damage was done to all Nuclear sites in Iran, as shown by satellite images. Obliteration is an accurate term!” Trump wrote on Sunday, adding that the “biggest damage took place far below ground level.”

The president posted no visual proof but claimed that one of the images he referenced depicted a “white structure… deeply imbedded [sic] into the rock, with even its roof well below ground level, and completely shielded from flame” – and asserted it had been severely impacted.

Trump’s remarks have not been independently verified, and there has been no public confirmation from the Pentagon regarding the exact scope of the damage, aside from vague descriptors such as “devastated,” “obliterated,” and “incredible and overwhelming success.” Iranian authorities have acknowledged the strikes but have not confirmed any significant structural losses.

The head of the UN’s atomic watchdog has warned the Security Council that recent military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities by Israel and the US have seriously compromised safety.

“There has been a sharp degradation in nuclear safety and security,” International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi told ambassadors.

The IAEA chief confirmed damage at Iran’s Natanz enrichment site. He said that while no radiation leaks had been detected outside the facility, potential chemical contamination inside posed serious health risks. He also listed damage at other nuclear-related sites across the country, including Esfahan, Arak, and Tehran, adding that radiation levels outside remained normal.

At the same time, Grossi raised alarm over the safety of Iran’s operational nuclear plant at Bushehr, warning that any strike on the Russia-constructed power facility could trigger a massive radiation release across the region.

“The risk is real,” he said. “Military escalation threatens lives and delays the diplomacy that’s needed to resolve this crisis.”

The US State Department has issued a rare “worldwide caution” alert for American travelers, warning of heightened risks to US citizens abroad following President Donald Trump’s decision to authorize airstrikes on Iran.

The advisory urges Americans to exercise “increased caution” due to the potential for demonstrations and violence targeting US citizens and interests overseas. “The conflict between Israel and Iran has resulted in disruptions to travel and periodic closure of airspace across the Middle East,” the department said.

The alert made no direct mention of the US role in the bombing campaign, but comes amid growing international backlash. Iranian officials have warned of “consequences” for Washington’s involvement and threatened retaliation.

Iranian state media outlets reported air defense activity and explosions in several locations across Iran amid the ongoing conflict with Israel. According to Nour News, Israeli attacks targeted the Parchin area, southeast of Tehran, while air defense systems were reportedly active over northern Tehran. Tasnim News separately reported air defense activity in the city of Karaj, located west of the capital, while IRIB reported explosions in both Karaj and Baghestan. There was no immediate information about damage or casualties on the ground.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that the latest US airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities risk plunging the region into a spiraling conflict.

“We now risk descending into a rathole of retaliation after retaliation,” Guterres told the UN Security Council earlier on Sunday. “We must act – immediately and decisively – to halt the fighting and return to serious, sustained negotiations on the Iran nuclear programme,” Guterres added, urging all sides to prioritize diplomacy and avoid further escalation.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasized the importance of his visit to Moscow, citing the need for “closer, more precise, and more serious consultations” with Russia following US strikes on Iran.

“Naturally, our talks this time will be more serious and cover broader dimensions,” he stated upon arrival, adding, “We will have important and serious discussions with President Putin, and I am confident that the outcomes will benefit both countries.”

The IDF has detected new missile launches from Iran toward Israeli territory, triggering the activation of air defense systems.

“Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat,” the military said in a statement issued shortly after 3am local time. Residents in affected areas were instructed to enter protected shelters immediately and remain there until further notice.

“Leaving the protected space is only permitted following an explicit directive,” the IDF added, urging the public to continue following instructions from the Home Front Command.

22 June 2025

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that the country is “very, very close” to achieving its military objectives in Iran, following a series of operations targeting Tehran’s nuclear and missile programs. In a pre-recorded address published Sunday evening, he emphasized that while Israel seeks to avoid a prolonged “war of attrition,” it will not halt its campaign prematurely.

”So far, we’ve killed 10 senior nuclear scientists… our arm is still outstretched. There are a few; we will get to them,” Netanyahu claimed, adding: “We won’t pursue our actions beyond what is needed to achieve [the goals], but we also won’t finish too soon.”

France will deploy military Airbus A400M Atlas aircraft to Israel to assist in the evacuation of its nationals amid the ongoing conflict, the French foreign and defense ministries have announced. The flights will be “subject to Israel’s clearance” and will supplement existing chartered civilian evacuation efforts, AFP reports. An estimated 250,000 French citizens live in Israel, with about 100,000 registered with consular services. Earlier on Sunday, 160 French nationals, most of them classified as vulnerable or in urgent need, were flown from Jordan to Paris.

At least three people were killed after an ambulance was struck in an Israeli drone attack in central Iran earlier on Sunday, according to Iranian state-linked media.

“The ambulance... was en route to transfer a patient when it was severely damaged by a drone strike,” said Hamidreza Mohammadi Fesharaki, governor of Najafabad county in Isfahan province, in comments to the ISNA news agency. He added that the vehicle then veered off the road and collided with a passing vehicle.

“All occupants of the ambulance – including the driver, the patient, and the patient’s companion – were martyred,” he said.

Beijing has condemned Washington’s decision to bomb Iran, with the country’s Foreign Affairs Ministry calling on “parties to the conflict, Israel in particular, to reach a ceasefire as soon as possible, ensure the safety of civilians, and start dialogue and negotiation.”

“China strongly condemns the US attacks on Iran and the bombing of nuclear facilities under the safeguards of the IAEA. The actions of the US seriously violate the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law, and have exacerbated tensions in the Middle East,” spokesperson Lin Jian said in a statement on X.

US President Donald Trump has suggested that regime change in Iran may be on the table, in a new statement posted to Truth Social on Sunday.

“It’s not politically correct to use the term ‘Regime Change,’ but if the current Iranian regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a regime change??? MIGA!!!” Trump wrote, referencing his famous slogan adapted for Iran.

Trump did not elaborate on any specific plans for Washington to get involved, but his message comes amid escalating rhetoric and rising tensions following US strikes on key nuclear facilities across the country.

Israel carried out a new series of coordinated airstrikes on Sunday evening, targeting military infrastructure across western and central Iran, the IDF has announced. According to an official statement, “approximately 20 Israeli Air Force fighter jets” launched “over 30 munitions,” targeting military sites in the provinces of Kermanshah and Hamedan, including missile storage and launch infrastructure, radar systems, and military satellites used to develop Iran’s aerial intelligence capabilities.

The Pentagon has shared a map showing the flight path of the US aircraft and the timeline of key events in the Iran bombing mission, dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer.

Russia’s UN envoy Vasiliy Nebenzya condemned Washington’s strikes on Iran during a Security Council meeting, emphasizing the danger to the region and the entire world.

“With its actions, the US has opened Pandora’s box, and no one knows what new consequences this may lead to, he claimed.

“History has taught our colleagues nothing.”

Nebenzya also said that Washington “has once again demonstrated its complete disregard for the position of the international community.” He also alleged that the US is “completely unconcerned” about threats to the lives of civilians.

“You may see cells in the US and maybe even in Europe activated,” former Pentagon security policy analyst Michael Maloof on possible Iranian retaliation to Trump's strikes.

Speaking to RT, he doubted that Tehran would shoot at bases in the Gulf region. However, Maloof added he “would imagine [that] for the Iranians, everything is on the table at this point.”

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that the US attacks “marks a perilous turn in a region that is already reeling.”
Guterres added that he has “repeatedly condemned any military escalation in the Middle East,” adding that those living in the region “cannot endure another cycle of destruction.”

“Two days ago, in this very chamber, I made a direct appeal: give peace a chance. That call was not heeded... Instead, the bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities by the United States marks a perilous turn in a region that is already reeling.”

“The game is not over” even if US and Israeli strikes destroy Iran’s nuclear sites, a top aide to Iran’s supreme leader has said.

“Even assuming the complete destruction of the (nuclear) sites, the game is not over,” CNN quoted Ali Shamkhani as saying, who is an adviser to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and has represented Tehran in talks with the US.

“The enriched materials, indigenous knowledge, and political will remain intact, and the surprises will continue!” Shamkhani added.

US flags and colors along with the Israeli ones are lighting up Jerusalem’s Old City, according to social media reports. 

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Moscow on Sunday for urgent talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Araghchi earlier emphasized the importance of strategic partnership between Iran and Russia. “We always consult with each other and coordinate our positions,” he told reporters in Istanbul, according to media reports.

The Washington Post’s express poll has shown that only 25% of Americans support the strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Of those surveyed, 45% oppose President Trump’s decision, with 30% saying they are unsure.

The Israeli military has published footage of its strikes earlier today on an Iranian ballistic missile facility in the Yazd area. According to IDF, Iran stored long-range Khorramshahr missiles there.

Iran is ready to defend itself by “all necessary means” after unprecedented US strikes on its nuclear facilities, the country’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei has said. He also condemned what he described as an “unconscionable act of aggression – perpetrated by a nuclear-armed state… against a non-nuclear weapon country.”

The US State Department has ordered non-emergency US government personnel and family members to leave Lebanon “due to the volatile and unpredictable security situation in the region.”

Four Israeli drones were intercepted and destroyed in the skies of the Fars province by air defenses based there.

Russia, China, and Pakistan have circulated a draft resolution among UN Security Council members condemning the US attacks on Iran, RIA Novosti has said citing sources.

The co-sponsors of the document demand an immediate ceasefire and also offer to guarantee Tehran's peaceful nuclear program in exchange for lifting sanctions.

It’s possible that Iran won’t get rid of its nuclear technologies, preferring to be more like North Korea than Libya, former US diplomat Jim Jartas has told RT. 

“That’s one of the possibilities that the Iranians would say 'We don't want to be Libya.” Look what happened to the Libyans when they got rid of their nuclear program. Much better off being North Korea, because Kim Jong-un, he gets respect because he actually does have nukes”, he suggested.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that Tehran reserves the right “to defend the nation and the territorial integrity of the country.”

“What the world is witnessing today is a worrying and unacceptable trend. What has been witnessed by the Zionist regime in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and now in Iran is nothing but the merciless slaughter of human beings,” he said in a phone conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The latter called for solving the issue through diplomacy.

Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has said he does not know the extent of the damage at the Fordow nuclear facility in the wake of last night’s US airstrikes.

“There are clear indications of impacts, but as for the assessment for the degree of damage underground, on this, we cannot pronounce ourselves,” he told CNN.

Grossi also claimed that the Natanz above-ground facility has been “completely destroyed,” while its underground halls “suffered a lot.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has urged China to persuade Iran not to close the Strait of Hormuz following Washington's strikes.

”I encourage the Chinese government in Beijing to call them about that, because they heavily depend on the Straits of Hormuz for their oil,” he told Fox News on Sunday.

“If they do that, it will be another terrible mistake. It's economic suicide for them if they do it. And we retain options to deal with that, but other countries should be looking at that as well.”

US Vice President J.D. Vance has also claimed that closing the Strait of Hormuz would be “suicidal” for Iran. “If they want to destroy their own economy and cause disruptions in the world, I think that would be their decision,” he added.

Rubio and Vance made their comments after Iran’s Press TV reported that the national parliament had approved a measure to close the Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20% of global oil and gas is exported.

ISNA has published footage of a student rally in Tehran condemning US strikes. 

The Israeli military has published videos reportedly showing attacks on “dozens of targets in Iran”.  

Over 500 staff members and contractors have left the US diplomatic mission in Iraq as of Sunday morning, according to a CNN source familiar with the situation. The plans for their departure were already in motion prior to the US strikes on Iran.

French President Emmanuel Macron has spoken with Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian, requesting “the immediate release of our fellow citizens, Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris,” and calling for de-escalation.

Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, a French couple held on spying charges they deny, have been imprisoned in the country since 2022.

The US State Department has advised Americans unable to leave Iran to be prepared to shelter in place for an extended period. It also reiterated that the US will not provide direct government-assisted departures from the country.

“US citizens seeking departure should take advantage of existing means to leave Iran,” the upgraded guidance reads. It also advises that US-Iranian dual citizens “must exit” the country on Iranian passports.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned that if Iran retaliates in response to last night's strikes, “it’ll be the worst mistake they've ever made.”

“We can fly in and out of Iran at will. We went in last night. The president sent our military forces from halfway across the world, went in, conducted this operation, left,” Rubio said, adding that “not a shot was fired against” the US forces.

The US is ready to return to negotiations with Iran as early as tomorrow, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated.

John Bolton, a former national security adviser to Donald Trump known for his hawkish and conservative views has said he believes that Washington is “on the verge of potentially seeing regime change in Iran as part of that.”

He also claimed that the night's strikes were “the right thing to do.”

“I thought somebody should do it for a long time, but better late than never,” Bolton added.

US airstrikes targeting Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility have created at least six large craters, CNN has claimed.

The images from satellite company Maxar revealed notable changes in the color of the mountainside at the site, showing that a large area was covered by a layer of grey ash following the explosions.

As of yet, the level of damage to the underground facility is unclear.

The US has no interest in starting a ground operation in Iran, J.D. Vance has said. “The president's been very clear... We have no interest in a protracted conflict. We have no interest in boots on the ground.”

Vance went on to remind that Donald Trump has instead been “one of the fiercest critics of 25 years of failed foreign policy in the Middle East,” claiming it was the reason for “a very precise, a very surgical strike.”

Iran’s Press TV has reported that the country’s parliament has just voted that the Strait of Hormuz must be closed. The decision to potentially close the narrow stretch of water, through which about 20 percent of global oil and gas exports flow, has not been finalized yet.

US Vice President J.D. Vance has said that Washington is not at war with Iran but with Tehran’s nuclear weapons program. He also refused to confirm that the country’s nuclear sites had been completely destroyed.

US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine has revealed the name of the operation targeting nuclear facilities in Iran — “Midnight Hammer”.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has condemned the attacks, calling for a diplomatic solution. “The irresponsible decision to subject the territory of a sovereign state to missile and bomb strikes, no matter what arguments are presented, is a gross violation of international law, the UN Charter, and UN Security Council resolutions, which has previously unequivocally classified such actions as unacceptable.”

“It is particularly alarming that the strikes were carried out by a country that is a permanent member of the UN Security Council.”

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has said that the overnight attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan were carried out to “destroy or severely degrade Iran’s nuclear program.” The official claimed they were an “incredible and overwhelming success.”

Hegseth also noted that the “operation did not target Iranian troops or the Iranian people.”

China’s Foreign Ministry has condemned the “US attacks on Iran and bombing of nuclear facilities under the safeguards of the IAEA,” characterizing it as a serious violation of the “principles of the UN Charter and international law.” Beijing argued that Washington’s latest actions have further “exacerbated tensions in the Middle East.”

The ministry urged all parties involved in the conflict, “Israel in particular,” to “reach a ceasefire as soon as possible.”

In the wake of the US bombardment of Iranian nuclear facilities, Russia, Chile, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Pakistan and Venezuela have issued similar condemnations of Washington's attack.

The US has “betrayed diplomacy by supporting the genocidal and lawbreaking Israeli regime to impose a war of aggression on the Iranian nation,” the Foreign Ministry in Tehran has stated. Iranian diplomats went on to accuse Washington of launching a “dangerous war against the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Actions by the US have proved that the permanent member of the UN Security Council “is beholden to no principle or morality,” the ministry charged. The statement emphasized the peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear facilities that were attacked by the US overnight.

Tehran further warned of “dangerous consequences and far-reaching implications” resulting from what it described as a “grave and unprecedented violation of the fundamental principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the international law.”

“We urge the UN Security Council to convene an emergency session to unequivocally condemn” the US attack on Iran, the ministry added.

The overnight US bombardment of Iranian nuclear facilities did not affect the Bushehr nuclear power plant, Aleksey Likhachev, the head of Russia’s state nuclear power corporation Rosatom has stated, as quoted by TASS.

“The situation on the nuclear power plant’s grounds remains clam,” he said, adding that Rosatom is continuously monitoring the developments in Iran and is ready to swiftly evacuate Russian personnel from the facility, if necessary.

Likhachev condemned attacks on nuclear facilities and called on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to also take a “principled position” on the American strikes.

Rosatom helped to complete and launch the nuclear power plant in the early 2000’s; its personnel are currently assisting in the construction of two more units there.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has said that “a number of countries are ready to directly supply Iran with their own nuclear warheads.”

In his post on Telegram on Sunday, he stated that Iranians “are rallying around the country’s spiritual leadership, including those who were previously indifferent or opposed to it.”

“At this rate, Trump can forget about the Nobel Peace Prize – not even with how rigged it has become,” Medvedev added.

The IRGC said on Sunday that “the US’s repetition of past failed follies demonstrates strategic incompetence and disregard for the realities on the ground in the region.”

“The number, dispersion, and size of US military bases in the region are not a strength but have doubled their vulnerability,” it added.

The Strait of Hormuz will be closed “within a few hours,” the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, Brigadier General Alireza Tangsiri, said on Sunday following US strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Sunday urged Iran to start nuclear talks with Israel and the US, according to his spokesman Stefan Kornelius.

“The federal government believes that significant parts of Iran’s nuclear program were impacted by the airstrikes. A precise damage assessment will only be possible at a later stage,” Kornelius said.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry said that it is following the US strikes on Iran “with concern,” calling for “restraint, calm and prevention of escalation.” Qatar has condemned the attack, warning that it could lead to “catastrophic consequences” for the region and on a global scale. Oman also criticized Washington for what it called “an illegal aggression.”

The Iranian Foreign Ministry has condemned “the brutal US military aggression against Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities,” calling it an “unprecedented” violation of the UN Charter and international law.

“The war-mongering and law-breaking US government [is] responsible for the extremely dangerous effects and consequences of this great crime,” the ministry said in a statement.

Tehran “considers it its right to resist with all its might against US military aggression,” which was carried out “with the criminal complicity” of Israel, it said.

The American strikes have “once again demonstrated the height of the filth and vileness prevailing in US policy and the depth of the hostility and hatred” towards the Iranian people, the statement read.

The ministry called upon the UN Security Council and the board of the International Atomic Energy Agency to hold emergency meetings in order to condemn the US and hold it accountable for the attack on Iran.

Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, has called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council in response to what he described as the United States’ “heinous attacks and illegal use of force” against Iran.

In a letter to the Council, Iravani urged it to “take all necessary measures” to hold the US accountable under international law and the UN Charter.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran condemns and denounces in the strongest possible terms these unprovoked and premeditated acts of aggression,” he wrote, referring to the US strikes and the preceding Israeli attack on June 13.

The Israel Defense Forces have detected several missiles launched from Iran toward Israel, triggering sirens across multiple areas. The IDF stated that the Israeli Air Force is “operating to intercept and strike where necessary to eliminate the threat,” and urged the public to follow instructions from the Home Front Command.

Several Democratic lawmakers have sharply criticized President Trump’s decision to strike Iran, with some calling the move illegal and grounds for impeachment.

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said Trump has “impulsively risked launching a war that may ensnare us for generations,” calling the strikes “absolutely and clearly grounds for impeachment.”

Rep. Ilhan Omar described the operation as “a dangerous and reckless escalation of an already volatile conflict” and called for “this madness” to end before more lives are lost.

Rep. Yassamin Ansari labeled the action “illegal” and said she would push for an emergency session of Congress to vote on the War Powers Resolution.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer urged enforcement of the War Powers Act, stating that “no president should be allowed to unilaterally march this nation into something as consequential as war with erratic threats and no strategy.”

Iranian Foreign Minister diplomat Seyed Abbas Araghchi has condemned the US airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities as a “grave violation” of international law, warning that Tehran reserves all options to respond under the right to self-defense.

“The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences. Each and every member of the UN must be alarmed over this extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal behavior,” Araghchi wrote in a post on X.

“The United States, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law and the NPT by attacking Iran’s peaceful nuclear installations,” he said. “In accordance with the UN Charter and its provisions allowing a legitimate response in self-defense, Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people.”

The strikes on Iranian nuclear sites marked the first-ever combat use of the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), a 30,000-pound “bunker-buster” bomb, The New York Times reports. According to the US Air Force, the MOP is designed to destroy targets hidden in heavily fortified facilities and can only be deployed by the B‑2 Spirit stealth bomber.

In an official statement released early Sunday, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) confirmed that US airstrikes hit its nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan at dawn, calling the raid an illegal and “brutal” act.

Iranian authorities criticized Washington for publicly claiming responsibility for the attacks on sites that had been operating under the supervision of international inspectors.

“This act… was unfortunately carried out in the shadow of indifference and even with the support of the International Atomic Energy Agency,” the statement claimed.

Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued “an urgent call for diplomatic dialogue for peace” following its neighbor’s strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, citing the country’s pacifist principles and urging de-escalation in the Middle East.

Iran’s Center for the National Nuclear Safety System has announced that emergency inspections had been conducted at all three sites targeted by the US overnight, assuring the public that no radioactive contamination or leaks has been detected.

“Following the criminal American attack on the Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites, which is contrary to international laws, including the NPT Treaty and other international regulations related to nuclear safety and security; the center immediately conducted the necessary investigations regarding the possibility of the spread of nuclear contamination around the aforementioned sites,” the center said.

“Considering the measures taken and the previous planning, as well as the information recorded by the radioactive material detection systems, no signs of contamination have been recorded. Therefore, there is no danger to the residents living around the aforementioned sites,” it added.

Chile’s foreign ministry condemned Washington’s strikes as illegal, urging the US, Israel, and Iran to return to diplomacy, while Colombia echoed the call for negotiation as “the only responsible and lasting solution to the current crisis.”

Venezuela strongly denounced the US strikes, expressing solidarity with Iran and demanding “the immediate cessation of hostilities,” calling the operation a violation of international law.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has praised US President Donald Trump for his “bold decision” to join the Israeli bombing campaign against Iran.

In a video address posted Saturday night, Netanyahu called the move a turning point that “has created a pivot of history that can help lead the Middle East and beyond to a future of prosperity and peace.”

“Congratulations, President Trump,” Netanyahu said. “Your bold decision to target Iran’s nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history.”

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel condemned the US attacks against Iran, warning they “constitute a dangerous advance to the conflict in the Middle East” and could drag the world into crisis.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has branded the US strikes on Iran as a “dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge – and a direct threat to international peace and security.”

“There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control – with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world.,” Guterres said in a statement on X.

“At this perilous hour, it is critical to avoid a spiral of chaos. There is no military solution. The only path forward is diplomacy. The only hope is peace,” he added.

President Trump has reiterated his warning to Tehran not to retaliate against the US strikes, issuing an all-caps message on Truth Social.

ANY RETALIATION BY IRAN AGAINST THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WILL BE MET WITH FORCE FAR GREATER THAN WHAT WAS WITNESSED TONIGHT. THANK YOU! DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

President Trump has announced that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and General Caine will hold a joint press conference at 8am on Sunday to provide the American public with further details about the US military operation against Iran.

The White House has released photographs taken inside the Situation Room during the US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, offering a rare glimpse into the moment top officials oversaw the operation.

In the images, President Donald Trump is seen seated at the center of the command table, surrounded by key members of his national security team, including Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and White House Chief of Staff Susan Wiles.

The photos were taken as American aircraft carried out precision bombing raids on Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan, in what Trump later described as a “spectacular military success.”

President Donald Trump has warned Tehran to “make peace” or face further attacks, just hours after the United States carried out “massive precision strikes” on Iran’s Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear sites.

In a televised address from the White House on Saturday night, the US president claimed that told “Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated.”

The US president went on to warn Tehran against retaliation, calling it the “bully of the Middle East.”

"Iran...must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier," he said.

US President Donald Trump hailed the airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites as “an amazing success,” in a brief phone interview with Reuters, praising the pilots involved and claiming, “Fordow is gone and the other two are gone now.”

“They should make peace immediately. They should stop immediately. Otherwise they'll get hit again,” Trump warned Tehran.

Mehdi Mohammadi, a senior adviser to Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf, said Iran had anticipated an attack on the Fordow nuclear site for several nights.

“The site had been evacuated a long time ago and the damages are not irreversible... You cannot bomb knowledge,” he wrote on social media, according to the New York Post.

A senior US official has told Fox News that the strike on Iran’s nuclear facility in Isfahan was likely the most challenging operation among the three sites hit in the US air raid.

“This was the hardest target,” the official said. “Everyone was talking about and focused on Fordow, but Isfahan was actually the hardest target.”

While Fordow has long been a focal point in public and diplomatic discourse, the operational complexity and fortified structure of Isfahan made it uniquely difficult to penetrate, and required precision targeting and extensive intelligence to carry out the strike effectively, the unnamed official added.

President Donald Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shortly after the US completed its strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, according to a White House official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

In the wake of US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites and amid fears of retaliation, Israel has imposed sweeping restrictions on civilian life across the country, shifting all regions to “essential activity” status starting at 3:45am local time Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced.

Approved by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, the new Home Front Command instructions prohibit educational activities, public gatherings, and workplace attendance – except for those in essential sectors. The IDF urged citizens to adhere strictly to the updated guidelines, which are now available on the National Emergency Portal and the Home Front Command app.

One of the most vocal Republicans who has pushed against American intervention in Iran, US Congressman Thomas Massie, has blasted President Trump’s military action: “This is not Constitutional,” he wrote on X.

US Senate Majority Leader John Thune backed Trump’s strikes on Iran, saying they help ensure “a nuclear weapon remains out of reach.” In a post on X, he claimed Iran has “rejected all diplomatic pathways to peace” and is committed to “bringing ‘death to America’ and wiping Israel off the map.”

US forces have dropped 5 to 6 bunker-busting bombs on Iran’s underground nuclear facility at Fordow, according to Fox News sources. Meanwhile, nuclear-related facilities in Esfahan and Natanz were reportedly targeted by approximately 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles, launched from submarines located about 600 kilometers away.

Iranian state media have reported that the three nuclear sites targeted by the US had been evacuated “some time ago.”

Democrat Rep. Sara Jacobs (D‑CA) condemned Trump’s strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, calling them unconstitutional and warning they risk dragging the US into “another endless and deadly war.”

Yemen’s Houthi official Mohamed al-Farah has announced that the US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites is “not the end of the war, but the beginning,” warning, “The time of hit and run is gone.”

The group had earlier threatened to target US ships if Washington joined Israel’s campaign.

US House Speaker Mike Johnson said the strikes on Iranian nuclear sites “should serve as a clear reminder to our adversaries and allies that President Trump means what he says.”

He praised the operation as a display of “strength, precision, and clarity,” adding that Iran was given every chance to agree to disarmament but refused.

“This is America First policy in action,” Johnson wrote, urging prayers for US troops involved in the mission.

US Senator Lindsey Graham praised President Trump’s decision to bomb Iranian nuclear facilities, calling it “the right call.”

“The regime deserves it,” Graham wrote on X, adding, “We have the best Air Force in the world. It makes me so proud. Fly, Fight, Win.”

Iranian air defenses were activated to intercept hostile targets over Qom Province earlier on Sunday, but “part of the Fordow nuclear site was attacked by enemy airstrikes,” Mehr News reported, citing Morteza Heydari, a spokesman for the Qom Provincial Crisis Management Headquarters.

In another post on Truth Social, Trump described the US operation against Iranian nuclear sites as “an HISTORIC MOMENT FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ISRAEL, AND THE WORLD,” and urged Tehran to “now agree to end this war.”

Former Israeli defense chief Yoav Gallant called the US airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites a “bold decision” by President Trump, declaring in a social media post: “The world is now a safer place.”

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that President Trump will deliver an address to the nation at 10:00PM Eastern Time.

Trump met with his national security team in the White House Situation Room on Saturday evening, ahead of the US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites. An unnamed Israeli official told Axios that Israel was notified of the strikes in advance.

US President Donald Trump has announced that American forces have carried out a large-scale airstrike targeting three Iranian nuclear facilities, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan, in a statement on his Truth Social platform.

“We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan,” Trump wrote. “All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home.”

He went on to praise the military operation, adding: “Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”