Israel struck more of Iran’s nuclear sites and warned its attacks could bring down Tehran’s leadership as both sides await US President Donald Trump’s decision on whether to join the offensive on the Islamic Republic.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that while the military’s objective remains the destruction of Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities, “we may create the conditions” to help change the government.

In answer to whether that meant targeting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Netanyahu said “no one is immune.” Defense Minister Israel Katz earlier mentioned Khamenei by name, saying he would “be held accountable” after Iran’s missiles struck an Israeli hospital with the two countries continuing to exchange fire.

Senior US officials are preparing for the possibility of a strike on Iran in coming days, people familiar with the matter said, with some pointing to potential plans for a weekend strike. Top leaders at a handful of federal agencies have begun getting ready for an attack, one person said.

Trump has for days publicly mused about joining Israel’s strikes on Iran, a move that would escalate the conflict in the oil-rich Middle East.

With no indication of a pause in hostilities, other international governments stepped up efforts to rein in the conflict. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called on Trump to keep the door open to resuming talks over Iran’s nuclear program, a sign of his concern about possible American military action

The foreign ministers of Germany, France and the UK plan to meet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in person for talks in Geneva on Friday. The European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, will be present. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has spoken with his Italian counterpart and is scheduled to meet UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy in Washington on Thursday.

UK to arrange charter flights for citizens to leave Israel

Stuart Hughes

Senior world affairs producer

The UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who’s in Geneva for talks with his Iranian counterpart, has just announced that charter flights will be arranged by the UK once Israeli airspace reopens to allow those British nationals who want to leave the country to return home.

He said: “As part of our efforts to support British nationals in the Middle East, the government is working with the Israeli authorities to provide charter flights from Tel Aviv airport when airspace reopens, based on levels of demand from British nationals.

“British nationals should register their presence in Israel and the OPTs to be contacted with further guidance on these flights.

“Land routes out of Israel remain open and UK staff are on hand to support British nationals who have crossed the border. This will include providing, transport – subject to demand – to nearby airports for onward commercial flights.”

US President Donald Trump claimed that the United States had taken “complete and total control of the skies over Iran.” He further warned Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei saying that “We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding. He is an easy target, but is safe there – We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now. But we don’t want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

The long-simmering tensions between Israel and Iran have exploded into open warfare since Friday, June 13, 2025, marking an unprecedented period of direct military confrontation. Israel initiated a major campaign of fighter jet and drone strikes across Iran, targeting nuclear and military sites, including surface-to-surface missile production facilities, detection radar sites, and surface-to-air missile launchers. Reports indicate strikes on residential areas and fuel depots, with Iran’s health ministry reporting at least 224 fatalities and over 1,200 injuries, mostly civilians. Israeli forces have also reportedly killed several top Iranian military commanders and atomic scientists. The IDF claims to have destroyed one-third of Iran’s surface-to-surface missile launchers and achieved “full air superiority over Tehran,” also striking an Iranian refueling aircraft 2,300 km away.

In retaliation, Tehran has launched barrages of missiles and drones, hitting Israeli cities and towns, causing at least 24 deaths and 592 injuries, with a major oil refinery in Haifa among the targets. The IDF confirmed intercepting over 100 Iranian UAVs.

The international community, including China, Turkey, and G7 leaders, has urgently called for de-escalation, but both sides remain defiant. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserts the offensive aims to thwart “existential” nuclear and missile threats and has not ruled out targeting Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, suggesting it would “end the conflict.” The UN’s IAEA reported physical damage to an above-ground component of Iran’s Natanz uranium enrichment facility but normal external radiation levels, while warning of potential internal contamination. Amidst the crisis, planned nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington were called off.

Harrowing stories, the views of doctors, are there enough psychiatrists?

MPs from both sides of the debate are continuing their debate on the assisted dying bill.

Josh Babarimbe, a Lib Dem MP, shares a harrowing tale from a constituent that found their terminally ill partner who stuffed sheets into his mouth in an attempt to end his own life.

“It was the most distressing sight, and one I will never forget,” Babrimbe reads to the House.

Bill will ‘put back’ case for assisted dying

Another Lib Dem MP – Sarah Olney – then stands up to speak.

She says she was on the committee to decide on amendments. Olney warns that they had to make decisions without the correct knowledge, and in a view to win votes rather than provide the best legislation.

The MP then warns that the legislation will get caught up in legal challenges and other hurdles even if it does pass.

Olney adds that “if this bill passes, the case for assisted dying will be fatally undermined and put back their cause for a generation”.

She also warned that – if the Royal College of Psychiatrists opposed the legislation – there may not be enough practitioners to staff the panels that would decide on applications for assisted dying.

The view of a doctor

Peter Prinsley, the Labour MP and doctor, speaks in support of the bill.

He speaks of his time seeing the loss of “dignity” in people with “disfiguring head and neck cancers”.

He then goes on to say does not “think we will see coercion to undergo assisted dying families”.

Israel and Iran exchanged strikes a week into their war on Friday (June 20, 2025) as new diplomatic efforts appeared to be underway. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is headed to Geneva for meetings with the European Union’s top diplomat and counterparts from the United Kingdom, France and Germany.

The Israeli military said on Thursday (June 19, 2025) that Iran used a missile with multiple warheads, posing a new challenge to its defences. Instead of having to track one warhead, missiles with multiple warheads can pose a more difficult challenge for air defence systems, like Israel’s Iron Dome.

A week of Israeli strikes on Iran has killed at least 657 people and wounded 2,037 others, the Washington-based group Human Rights Activists said Friday.

(Inputs from AP)