Whether or not the U.S. joins, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel’s military operation in Iran would continue “for as long as it takes” to eliminate what he called the existential threat of Iran’s nuclear program and arsenal of ballistic missiles. Israel’s top general echoed the warning, saying the Israeli military was ready “for a prolonged campaign.”

As negotiations ended in Switzerland, European officials expressed hope for future negotiations. Iran’s top diplomat said he was open to further dialogue.

But Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasized that Tehran had no interest in negotiating with the U.S. while Israel continued attacking.

“Iran is ready to consider diplomacy if aggression ceases and the aggressor is held accountable for its committed crimes,” he told reporters.

No date was set for the next round of talks.

Iran previously agreed to limit its uranium enrichment and allow international inspectors access to its nuclear sites under a 2015 deal with the U.S., France, China, Russia, Britain and Germany in exchange for sanctions relief. But after Trump pulled the U.S. unilaterally out of the deal during his first term, Iran began enriching uranium up to 60% — a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90% — and restricting access to its nuclear facilities.

After Israel said its warplanes hit dozens of military targets across Iran, including missile-manufacturing facilities, an Iranian missile crashed into Israel’s northern city of Haifa, sending plumes of smoke billowing over the Mediterranean port and wounding at least 31 people.

The war between Israel and Iran erupted June 13, with Israeli airstrikes targeting nuclear and military sites, top generals and nuclear scientists. At least 657 people, including 263 civilians, have been killed in Iran and more than 2,000 wounded, according to a Washington-based Iranian human rights group.

Iran has retaliated by firing 450 missiles and 1,000 drones at Israel, according to Israeli army estimates. Most have been shot down by Israel’s multitiered air defenses, but at least 24 people in Israel have been killed and hundreds wounded.

Worries rise over the perils of attacking Iran’s nuclear reactors

Addressing an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency warned against attacks on Iran’s nuclear reactors, particularly its only commercial nuclear power plant in the southern city of Bushehr.

“I want to make it absolutely and completely clear: In case of an attack on the Bushehr nuclear power plant, a direct hit would result in a very high release of radioactivity to the environment,” said Rafael Grossi, chief of the U.N. nuclear watchdog. “This is the nuclear site in Iran where the consequences could be most serious.”

Israel has not targeted Iran’s nuclear reactors, instead focusing its strikes on the main uranium enrichment facility at Natanz, centrifuge workshops near Tehran, laboratories in Isfahan and the country’s Arak heavy water reactor southwest of the capital. Grossi has warned repeatedly that such sites should not be military targets.

After initially reporting no visible damage from Israel’s Thursday strikes on the Arak heavy water reactor, the IAEA on Friday said it had assessed “key buildings at the facility were damaged,” including the distillation unit.

The reactor was not operational and contained no nuclear material, so the damage posed no risk of contamination, the watchdog said.

Although strikes on uranium enrichment facilities like Natanz can carry the risk of radiological contamination, experts say the chance of a serious incident is far lower than at reactors such as the Russian-built Bushehr power plant.

After a call with Netanyahu, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he has secured Israel’s promise to keep Russian workers at the plant out of harm’s way.

Iran has long maintained its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

But it is the only non-nuclear-weapon state to enrich uranium up to 60%. Israel is widely believed to be the only Middle Eastern country with a nuclear weapons program but has never acknowledged it.

Israel says ‘difficult days’ ahead

Dozens of Israeli warplanes struck targets across the country early Friday, including industrial sites in the north, missile storage and launchers in the west and the headquarters of an advanced research institute in Tehran, known by its acronym SPND.

The U.S alleges SPND has conducted research and testing that could be applicable to the development of nuclear explosive devices.

Iranian state media reported explosions from Israeli strikes in an industrial area of Rasht, along the coast of the Caspian Sea. Israel’s military had warned the public to evacuate the area around Rasht’s Industrial City, southwest of the city’s downtown. But with Iran’s internet shut off — now for more than 48 hours — it’s unclear just how many people could see the message.

While praising the Israeli military’s “significant achievements” in the conflict with Iran, army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir warned that “difficult days still lie ahead.”

“We are preparing for a wide range of possible developments,” he said in recorded remarks, describing the offensive against Iran as the most complex in Israeli history. “The campaign is not over.”

From the ruins of the Weizmann Institute of Science hit in an Iranian missile barrage this week, Netanyahu also vowed that Israel would fight as long as necessary to destroy Iran’s nuclear program, calling it an “existential danger.”

Iran has insisted on its right to enrich uranium — albeit at lower levels — in recent talks over its nuclear program. But Trump, like Israel, has demanded Iran end its enrichment program altogether.

Asked about Iran developing civilian nuclear plants for energy, Trump was skeptical.

“You’re sitting on one of the largest oil piles anywhere in the world,” he said Friday. “It’s a little bit hard to see why you’d need that.”

More Iranian missiles damage buildings in Israel

The Israeli military believes it has destroyed most of Iran’s ballistic missile launchers, contributing to the steady decline in Iranian attacks.

But several of the roughly three dozen missiles that Israel said Iran fired on Friday slipped through the country’s vaunted aerial defense system, setting off air-raid sirens across the country and sending shrapnel flying into a residential area in the southern city of Beersheba, a frequent target of Iranian missiles where a hospital was hit Thursday.

A handful of cars were set ablaze in the attack but no one was seriously wounded, as residents had hunkered down in bomb shelters. The Israeli military said Iran had fired a missile rigged with fragmenting cluster munitions in its attack on Beersheba Friday for the second time.

In northern Israel, a projectile fell in downtown Haifa, wounding at least 31 people, according to the city’s Rambam Medical Center. Black smoke rose over the city’s main port. The windows and walls of several buildings, including a mosque, were blown out by the blast.

Israeli President Issac Herzog shared photos of the destruction and said the strike injured several Muslim clerics and worshippers.

___

Gambrell and Rising reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Associated Press writers Isabel DeBre in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Sylvie Corbet in Paris; and Josh Boak in Morristown, New Jersey, contributed to this report.

Credit: AP Credit: AP

Credit: AP Credit: AP

Credit: AP Credit: AP

Credit: AP Credit: AP

But the first face-to-face meeting between western and Iranian officials in the week-long war concluded after four hours with no sign of an immediate breakthrough.

To give diplomacy a chance, Mr Trump said he would put off deciding for up to two weeks whether to join Israel’s air campaign against Iran.

US participation would most likely involve strikes against Iran’s underground Fordo uranium enrichment facility, considered to be out of reach to all but America’s “bunker-buster” bombs.

Whether or not the US joins, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel’s military operation in Iran would continue “for as long as it takes” to eliminate what he called the existential threat of a nuclear-armed Iran. Israel’s top general echoed the warning, saying the Israeli military was ready “for a prolonged campaign”.

As the talks ended in Switzerland, European negotiators expressed hope for more negotiations in the future. Iran’s top diplomat said he was open to further dialogue.

But foreign minister Abbas Araghchi emphasised that Tehran had no interest in negotiating with the US while Israel continued attacking. Israel said its warplanes hit dozens of military targets in Iran early Friday, including missile-manufacturing facilities.

“Iran is ready to consider diplomacy if aggression ceases and the aggressor is held accountable for its committed crimes,” he said in a statement.

Iran previously agreed to limit its uranium enrichment and allow international inspectors access to its nuclear sites under a 2015 deal with the US, France, China, Russia, Britain and Germany in exchange for sanctions relief.

But after Mr Trump pulled the US unilaterally out of the deal during his first term, Iran began enriching uranium up to 60% – a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90% – and restricting access to its nuclear facilities.

As negotiations kicked off in Geneva, Iranian missiles crashed into the northern city of Haifa, sending plumes of smoke billowing over the Mediterranean port and wounding at least 31 people.

The war between Israel and Iran erupted on June 13, with Israeli air strikes targeting nuclear and military sites, top generals and nuclear scientists. At least 657 people, including 263 civilians, have been killed in Iran and more than 2,000 wounded, according to a Washington-based Iranian human rights group.

Iran has retaliated by firing 450 missiles and 1,000 drones at Israel, according to Israeli army estimates. Most have been shot down by Israel’s multi-tiered air defences, but at least 24 people in Israel have been killed and hundreds wounded.

Addressing an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warned against attacks on Iran’s nuclear reactors, particularly its only commercial nuclear power plant in the southern city of Bushehr.

“I want to make it absolutely and completely clear: In case of an attack on the Bushehr nuclear power plant, a direct hit would result in a very high release of radioactivity to the environment,” said Rafael Grossi, chief of the UN nuclear watchdog. “This is the nuclear site in Iran where the consequences could be most serious.”

Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi (Hassan Ammar/AP)

Israel has not targeted Iran’s nuclear reactors, instead focusing its strikes on the main uranium enrichment facility at Natanz, centrifuge workshops near Tehran, laboratories in Isfahan and the country’s Arak heavy water reactor south-west of the capital.

Mr Grossi has warned repeatedly that such sites should not be military targets.

After initially saying there was no damage visible from Israel’s strikes on Thursday on the Arak heavy water reactor, the IAEA on Friday reported that “key buildings at the facility were damaged”, including the distillation unit.

The reactor was not operational and contained no nuclear material, so the damage posed no risk of contamination, the watchdog said.

Although strikes on uranium enrichment facilities can carry some risk of radiological and chemical contamination, the chance of a serious incident is far lower than at reactors such as the Russian-built Bushehr power plant.

After a call with Mr Netanyahu, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he has secured Israel’s promise to keep Russian workers at the plant out of harm’s way.

Smoke rises from the Soroka hospital complex (Leo Correa/AP)

Iran has long maintained its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes. But it is the only non-nuclear-weapon state to enrich uranium up to 60%. Israel is widely believed to be the only Middle Eastern country with a nuclear weapons programme but has never acknowledged it.

Dozens of Israeli warplanes struck targets across the country early Friday, including industrial sites in the north, missile storage and launchers in the west and the headquarters of an advanced research institute in Tehran, known by its acronym SPND.

The US alleges SPND has conducted research and testing that could be applicable to the development of nuclear explosive devices.

Iranian state media reported explosions from Israeli strikes in an industrial area of Rasht, along the coast of the Caspian Sea. Israel’s military had warned the public to evacuate the area around Rasht’s Industrial City, south-west of the city’s downtown. But with Iran’s internet shut off – now for more than 48 hours – it’s unclear just how many people could see the message.

While praising the Israeli military’s “significant achievements” in the conflict with Iran, army Chief of Staff Lt Gen Eyal Zamir warned that “difficult days still lie ahead”.

“We are preparing for a wide range of possible developments,” he told the public in recorded remarks, describing the offensive against Iran as the most complex in Israeli history. “The campaign is not over.”

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war would last ‘as long as it takes’ (Jack Guez/AP)

From the ruins of the Weizmann Institute of Science hit in an Iranian missile barrage this week, Mr Netanyahu also vowed that Israel would fight as long as necessary to destroy Iran’s nuclear programme and ballistic missile arsenal.

“We face an existential danger,” he said.

The Israeli military believes it has destroyed most of Iran’s ballistic missile launchers, contributing to the steady decline in Iranian attacks.

But several of the 35 missiles that Israel said Iran fired on Friday slipped through the country’s vaunted aerial defence system, setting off air-raid sirens across the country and sending shrapnel flying into a residential area in the southern city of Beersheba, a frequent target of Iranian missiles where a hospital was hit on Thursday.

A handful of cars were set ablaze in the attack but no one was seriously wounded, as residents had hunkered down in bomb shelters. The Israeli military said Iran had fired a missile rigged with fragmenting cluster munitions in its attack on Beersheba on Friday for the second time.

In northern Israel, a projectile fell in downtown Haifa, wounding at least 31 people, according to the city’s Rambam Medical Centre. Black smoke rose over the city’s main port. The windows and walls of several buildings, including a mosque, were blown out by the blast.

Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.

Israel and Iran exchanged heavy fire for the eighth straight day on Friday, with Iranian missiles striking Israeli cities and Israeli jets targeting military and nuclear sites across Iran. The escalation unfolded even as top diplomats met in Geneva in a failed bid to de-escalate the conflict. When confronted about the potential for Iran to develop nuclear weapons with its current capabilities, President Donald Trump once again went against his Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, saying she and her team were “wrong” in their assessment. Gabbard in March testified on Capitol Hill that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and that Iran’s leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had not authorized the nuclear weapons program he suspended in 2003. What to Know: Iranian missiles hit Beersheba and Haifa, injuring at least 23 people and damaging a mosque and multiple buildings.

A woman died of a heart attack in a shelter during air raid sirens in northern Israel.

Israeli airstrikes targeted Tehran, Tabriz, Kermanshah, and Rasht, hitting missile and nuclear facilities.

Iran’s internet remains largely shut down, with government websites inaccessible for a fourth day.

Crowds marched in Tehran in support of the regime amid ongoing strikes.

Geneva talks between Iran and European powers ended without a breakthrough.

President Trump said he will decide within two weeks whether the U.S. will join Israel’s military campaign. Stay with Newsweek for the latest updates.

05:21 PM EDT Trump Says Increased NATO Spending Target Is For European Allies, Not US During a press gaggle on Friday afternoon, President Donald Trump addressed his suggestion that members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) should increase their defense spending, saying the U.S. would not need to match it. “I don’t think we should, but I think they should,” Trump said of a plan to make NATO members spend five percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) on defense. The current target is for two percent, which 23 of the 32 members currently have achieved. Trump said the U.S. has “been supporting NATO so long” and would not need to increase its own spending, which in 2023 was reported as being 3.4 percent of GDP. Poland currently tops the spending chart for NATO members with 4.12 percent, followed by Estonia at 3.43 percent, then the U.S.

04:00 PM EDT Trump says Gabbard, intel community ‘wrong’ on Iran’s nuclear threat Trump dismissed the U.S. intelligence community’s assessment on Friday, saying both Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and her team are “wrong” about Iran’s nuclear capabilities. NEWS: President Trump says Tulsi Gabbard and U.S. intelligence community is “wrong” on Iran’s Nuclear Capabilities — Jacob Wheeler (@JWheelertv) June 20, 2025

03:51 PM EDT Thousands seek US help amid Israel-Iran conflict More than 25,000 people have contacted the U.S. State Department seeking information about the escalating conflict involving Israel, the West Bank, and Iran, according to spokesperson Tammy Bruce. While many inquiries were for general updates, Bruce said Friday that some individuals may be exploring departure options. The department has launched a crisis intake form for Americans in Israel and Iran to request assistance or updates. Bruce emphasized that the U.S. does not plan to offer direct government-assisted departures from Iran, urging citizens there to use existing commercial or land routes to leave. In Israel, U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee said efforts are underway to coordinate military, commercial, charter flights, and cruise ships for evacuation. Americans are encouraged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program for the latest alerts

03:38 PM EDT Putin says Israel pledged to protect Russians at Iran nuclear site Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he had secured a commitment from Israel to safeguard Russian personnel working at Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant, amid escalating conflict between the two countries. He also claimed President Trump had agreed to support Russia’s request for protection of its workers at the site. Putin said Moscow had proposed ideas for a settlement between Iran and Israel, which are now under discussion. He rejected claims that Russia was abandoning its ally, Tehran, and emphasized that Russia maintains strong ties with both nations. Turning to Ukraine, Putin warned that continued resistance to Russian demands could lead to further territorial losses. He said Russian forces had advanced roughly 10 kilometers into Ukraine’s Sumy region, aiming to create a buffer zone. While denying plans to capture the city of Sumy, he did not rule it out. Putin painted an optimistic picture of the economy, citing 1.5% growth in early 2025 and a drop in inflation to 9.6%. He dismissed warnings from his own ministers about a looming recession, insisting that Russia’s economy is diversifying beyond energy exports

03:25 PM EDT Iran, European powers hold ‘serious’ nuclear talks in Geneva Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Friday with his counterparts from the United Kingdom, France, and Germany—the E3—and the European Union’s foreign policy chief in Geneva for high-level talks on Iran’s nuclear program. According to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, the nearly three-and-a-half-hour meeting was described as “respectful and serious,” with all parties contributing their perspectives. The discussions followed Araghchi’s address to the UN Human Rights Council earlier.

03:11 PM EDT Historic Haifa mosque damaged in Iranian missile strike An Iranian missile strike on Haifa Friday sent shockwaves through the city’s downtown, damaging the Ottoman-era al-Jarina Mosque, also known as the Great Mosque of Haifa. The 18th-century building, a key place of worship for local Muslims, suffered structural damage and shattered stained glass windows. Omar Hussein, the mosque’s muezzin and deputy imam, said his father was lightly injured in the blast and taken to the hospital. He voiced concern over the mosque’s lack of a proper shelter, calling it a serious risk for worshippers during ongoing hostilities. “It’s a significant mosque that serves Muslims in the city and nearby towns,” Hussein said, adding that he hopes the conflict will end soon

02:56 PM EDT Iran, Israel trade accusations at UN as conflict deepens Tensions flared at the UN Security Council on Friday as the ambassadors of Iran and Israel exchanged sharp accusations over the ongoing conflict, now entering its second week. Iran’s UN envoy, Amir Saeid Iravani, defended his country’s military actions as self-defense and accused Israel and its allies of violating international law. He urged the Council to intervene and hold Israel accountable. In a fiery rebuttal, Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon dismissed Iran’s claims, accusing Iravani of “playing the victim” and vowing that Israel would continue its campaign until Iran’s nuclear and military capabilities were dismantled. UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the conflict risks spiraling out of control, calling for an immediate ceasefire and a return to negotiations.

02:42 PM EDT Dozens killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza, many seeking aid Israeli airstrikes continued across the Gaza Strip on Friday, killing at least 82 Palestinians, according to local health officials. The dead include 23 people in Gaza City, 22 in the south, and 37 in central Gaza, where the majority were reportedly seeking humanitarian aid. Of those killed, 34 were identified as aid seekers, highlighting the growing risks faced by civilians attempting to access food and supplies amid the ongoing conflict. The strikes come as Gaza endures a deepening humanitarian crisis, with widespread displacement, food shortages, and limited access to medical care.

02:30 PM EDT Geneva talks between Iran and Europe end with no breakthrough Diplomatic talks between Iranian and European officials wrapped up Friday in Geneva, with no agreement reached on Iran’s nuclear program. According to an Iranian source familiar with the discussions, cited by CNN, the meeting began with tense exchanges, as both sides traded accusations over past grievances and the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal. However, the tone reportedly shifted after a break, with the source describing the second half of the talks as “much more positive.” Despite the improved atmosphere, Iran maintained its position on uranium enrichment, calling it a non-negotiable red line. The meeting marked the first direct engagement between Iran and the E3—France, Germany, and the UK—since the latest escalation in the region.

02:17 PM EDT Iran’s missile arsenal: What it has used and what it could deploy A surface-to-air missile system is on display as heavy weaponry, including ballistic missiles, air defense systems and unmanned aerial vehicles, are showcased during an exhibition that marks the 44th anniversary of the 8-year war with… A surface-to-air missile system is on display as heavy weaponry, including ballistic missiles, air defense systems and unmanned aerial vehicles, are showcased during an exhibition that marks the 44th anniversary of the 8-year war with Iraq, known as the “Holy Defense Week”, in Baharestan Square in Tehran, Iran on September 26, 2024. More Hossein Beris/Getty Images Iran launched a significant missile barrage on major cities across Israel on Friday. Nationwide alerts have been issued, with residents urged to seek shelter immediately, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said. “At this time, the Air Force is working to intercept and attack wherever necessary to eliminate the threat,” the IDF added. The missile attacks come amid an escalating war that began last week after Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian military sites. Since then, Tehran has fired over 400 missiles into Israel, marking one of the largest missile campaigns in recent regional history. This raises urgent questions about how many missiles Iran has left and what lies ahead in the conflict. Newsweek has reached out to the foreign of Iran and Israel for comment. Missiles are central to Iran’s strategy against Israel, shaping the conflict’s scale and duration. Tracking how many missiles Iran has launched—and how many remain—offers critical insight into the war’s future intensity and the effectiveness of missile defenses. While Iran’s missile threat deters wider regional escalation, the size and condition of its missile reserves remain unclear, leaving uncertainty about Tehran’s ability to sustain pressure. Meanwhile, increased U.S. military support for Israel and warnings of possible intervention raise the stakes, complicating Iran’s missile strategy and broader regional stability. Read the full story by Amir Daftari on Newsweek.

02:04 PM EDT Iran’s foreign minister says nuclear program peaceful, urges accountability Speaking to reporters in Geneva on Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi defended Iran’s nuclear program as entirely peaceful and under IAEA safeguards, warning that attacks on such facilities by a country outside WMD treaties constitute a serious violation of international law. Araghchi voiced grave concern over the failure of Germany, the UK, France, and the European Union to condemn recent strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. He said Iran remains open to diplomacy—but only once hostilities cease and the aggressor is held accountable. He emphasized that Iran’s defense capabilities are non-negotiable, but expressed support for continued dialogue with European powers, adding that Tehran is ready to meet again “in the near future.”

12:59 PM EDT IAEA chief warns of catastrophic fallout if Bushehr is attacked The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, warned Friday that a direct strike on Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant could trigger a massive release of radioactivity, endangering populations across the region. Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting, Grossi described Bushehr as the Iranian nuclear site where the consequences of an attack would be “most serious,” noting it contains thousands of kilograms of nuclear material. He emphasized that even a strike disabling the plant’s power supply lines could lead to a reactor core meltdown, with fallout potentially affecting areas hundreds of kilometers away. Grossi said regional governments had contacted him directly to express concern and warned that such an incident could require evacuations, iodine distribution, and food safety measures across neighboring countries.

12:43 PM EDT UK withdraws embassy staff from Iran amid security concerns The United Kingdom has temporarily withdrawn its diplomatic staff from Tehran, citing the “current security situation” in Iran, according to a statement from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. “Our embassy continues to operate remotely,” a spokesperson said Friday, emphasizing that the move is a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of British personnel. The UK government reiterated its longstanding advice against all travel to Iran and stressed its commitment to protecting staff and British nationals in the region. The decision comes as tensions between Israel and Iran continue to escalate, prompting several Western nations to reassess their diplomatic presence in the country.

12:30 PM EDT Iran says diplomacy possible if Trump halts Israeli strikes Iranian presidential spokesperson Majid Farahani told CNN that diplomacy with the West could resume “easily” if President Donald Trump orders Israel to stop its military campaign against Iran. Farahani emphasized Iran’s openness to “civilian dialogue,” but reiterated that no talks are possible while Israeli strikes continue. He also reaffirmed Iran’s stance on nuclear enrichment, saying the program would not be halted, though some concessions might be possible. “Maybe it can be lower, but we don’t stop it,” he said. The comments come as European powers push for zero enrichment, with France, the UK, and Germany meeting Iran’s foreign minister in Geneva for the first direct talks since the conflict began. Trump has opened a two-week window for diplomacy before deciding whether to launch a U.S. strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

12:15 PM EDT US envoy calls Iran ‘principal source of instability’ at UN Dorothy Camille Shea, the interim U.S. representative to the United Nations, sharply criticized Iran during a Security Council session on Friday, calling it the “principal source of instability and terror in the Middle East.” She warned that Tehran possesses the capabilities to produce a nuclear weapon and urged the international community to hold Iran accountable for its actions.

12:02 PM EDT IAEA’s Grossi details nuclear disaster if Israel hits Bushehr in Iran The head of the United Nations’ atomic energy watchdog laid out in detail the dire consequences of a strike on working nuclear reactors in Iran, as Israel continues to pound facilities it says are linked to Tehran’s ambitions to build a nuclear bomb. Iran denies it seeks to develop a nuclear weapon and says its program is for civilian energy. But Iran has enriched uranium to a level that far exceeds any civilian energy needs, and is a short step away from that needed for nuclear weapons. Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Friday that the biggest concern is the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran. Israel has not yet struck the plant. “This is the nuclear site in Iran where the consequences of an attack would be the most serious,” Grossi told the meeting, noting that it is an operating plant and “as such it hosts thousands of kilograms of nuclear material.” “Countries of the region have reached out directly to me over the past few hours to express their concerns and I want to make it absolutely and completely clear,” Grossi said. Read the full story by Dan Gooding and Shane Croucher on Newsweek.

11:49 AM EDT Iran faces near-total internet blackout amid ongoing conflict Internet access in Iran remains severely restricted 48 hours after authorities imposed sweeping limitations, with connectivity dropping to just 3% on Wednesday, according to monitoring group NetBlocks. The blackout follows a cyberattack on Bank Sepah, one of Iran’s largest financial institutions, which was claimed by the pro-Israel hacking group Predatory Sparrow. The attack disrupted ATM services and further strained critical infrastructure. Since Israeli airstrikes began last week, Iran has experienced rolling internet outages, particularly in major cities like Tehran, where evacuations and business closures have intensified. Officials say the restrictions prevent further cyber intrusions, though critics argue they also limit access to vital information during a national crisis.

11:36 AM EDT Russia accuses West, IAEA of fueling false Iran nuclear claims Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya speaks during a United Nations Security Council meeting on the Israel-Iran conflict at the UN headquarters in New York on June 20, 2025. Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya speaks during a United Nations Security Council meeting on the Israel-Iran conflict at the UN headquarters in New York on June 20, 2025. Angela Weiss/Getty Images Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, accused the United States, Britain, France, and Germany of promoting a “groundless fabrication” that Iran is seeking to build nuclear weapons. Speaking at a U.N. Security Council meeting, Nebenzya said these nations, along with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), were “complicit” in Israel’s recent attacks on Iran by legitimizing what he called false narratives. Nebenzya also criticized Western members of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, claiming their policies had escalated tensions and undermined diplomatic efforts. His remarks came amid growing international concern over the conflict between Israel and Iran and the future of nuclear negotiations.

11:18 AM EDT Switzerland closes Tehran embassy amid escalating conflict Switzerland announced Friday it has temporarily closed its embassy in Tehran, citing the “intensity of military operations” and the unstable security situation in Iran. The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed that all expatriate staff have safely left the country and will return when conditions permit. Despite the closure, Bern emphasized that Switzerland will continue to serve as a diplomatic intermediary between Iran and the United States, a role it has held since the 1979 U.S. Embassy hostage crisis. The government said it remains ready to transmit communications “as and when both parties consider appropriate.”

10:54 AM EDT US imposes new Iran-related sanctions on individuals and entities The U.S. Treasury Department announced a fresh round of Iran-related sanctions on Friday, targeting more than 30 individuals, entities, and a vessel linked to what officials described as a “shadow banking” network supporting Iran’s oil trade and nuclear ambitions. The sanctions, issued through the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), aim to disrupt financial channels that allegedly help Tehran fund its missile programs and regional proxies. Several designated entities are based in the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong, and are accused of laundering billions through front companies and exchange houses.

10:22 AM EDT Israeli envoy urges Europe to demand full rollback of Iran’s nuclear program Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Daniel Meron, said Friday he expects European foreign ministers to push for a complete dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program during their meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Geneva. Speaking ahead of the talks, Meron called on France, Germany, the UK, and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas to take a firm stance, including demands to curb Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal and end its support for regional proxies. Araghchi, however, has ruled out negotiations while Israeli strikes continue and reiterated that Iran’s missile program is off the table. The Geneva meeting marks the first direct engagement between Iranian and Western officials since the conflict erupted last week.

10:09 AM EDT Iran, European leaders meet in Geneva as war enters second week Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Geneva on Friday for a high-stakes meeting with his counterparts from France, Germany, the UK, and the European Union’s foreign policy chief. The talks mark the first in-person engagement between Iranian and Western officials since Israel launched its military campaign against Iran a week ago. Before the meeting, Araghchi reiterated that Iran has “nothing to discuss” with the United States while Israeli strikes continue, though he expressed openness to dialogue with European leaders. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who traveled to Geneva after consultations in Washington, said there is now a two-week window to reach a diplomatic breakthrough and avoid further escalation.

09:54 AM EDT Iran, Europe meet in Geneva for nuclear talks amid war with Israel Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with top European diplomats in Geneva on Friday for urgent talks focused on Iran’s nuclear program, as the war with Israel entered its second week. The meeting marked the first direct contact between Iranian and Western officials since the conflict began. Araghchi reiterated that Iran would not engage with the United States while Israeli strikes continued, calling Washington “a partner in these crimes.” However, he said Iran was open to dialogue with European leaders, though not formal negotiations. The talks included foreign ministers from France, Germany, the UK, and the EU’s foreign policy chief, who presented what French President Emmanuel Macron described as a “comprehensive, diplomatic and technical offer.” British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said a two-week window now exists to reach a diplomatic solution, aligning with Trump’s timeline for deciding whether to launch a U.S. strike on Iran’s Fordo enrichment site. Iran’s supreme leader and Araghchi both emphasized that missile capabilities were not up for discussion, and that any talks would focus solely on nuclear and regional issues. European leaders, who helped broker the original 2015 nuclear deal, have warned that Iran’s current enrichment levels—up to 60%—pose a growing threat. They’ve also signaled readiness to reinstate sanctions if Iran fails to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

09:41 AM EDT MDA evacuates 17 injured after latest missile strike Emergency teams from Magen David Adom are treating and evacuating 17 people wounded in the latest missile attack, including three in serious condition. Among them is a 16-year-old boy with a shrapnel wound to his upper body, and two adults—aged 54 and 40—with injuries to their lower limbs. Fourteen others sustained minor shrapnel injuries, according to MDA. Teams continue to scan additional sites for casualties, and further updates are expected as the situation develops.

09:40 AM EDT Iranians unite under Israeli attack An Iranian worshipper carries her country’s flag during a protest to condemn Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran, after the Friday prayers ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 20, 2025. An Iranian worshipper carries her country’s flag during a protest to condemn Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran, after the Friday prayers ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 20, 2025. Vahid Salemi/AP Photo As Israeli missiles continue to strike Iran, residents across Tehran and other major cities are taking shelter in basements, metro stations, and underground garages. Amid the ongoing uncertainty and fear, a powerful sense of defiance and community has emerged. “We don’t care about governments, we will always defend our country,” one Tehran resident told Newsweek. Rather than fracture under fear, Iranians are coming together—sharing food, information, and shelter—to withstand the crisis. While headlines focus on the military clash between Iran and Israel, the war’s most immediate impact is felt in the daily lives of civilians. With trust in official institutions already low, many Iranians are turning to grassroots cooperation and mutual aid to stay safe and informed. Decades of sanctions, unrest, and authoritarian rule have forged deep social bonds often overlooked by outsiders. And while some abroad had hoped foreign pressure might trigger an uprising, the strikes have instead unified many Iranians in mutual support and to defend the country — even those who do not instinctively support its current rulers. Read the full story by Amir Daftari on Newsweek.

09:23 AM EDT Teen seriously hurt as Iran missile barrage hits Israel Israel’s national ambulance service said Friday it was transporting a seriously wounded teenager and a moderately injured man to the hospital following a fresh wave of Iranian missile strikes, The New York Times reported. A 16-year-old boy and a 54-year-old man were involved. The former is in serious condition, and the latter is in “moderate condition.”

09:22 AM EDT Top Senate Democrats warn Trump against unilateral Iran strike Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and senior Democrats on key committees issued a joint statement Wednesday expressing deep concern over President Trump’s potential decision to launch military strikes against Iran. The lawmakers criticized what they described as a lack of preparation, strategy, and clear objectives, warning that Congress must authorize any move toward war. “If he is considering taking the country to war, the president must come to Congress,” the statement read, urging Trump to prioritize diplomacy and pursue a binding agreement to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. The Democrats also spoke of the need to protect U.S. personnel and civilians in the region, cautioning against a hasty escalation that could endanger American lives.

09:08 AM EDT Iraqis rally in mass protests against Israel-Iran war Supporters of Iraqi Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr protest Israel’s strikes on Iran, following the weekly Friday noon prayers in Baghdad’s Sadr City on June 20, 2025. Supporters of Iraqi Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr protest Israel’s strikes on Iran, following the weekly Friday noon prayers in Baghdad’s Sadr City on June 20, 2025. Murtadha Rudha/Getty Images Iraqis marched in Baghdad and other cities on Friday after influential cleric Muqtada al-Sadr called for nationwide demonstrations opposing the Israel-Iran conflict. Crowds filled the streets of Sadr City, waving flags and chanting slogans following Friday prayers. In Najaf, protesters held banners reading “No to Israel,” echoing al-Sadr’s call to denounce what he described as “Zionist and American terrorism.”

08:53 AM EDT Iran rules out US talks, says no diplomacy under Israeli fire Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday that Tehran will not engage in negotiations with any country while Israeli strikes continue, calling the United States “a partner in this crime.” In an interview with state broadcaster IRIB, he said Iran had received multiple messages from Washington seeking talks, but rejected them outright. “There is no room for talking until this aggression stops,” Araghchi said, underscoring Iran’s position that diplomacy is off the table as long as Israeli attacks persist. However, he confirmed plans to meet with European foreign ministers in Geneva, saying Iran is open to hearing their views. “We will not miss any chance to defend Iran’s rights,” he added.

08:39 AM EDT IDF detects new Iranian missile launch, sirens to sound The Israeli military said Friday it had detected a fresh launch of ballistic missiles from Iran, warning that air raid sirens would sound imminently across affected areas. The announcement, posted on the IDF’s official Telegram channel, urged civilians to seek shelter and follow Home Front Command instructions. The launch marks the latest escalation in the ongoing conflict, which has seen repeated missile exchanges between the two countries over the past week.

08:28 AM EDT Iran, European leaders meet in Geneva as war enters second week Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Geneva on Friday for high-stakes talks with top diplomats from France, Germany, the UK, and the European Union, as efforts intensify to find a diplomatic off-ramp to the escalating war with Israel. While Araghchi ruled out negotiations with the United States, calling it a “partner in these crimes,” he signaled openness to dialogue with European leaders—though he emphasized that talks would focus solely on nuclear and regional issues, not Iran’s missile program. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said a two-week window now exists to reach a diplomatic solution, echoing President Trump’s timeline for deciding whether to launch a U.S. strike on Iran’s Fordo enrichment site. European leaders are expected to present a comprehensive offer aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear activity, though Tehran insists its program remains peaceful. Germany’s foreign minister said the next move is Iran’s, urging “serious and transparent readiness” to de-escalate. The Geneva meeting marks the first direct contact between Iranian and Western officials since the conflict began.

08:13 AM EDT Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli strikes on nuclear infrastructure Saudi Arabia’s Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Commission said Friday that any military attack on civilian nuclear facilities constitutes a violation of international law. The statement follows a series of Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, part of its broader campaign against Tehran’s military and nuclear infrastructure. “Any armed attack by any party, or any threat targeting nuclear facilities designated for peaceful purposes, is a violation of international resolutions,” the commission said, citing the UN Charter and the Statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

08:00 AM EDT Thousands rally in Iran against Israel, wave Hezbollah flags Supporters of Iraq’s Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr take part in Islam’s Friday prayers in the city of Basra to protest Israel’s strikes on Iran, on June 20, 2025. Supporters of Iraq’s Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr take part in Islam’s Friday prayers in the city of Basra to protest Israel’s strikes on Iran, on June 20, 2025. Hussein Faleh/Getty Images Large crowds gathered in Tehran and cities across Iran on Friday to protest Israel’s military actions. Demonstrators waved national flags, chanted anti-Western slogans, and held up posters of military commanders killed in recent strikes. State television aired scenes of packed streets in the capital, where some participants carried the yellow flags of Hezbollah, underscoring support for Iran’s regional allies. The protests come amid soaring tensions with Israel and growing calls from within Iran for broader retaliation. This aerial view shows supporters of Iraq’s Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr taking part in Islam’s Friday prayers in the city of Basra to protest Israel’s strikes on Iran, on June 20, 2025. This aerial view shows supporters of Iraq’s Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr taking part in Islam’s Friday prayers in the city of Basra to protest Israel’s strikes on Iran, on June 20, 2025. Hussein Faleh/Getty Images

07:46 AM EDT Israel, Iran continue airstrikes as Trump mulls U.S. role Israel and Iran exchanged fresh attacks Friday, marking one week since the war began. Israeli jets struck more than 60 targets, including missile production facilities and a nuclear research agency. Iran fired missiles into southern Israel, damaging residential buildings. President Donald Trump said he would wait up to two weeks before deciding whether the U.S. would join the conflict. Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign minister is en route to Geneva for talks with European diplomats, though he insisted Tehran will not negotiate until Israeli strikes stop. The death toll has climbed sharply, with hundreds killed in Iran and dozens in Israel, as international efforts to broker a diplomatic breakthrough intensify.

07:33 AM EDT Israeli Air Force strikes military sites in western, central Iran The Israeli Air Force confirmed Friday that it is conducting active airstrikes on military infrastructure in western and central Iran. חיל-האוויר תוקף כעת תשתיות צבאיות במערב איראן ובמרכזה. — Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) June 20, 2025

Israel’s military says 25 fighter jets carried out airstrikes Friday morning targeting “missile storage and launch infrastructure components” in western Iran. In the Israeli city of Haifa, at least 19 people were wounded by an Iranian missile barrage.

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

Here’s the latest:

Trump says his past Iraq war criticism has little to do with Iran situation

“There were no weapons of mass destruction. I never thought there were. And that was somewhat pre-nuclear. You know, it was, it was a nuclear age, but nothing like it is today,” Trump said of his past criticism of the Bush administration.

Some have pointed to Trump’s past criticism of the U.S. invasion of Iraq as being at odds with his more aggressive stance toward Iran now.

The president also said his director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, was “wrong” when she told lawmakers in March that U.S. spy agencies believed Iran hadn’t made a decision to build a nuclear weapon.

Trump said he was skeptical that Iran wants nuclear power for civilian use.

“You’re sitting on one of the largest oil piles anywhere in the world,” he said. “It’s a little bit hard to see why you’d need that.”

Israel has blocked fuel deliveries to Gaza for 16 weeks, UN says

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said U.N. officials were able to retrieve fuel already in Gaza from the Al-Tahreer station in Rafah on Wednesday.

He said a limited amount of that fuel was delivered Thursday to public utilities in southern Gaza, allowing the continued operation of desalination plants, water trucking services and sewage pumping stations.

Dujarric said fuel was also dispatched to northern Gaza on Friday, but “fuel instability and fuel shortages continue to limit operations, resulting in reduced operating hours and capacity.”

He said U.N. humanitarian officials also report that Israeli authorities issued another evacuation order for two neighborhoods where hundreds of families live in Gaza governorate, citing Palestinian rocket fire from that area.

The number of acutely malnourished children in Gaza is rising at an alarming rate, UN says

The U.N. children’s agency UNICEF says 5,100 children aged six months to five years were admitted for treatment for acute malnutrition in May, a nearly 50% increase from April, and a 150% increase from February when a ceasefire was in effect.

Between Jan. 1 and May 30, it said more than 16,700 children have been admitted for malnutrition treatment in Gaza.

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters Friday that “the food, water and nutrition treatments these children so desperately need are being blocked from reaching them.” UNICEF calls on Israel to urge large-scale deliveries of aid through all border crossings, he said.

Iran says Israel has attacked 5 hospitals, including 2 on Friday

Iran’s U.N. Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said hundreds of civilians have been killed, including at least two pregnant women and their unborn children, and thousands injured since Israel launched their large-scale attacks on June 13.

As examples, he said Israel on June 16 attacked the Hakim Children’s Hospital in Tehran, Farabi Rehabilitation Hospital in Kermanshah, the Iranian Red Crescent Society building and ambulances. He said physicians, patients and medical personnel have been killed and injured.

“These were not accidents,” Iravani told an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on the escalating Israel-Iran war. “These were not ‘collateral damage.’ They were deliberate war crimes, acts of state terror, and examples of barbaric warfare.”

Iran hit with magnitude 5.5 earthquake

Iranian state-run media reported that a magnitude 5.5 earthquake rattled parts of Iran on Friday. The United States Geological Survey put the magnitude of the tremor at 5.1.

Authorities in Iran said the quake occurred at 9:19 p.m. local time at a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles). Its epicenter was roughly 170 kilometers (105 miles) to the east of Tehran, near Semnan province, which stretches from the slopes of the Alborz Mountains to the edge of the Iranian desert. The province is home to several important military and missile facilities.

There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties from the quake, which was considered moderate in strength.

Iran says it’s open to European diplomacy but Israel must to stop the war first

In a statement following a meeting in Geneva with European diplomats, Iran’s foreign minister said his country is ready to consider diplomacy only if Israel halts its attacks and those responsible are held accountable.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghch expressed his “serious concern” over the failure of the three European countries and the EU to condemn Israel’s sneak attack and ongoing strikes on Iran. He said any attack on Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities would be a grave breach of international law.

“I explicitly and clearly stated that Iran’s defensive capabilities are not negotiable,” the minister said. However, he added that Iran is ready to keep talking with the Europeans “in the near future.”

His comments came as Israel’s top general said the country’s military was ready for a protracted conflict, and were reported by the Iranian state TV channel on the messaging app Telegram.

Thousands of Americans seek info on leaving Israel, Iran and the Palestinian territories

The U.S. State Department says more than 25,000 Americans have reached out to it for information in leaving Israel, the West Bank and Iran as the conflict escalates.

Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters on Friday that those people had sought “information and support” and “seeking guidance” on departing. She would not give a breakdown of where the queries had come from.

The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem has said it is working on possible evacuation flights and ships for Americans wanting to leave Israel. However, with the exception of one government flight on Wednesday that took out a number of nonessential embassy staffers and family members, no such evacuations have been organized.

There are about 700,000 American citizens in Israel, the vast majority of whom are dual citizens who may not want to leave. There are several thousand Americans believed to be in Iran, most of them also dual citizens.

Europeans’ meeting with Iranian foreign minister yields hope of more talks

Britain’s foreign secretary said after several hours of talks Friday between top European diplomats and their Iranian counterparts that the Europeans are “keen to continue ongoing discussions and negotiations with Iran.”

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the Europeans were clear in talks in Geneva that Iran “cannot have a nuclear weapon.” German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said that “very serious talks” were held Friday with Iran’s Abbas Araghchi.

The European ministers gave few details and took no questions.

Putin says Israel agreed not to harm Russian personnel at Iran’s nuclear plant

President Vladimir Putin said Friday that the Israeli and U.S. leaders had both agreed to keep Russian workers safe at the Bushehr power plant. The reactor on the Persian Gulf is fueled by uranium produced in Russia.

Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin rejected criticism that Moscow has abandoned its allies in Tehran. He stressed that Russia has close ties with both Iran and Israel, citing the large number of Russian speakers living in Israel and Moscow’s support for Iran’s peaceful nuclear program.

UN chief says the Israel-Iran war ‘could ignite a fire that no one can control’

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is calling this a “defining” moment for global peace “when the direction taken will shape not only the fate of nations, but potentially our collective future.”

He told the U.N. Security Council that Iran’s nuclear program remains the central question, and urged a return to serious negotiations to establish “a credible, comprehensive and verifiable solution.”

Germany flies dozens of citizens out of Israel

The 64 people were flown on two German military aircraft Friday evening, the foreign and defense ministries said, with a focus on families with children and other vulnerable people.

The flights were arranged quickly in coordination with Israeli authorities, Earlier in the week, 345 Germans were from home from Amman, Jordan, on commercial chartered flights.

Missile warning at a US base in Turkey was sent in error, US official says

An automated message that was sent out to military personnel at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey Friday afternoon warning of an incoming ballistic missile was sent in error, and there was no missile threat, a U.S. official told The Associated Press.

Officials are still looking into why the alert message was sent. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details that have not been made public yet.

— By Tara Copp in Washington.

UN nuclear watchdog can guarantee Iran will not develop nuclear weapons

U.N. nuclear chief Rafael Grossi told the U.N. Security Council the International Atomic Energy Agency can do this “through a watertight inspection system.”

He said elements for an agreement on reining in Iran’s nuclear program have been discussed.

Grossi called for “maximum restraint” on the Israel-Iran war, adding: “A diplomatic solution is within reach if the necessary political will is there.”

More on the Tehran Research Reactor

The Tehran Research Reactor is at the headquarters of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, the civilian body overseeing the country’s atomic program.

The U.S. actually provided Iran the reactor in 1967 as part of America’s “Atoms for Peace” program during the Cold War. It initially required highly enriched uranium but was later retrofitted to use low-enriched uranium over proliferation concerns

More on the Bushehr nuclear power plant

Iran’s only commercial nuclear power plant is in Bushehr on the Persian Gulf, some 750 kilometers (465 miles) south of Tehran. Construction on the plant began under Iran’s Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in the mid-1970s. After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the plant was repeatedly targeted in the Iran-Iraq war. Russia later completed construction of the facility.

Iran is building two other reactors like it at the site. Bushehr is fueled by uranium produced in Russia, not Iran, and is monitored by the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency.

Attacking Iran’s nuclear reactors could trigger radiation leaks, UN watchdog says

U.N. nuclear chief Rafael Grossi on Friday warned against any potential attack on Iran’s only commercial nuclear power plant as well as a research reactor near Tehran, saying it could lead to radiation leaks with “severe consequences.”

The director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency spoke Friday at an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council about the Israel-Iran conflict.

Even a hit that disabled the two lines supplying electrical power to the Bushehr plant “could cause its reactor core to melt, which could result in a high release of radioactivity to the environment,” Grossi said.

Grossi said Israeli attacks on nuclear sites at Natanz and Isfahan and at the Arak heavy water plant have so far not led to any radiological release.

He said an Israeli military official erroneously reported Thursday that Bushehr was hit by an airstrike, but Israel then retracted that claim. He said the confusion “underscored the vital need for clear and accurate communication.”

US Treasury targets alleged Houthi oil and goods shipment network

The U.S. on Friday said it has taken its single largest sanctions action to date against Yemen’s Houthi rebel group, a key Iranian ally, by imposing sanctions on four people, 12 entities, and two ships that Washington alleges import oil and other goods for the group.

Treasury’s Deputy Secretary Michael Faulkender said Friday’s action “underscores our commitment to disrupting the Houthis’ financial and shipping pipelines that enable their reckless behavior in the Red Sea and the surrounding region.”

The Houthis have launched missile and drone attacks against commercial and military ships in the Red Sea corridor as an effort to end Israel’s offensive in Gaza. They’ve also targeted Israel with long-range missiles.

At least 19 wounded in Israel by Iranian missile barrage

Rambam hospital in the port city of Haifa said it received 19 wounded people from the site of an Iranian missile strike. Two people had serious-to-moderate injuries and the rest were lightly hurt, the hospital said.

Switzerland says it is temporarily closing its embassy in Tehran

Switzerland says it’s closing the embassy in view of the “intensity of military operations” and the unstable situation on the ground. The government in Bern said Friday that all expatriate staff safely left Iran and will return to Tehran as soon as the situation allows.

Since Tehran and Washington don’t have diplomatic relations, Switzerland has looked out for America’s interests in Iran since the 1979 U.S. Embassy hostage crisis. In its statement Friday, the Swiss government said it will continue to act as an intermediary transmitting communications “as and when both parties consider appropriate.”

Britain is withdrawing all UK staff from its Tehran embassy ‘as a precautionary measure’

The British Foreign Office said in a statement that “we take the protection of our staff and British nationals extremely seriously and we have long advised against all travel to Iran.”

The decision is based on the “current security situation” and not the anticipation that the war between Israel and Iran will escalate further, the statement said. It says the embassy in will operate remotely for the time being.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said he will decide within two weeks whether the U.S. will get directly involved.

Iran’s foreign minister arrives for talks in Geneva with top European diplomats

Iran’s foreign minister arrived Friday for talks with top European diplomats in Geneva about the crisis that centers on concerns about his country’s nuclear program, a week after the long-simmering dispute erupted into war between Israel and Iran.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived at a hotel in the Swiss city for a meeting with his counterparts from France, Germany and the U.K. and the European Union’s foreign policy chief. It is the first face-to-face meeting between Western and Iranian officials since the start of the conflict.

At the UN, Iran’s foreign minister calls Israel’s attacks ‘unprovoked aggression’

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi addressed the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva ahead of a meeting with top European diplomats.

He said “this is an unjust war imposed on my people.” He said that Israel’s “attacks on nuclear facilities are grave war crimes.”

Araghchi asserted that “any justification for this unjust and criminal war would be tantamount to complicity.”

He said that “we are entitled … and determined to defend our territorial integrity, national sovereignty and security with all force. This is our inherent right.”

Thousands of Iranians protest Israel’s airstrikes

Thousands of people protested Friday in Iran’s capital after noon prayers over the ongoing Israeli airstrikes targeting the Islamic Republic.

Those in the crowd shouted: “Death to America! Death to Israel!”

“No compromise! No surrender! Fight with America!” they chanted at another point.

Some waved Iranian flags, while others carried placards decrying Israel. Iranian state television aired footage from the protests at other cities in the country as well, with one demonstrator seen pulling a man dressed up in a President Donald Trump mask by his necktie.

Iranian protester speaks about the war with Israel and the pitfalls of ‘compromise’

One 47-year-old resident of Tehran, Hossein Gorji, offered his hard-line viewpoint and said military operations against Israel should continue.

“Israel’s attack against Iran was not much of an attack. Iran has just started the offensive. We will stand by them (the armed forces) until the end,” he told The Associated Press.

“Compromise never reached any result, and it won’t in future. How can we compromise with an enemy that breaches deals? Let’s uproot and throw it away and comfort all Muslims around the world,” said Gorji.

Florida governor greets flight of evacuees from Israel

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was at Tampa International Airport on Friday morning to welcome a flight from Cyprus carrying around 160 people, including families and students, who had been stranded in Israel.

The state is working with partners, including Grey Bull Rescue, to facilitate the evacuations, flying more than 300 people on two flights and putting more than 1,100 on a passenger ferry, Florida Division of Emergency Management Executive Director Kevin Guthrie said.

The focus is on bringing back Florida residents, but they’re not going to turn away fellow countrymen, DeSantis said at a news conference.

“It was not an easy voyage for these folks because they’re having to get on a cruise ship and they’re having to wait in Cyprus, and then all the things that go in between that, was difficult,” DeSantis said.

Britain working to provide charter flights to evacuate nationals

The British government says it is working with Israeli authorities to provide charter flights to evacuate U.K. nationals.

The U.K. says the flights will leave from Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv once airspace reopens. The number of flights will depend on demand.

Israel has closed the airport “until further notice” amid its week-old war with Iran, stranding tens of thousands of Israelis abroad, and moved the jets of the country’s three airlines to Cyprus.

Britain has evacuated family members of embassy staff from Israel but has not advised U.K. nationals in Israel and the Palestinian territories to leave the country.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said that for those who want to leave, land routes out of Israel remain open and British staff will provide support, including transport to nearby airports for onward commercial flights.

Hezbollah supporters demonstrate in support of Iran

Hundreds of supporters of the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah gathered in Beirut’s southern suburbs after Friday afternoon prayers to demonstrate in support of Tehran in the ongoing Israel-Iran war.

Demonstrators carried the Iranian, Lebanese and Palestinian flags as well as that of Hezbollah, and chanted “death to America” and “death to Israel.” Some also chanted pledges of allegiance to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is revered as religious authority by many Shiite Muslims.

Hezbollah suffered severe losses in a war with Israel that ended with a US-brokered ceasefire in November and has so far remained on the sidelines the Iran-Israel war.

Macron says diplomats will offer to negotiate with Iran

French President Emmanuel Macron said European top diplomats will make a “comprehensive, diplomatic and technical offer of negotiation” to Iran in Geneva on Friday as a key response to the “threat” represented by Iran’s nuclear program.

“No one can seriously believe that this threat can be met with (Israel’s) current operations alone. Why? Because there are some plants that are highly protected and because today, no one knows exactly where’s the uranium enriched to 60%. So we need to regain control on (Iran’s nuclear) program through technical expertise and negotiation,” Macron said.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot will coordinate with U.K. and German counterparts in Geneva before they meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

“It’s absolutely essential to prioritize a return to substantial negotiations, including nuclear negotiations to move towards zero (uranium) enrichment, ballistic negotiations to limit Iran’s activities and capabilities and the financing of all terrorist groups and destabilization of the region that Iran has been carrying out for several years,” Macron insisted.

Macron also reiterated his call for Israel’s strikes on energy and civilian infrastructures and on civilian populations in Iran to be stopped. “There’s no justification for that,” he said.

Thousands demonstrate in Iraq to show support for Iran

Thousands of supporters of the influential Iraqi Shiite cleric and political leader Muqtada al-Sadr took to the streets on Friday in Sadr City, on the outskirts of Baghdad, in response to a call by al-Sadr to show support for Iran in its conflict with Israel.

The demonstration began after Friday prayers with protesters wearing white burial shrouds in a symbolic gesture of readiness to sacrifice. Some burned Israeli and U.S. flags.

The protest comes during escalating regional tensions. Iran-backed Iraqi militias have so far largely stayed out of the fray in the Israel-Iran war but have threatened to attack U.S. forces and interests in Iraq and the region if Washington launches direct attacks on Iran.

Italy organizes transport

Italy is organizing special ground convoys and flights to help Italians leave Iran and Israel. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani convened Middle East ambassadors in Rome on Friday to discuss the safety and needs of Italian embassy personnel and other Italians in the region. The foreign ministry said ground convoys were being organized to bring Italians out of Iran to neighboring countries. A special charter flight was scheduled for Sunday to depart from Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt to bring out any Italians from Israel, where the main airport remains closed until further notice.

Israeli airstrikes in western Iran

Israel’s military said it carried out airstrikes Friday targeting the areas around Kermanshah and Tabriz in western Iran.

The military said 25 fighter jets struck “missile storage and launch infrastructure components” Friday morning. There had been reports of anti-aircraft fire in the areas.

Iran did not immediately acknowledge the losses, though it has not discussed the damage done so far to its military in the weeklong war.

Moscow is ‘extremely concerned’

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated that Moscow is “extremely concerned” by the tensions in the Middle East. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, the annual event designed to showcase Russia’s economic prowess and court investors, Peskov said the Middle East “right now is plunging into the abyss of instability and war.”

“And the war that we are witnessing is fraught with geographic expansion, the involvement of many participants and unpredictable consequences,” Peskov said. “We are not on the other side of the ocean, this region is directly on our border. And in addition to the fact that this situation inevitably has a negative impact on the global economy, on energy markets and so on, it is, of course, potentially dangerous for us.”

Peskov added “there is always hope and always a possibility for diplomatic efforts,” and stressed Moscow has “condemned the escalation of violence in the region” and called for a diplomatic settlement of the conflict. He noted, however, that “for now, Israel’s desire is to continue the hostilities, at least that is how they officially declare their intentions.”

Quiet in Iran’s capital

Iran’s capital experienced an unusually quiet weekend on Friday, as many residents had left the capital following the Israeli airstrikes that began last week.

Streets were empty with little traffic. Shops stood closed. Those who remain in the city seem to largely be choosing to stay indoors as the war between Israel and Iran continues.

Foreign minister says Iran not seeking negotiations during strikes

Iran’s foreign minister says his country is not seeking negotiations with anyone as long as Israel continues its strikes on Iran.

“In the current situation, as the Zionist regime’s attacks continue, we are not seeking negotiations with anyone,” said Abbas Araghchi during an interview aired Friday by Iranian state television.

He added: “I believe that as a result of this resistance (by Iran), we will gradually see countries distancing themselves from the aggression carried out by the regime, and calls for ending this war have already begun, and they will only grow stronger.”

Spain says citizens evacuated safely

Spanish citizens who requested to be evacuated from Iran landed safely in Armenia, Spain’s Foreign Minister José Albares said Thursday night.

They would soon be flown to Spain, Albares said on X.

Israeli airstrikes reach into the city of Rasht

Israeli airstrikes reached into the Iranian city of Rasht on the Caspian Sea early Friday, Iranian media reported. Social media video posted online appeared to show explosions around the city. The semiofficial Fars news agency reported local air defense systems were firing into the night sky against the Israelis.

Ahead of the strikes, the Israeli military put out a warning urging the public to flee the area around Rasht’s Industrial City, which sits a few kilometers (miles) southwest of the city’s downtown.

The Israelis did not immediately describe what they sought to destroy in the area. However, with Iran’s internet being shut off to the outside world, it was unclear how many people in Iran would be able to see the message.

French foreign minister speaks to US secretary of state

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot spoke by phone with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday evening.

A French diplomatic official said Barrot detailed the purposes of the Geneva meeting and Rubio “stressed the U.S. was ready for direct contact with the Iranians at any time.”

The official, who was not allowed to speak publicly on the issue, said they “jointly stressed the threat posed by Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile program to Israel, the region and Europe.”

Tehran fires anti-aircraft weapons

Anti-aircraft batteries began firing Friday morning in Iran’s capital, Tehran. It wasn’t immediately clear what they were firing at.

Khamenei adviser in stable condition

A key security adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is now in stable condition, a week after being seriously wounded in an Israeli airstrike, a media outlet close to him reported Friday.

Nour News quoted Rear Adm. Ali Shamkhani as saying: “I am alive and ready to give my life away.”

Nuclear agency says Israel damages heavy water reactor

The International Atomic Energy Agency, in an update Friday, said an Israeli strike at the Arak heavy water reactor also damaged key buildings there, “including the distillation unit” there. That makes the heavy water at the site.

Aircraft transporting Iranian foreign minister to talks

An Iranian aircraft bearing a call sign associated with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is now airborne over Turkey. The Airbus A321 of Meraj Airlines took off from the Turkish city of Van, near the Iranian border, flight-tracking data from FlightRadar24 showed. It bore the call sign IRAN05, which Araghchi uses on his official travel.

Iran did not immediately acknowledge his departure, though it typically only does so hours later.

Araghchi is due for talks with European diplomats in Geneva on Friday, the first face-to-face negotiations he has conducted since the Israeli airstrikes began June 13.

German foreign minister says Iran can avoid escalation

Germany’s foreign minister says there is a chance of avoiding further escalation in the conflict if Tehran shows “serious and transparent readiness” to refrain from developing nuclear weapons.

“It is our commitment once again to undertake a very intensive attempt to dissuade Iran permanently from pursuing such plans,” Johann Wadephul said in a podcast released by broadcaster MDR Friday. “If there is serious and transparent readiness by Iran to refrain from this, then there is a real chance of preventing a further escalation of this conflict, and for that every conversation makes sense.”

Wadephul plans to meet Iran’s foreign minister in Geneva Friday along with his French, British and EU counterparts.

Wadephul said U.S. officials support the plan to hold talks, “so I think Iran should now know that it should conduct these talks with a new seriousness and reliability.”

Israel says missile systems and radar destroyed

The Israeli military said it has destroyed missile systems and radar installations around Isfahan. That corresponds to the sound of anti-aircraft fire heard in the area of Isfahan into Friday morning. Iran has not offered any acknowledgment so far of its military losses in the war.

Czech Republic, Slovakia, Australia and New Zealand close their embassies in Tehran

Czech Republic, Slovakia, Australia and New Zealand say they have closed their embassies in Tehran.

The Slovak Foreign Ministry said any remaining diplomats and staffers of the embassy are leaving Iran on Friday. New Zealand cited “the ongoing military conflict” for closing its embassy indefinitely.

Australia’s Foreign Ministry said it was evacuating staff and their families due to the “deteriorating security environment.” It also urged Australian citizens still in Iran to leave quickly.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said she spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and they agreed to work “closely” to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon and to pursue peace.

“There is an opportunity … over the next two weeks for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy,” Wong said from Adelaide on Friday.

Russia dismisses US nuclear claims

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed claims the U.S. might use nuclear weapons in Iran as “speculation” in comments to state news agency Tass on Friday morning.

“There is a lot of speculation now,” Tass quoted Peskov as saying. “Such a turn of events would be catastrophic, but there is so much speculation that it is impossible to really comment on it.”

Britain’s foreign secretary says situation in Middle East ‘remains perilous’

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the “situation in the Middle East remains perilous,” after meeting Thursday at the White House with his U.S. counterpart, Marco Rubio, and presidential envoy Steve Witkoff.

“We are determined that Iran must never have a nuclear weapon,” Lammy wrote in a post on X.

Credit: AP Credit: AP

Credit: AP Credit: AP

Credit: AP Credit: AP

Credit: AP Credit: AP

U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that Iran prefers to engage directly with the United States rather than with European powers. “Nah, they didn’t help. Iran doesn’t want to speak to Europe, they want to speak to us,” he said.

European foreign ministers urged Iran earlier Friday to talk to the U.S. after a meeting with the Iranian foreign minister in Geneva produced no indication of any breakthroughs.

Trump confirmed that his team has been in contact with Tehran, but pushed back on calls for Israel to halt its military operations as a condition for talks. “It’s very hard to make that request – when someone’s winning, it’s harder to do than when someone’s losing,” he said. “But we’re ready, willing and able. We’re speaking with Iran, we’ll see what happens.”

Pressed on whether he would consider sending U.S. ground forces if the situation escalates, Trump said: “I’m not gonna talk about ground forces. That’s the last thing you wanna do.”

On the question of whether Israel is capable of striking Iran’s nuclear sites, Trump offered a measured view: “Israel has a limited capacity. They can break through a section, but they can’t go down that deep. We’ll see what happens. Maybe it won’t be necessary.”

Asked whether he might request a temporary cease-fire, the president said, “I might, depending on the circumstances. It’s very hard to stop when you look at it. Israel is doing well in terms of war. I would say Iran is doing less well. It’s hard to get somebody to stop.”

On Iran’s nuclear program, Trump said: “It looks like I’m right about the material they gathered. They were able to have a nuclear weapon in a matter of weeks maybe, certainly in a matter of months.”

When asked about Iran possibly continuing limited uranium enrichment, he said that Iran is “sitting on top of one of the largest piles of oil in the world. I don’t understand why they would need that.”

Addressing the threat from Iranian proxies such as the Houthis in Yemen, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, Trump added: “We’re always concerned about that.”