Israel expands strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities

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As part of a broad strike on Iran, Israel has attacked several of the country’s key nuclear facilities.

The first and most visible strike took place in the opening hours of the Israeli air campaign, which began overnight on Thursday. In a statement the Israeli military said that fighter jets had struck Iran’s largest enrichment facility at Natanz. “As part of the strikes, the underground area of the site was damaged. This area contains a multi-story enrichment hall with centrifuges, electrical rooms, and additional supporting infrastructure,” the statement read in part.

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Video posted online and verified by NPR showed black smoke billowing from the Natanz site early Friday morning local time. A set of images from the commercial satellite company Airbus showed damage to the main electrical substation at the facility and to buildings used to assemble and run centrifuges.

By Friday afternoon, there were additional reports of Israeli strikes near Iran’s other main enrichment facility at Fordow, and at Isfahan, which is also home to a nuclear research complex. So far, little is known about those strikes, which have taken place in the second night of fighting.

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In a statement, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said that the attack at the Natanz plant caused damage but that no radioactive or chemical contamination had leaked outside the site.

Rafael Mariano Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, condemned the attack.

“I have repeatedly stated that nuclear facilities must never be attacked, regardless of the context or circumstances,” Grossi said during a meeting of the agency’s board of governors.

The Natanz facility has been at the center of Iran’s nuclear program for decades. According to the IAEA, which has been monitoring activities at the site for the past several years, Iran has recently been using thousands of centrifuges to enrich uranium to 60%, far above the levels normally used in civilian nuclear reactors. The agency says that Iran has stockpiled more than 400 kilograms of the highly enriched material, enough by some estimates to quickly build around 10 nuclear weapons.

It’s unclear how quickly that material could practically be converted into bombs. During the enrichment process, the uranium is stored as a gas. It must be separated and converted into metal, which in turn must be fashioned into components for a nuclear device. Iran had a covert program to research such a weapon in the early 2000s, but it has never built a nuclear weapon before, and has said publicly it has no intentions to pursue one.

In a statement shortly after the strike, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel believed Iran had recently restarted its program to build a nuclear weapon. “If not stopped, Iran could produce a weapon in a very short time,” he said in prepared remarks shortly after the strike. The operation’s goal, Netanyahu stated, was to “strike at the heart of Iran’s nuclear enrichment program.”

Preliminary analysis of satellite imagery at the site suggests the damage from the first wave of attacks was actually limited, according to Jeffrey Lewis, a professor at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies who has tracked Iran’s program.

Images from satellite company Airbus showed damage to several buildings at the Natanz site that are used to assemble centrifuges. The images also showed damage to support equipment, including an electrical substation and buildings that may provide power and access to the underground structures at the site.

“That’s likely to disrupt operations at the plant, but crucially, what they didn’t do was find a way to destroy the thousands of centrifuges that are buried underground,” Lewis says.

Lewis also saw no evidence that Israel had struck at tunnels deep beneath a nearby mountain. Iran was reportedly digging those tunnels to create a more fortified facility for its centrifuges. In recent days it had pledged that it would accelerate development of a third centrifuge site, possibly in the mountain facility.

Lewis says he wonders whether military force can truly eliminate Iran’s nuclear program. In the end, he says, there is no single facility or scientist that holds the key to the entire nuclear enterprise in Iran.

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“Unless the Israelis can keep bombing them indefinitely,” he says, “they will always have the ability to technically reconstitute the program if they make a decision to do so.”

A senior Iranian military commander said expanding military drills showcase the country’s deterrence and defense capabilities as an Israeli official again broached a potential attack on Iran’s nuclear program.

“These drills contribute to enhancing our combat readiness, demonstrating our national deterrence capabilities, and informing the public of our defensive strength,” said Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, chief of staff and deputy coordinator of the army.

“At the same time, they allow our adversaries to witness the extent of our deterrence and defense power.”

This military build-up comes as tensions with Israel and the US persist, with growing attention on Donald Trump’s stance on Iran.

Israeli officials have reiterated the possibility of military action against Iran’s nuclear program. On Thursday, Omer Dostri, spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, told The Jerusalem Post that while Israel prefers a diplomatic solution, it doubts Iran will comply.

“War is one way to achieve our objectives. If Iran halts its nuclear ambitions without an Israeli strike, fantastic,” he said. “But we do not expect that to happen.”

Dostri also said Israel hopes to work with Trump to restore his maximum pressure policy, which had imposed severe sanctions on Iran.

While Trump has suggested he may seek a diplomatic solution, Dostri made it clear that Israel is ready to act alone if needed. “We’ll give it a chance, but the clock is ticking. If necessary, we will act – with or without American approval.”

The latest drills in Iran included joint operations between the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Iranian army, focusing on protecting key nuclear sites such as Natanz and Fordow.

The exercises, set to continue until mid-March, follow Iran’s unveiling of the Zagros, its first signals intelligence (SIGINT) vessel for electronic surveillance. Iran has also received 1,000 new drones to strengthen its defense capabilities.

Earlier this month, 110,000 paramilitary Basij forces took part in an IRGC drill to prepare for potential threats to Tehran.

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.

AMY GOODMAN: Israel has launched a major military attack on Iranian nuclear and military capabilities, killing dozens of top military officials and scientists, along with civilians. At least 200 fighter jets have struck over 100 targets across Iran, including Iran’s main uranium enrichment site in Natanz and a nuclear research site in Tabriz. Strikes have also been reported across Tehran, the Iranian capital. The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the strikes will continue “for as many days as it takes.”

PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU: Moments ago, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival. This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.

NERMEEN SHAIKH: [inaudible] include Iran’s top military and nuclear leaders, including Hossein Salami, commander-in-chief of the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps; Mohammad Bagheri, chief of staff of Iran’s Armed Forces; and Ali Shamkhani, a close aide to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Nuclear scientists Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi and Fereydoon Abbasi have also been killed.

Iran’s foreign affairs minister has said the country has a, quote, “legal and legitimate right to respond.” It’s been reported Iran has launched at least a hundred drones towards Israel that are being intercepted.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed the U.S. was not involved in the strikes, while Trump posted on social media, quote, “I gave Iran chance after chance to make the deal.” The Israeli attacks came as the U.S. and Iran have been engaged in talks over a possible new nuclear agreement.

We’re joined now by two guests. In Tel Aviv, Gideon Levy is an award-winning Israeli reporter and columnist for the newspaper Haaretz and a member of its editorial board. His latest book is titled The Killing of Gaza. And in Washington, D.C., Trita Parsi is the executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft and the author of several books, including Losing an Enemy: Obama, Iran, and the Triumph of Diplomacy.

Welcome back to both of you on Democracy Now! Trita, let’s begin with you. Your response to these extraordinary attacks by Israel on Iran?

TRITA PARSI: So far, it clearly seems that the Israelis have been successful in achieving early stages of what they want, which is to take out much of Iran’s command, and having killed several senior military officials. When it comes to damage to the nuclear program, the attacks against Natanz are one thing, and that’s a facility that is no more than 10, 20 meters underground. There’s not been any attacks against Fordow, which is about 800 meters underground. And that is something that it does not appear that the Israelis have the military capacity to take out through bombardment and maybe other avenues that they will pursue, and perhaps even the U.S. does not.

But what I think is increasingly clear in all of this is that this was not an act of defiance by Netanyahu against Trump, but rather the Trump administration and Trump himself was coordinating this with the Israelis in the hope, apparently, for Trump, thinking that this will actually soften the Iranian negotiating position and enable him to get a deal in which the Iranians capitulate. It remains to be seen whether that is the case. I suspect that the Israeli hope, however, is that the Iranians don’t capitulate, that they strike back, and, by that, get the U.S. to get more actively involved in the war.

AMY GOODMAN: So, Trita, can you talk about the significance of who has been killed?

TRITA PARSI: So, you know, several of the top people: the head of the Air Force, the head of the missile program, the former head of the nuclear program. Several of their predecessors had also been killed in assassinations by the Israelis, none of them at this scale and at the same time. And this, at a minimum, is going to delay an Iranian response to Israel, because so much of the top command essentially is gone. Whether they can actually reconstitute it remains to be seen.

But in that sense, the Israelis have pursued exactly the same game plan that they had with Hezbollah, and it appears that the Iranians have learned nothing from that, because that’s what the Israelis did in Lebanon. They went after the top ranks. And by that, they made sure that much rest of the organization was not capable of striking back or fighting. And once that happened, the Israelis intensified their bombings, which is probably what will happen in this case, as well. Once they feel that the Iranians are essentially incapable of responding, they’re going to do everything they can take out as much as possible of Iran’s military capabilities, conventional or nuclear.

AMY GOODMAN: So, you have this tweet of President Trump this morning where he says, “Two months ago, I gave you two months.” If you can talk about what’s going on at the negotiation level, the fact that the negotiations were supposed to be continuing on Sunday — will that be happening? — and the level of infiltration of Iran by Israel, what this means to hit so many, to kill so many of the top leadership in Iran, not to mention if you can talk about the significance of Natanz and these other nuclear and military sites that have been hit?

TRITA PARSI: Well, the significance of what has happened at the negotiating table is that originally the Trump administration entered these talks with the red line of only seeking no weaponization. And with that red line, a deal could be made, because it would mean restricting the Iranian nuclear program, but not eliminating it. The Iranians have agreed to that in the past. They have signaled clearly that they would agree to it again.

Something happened, though, and Trump then shifted his position towards zero enrichment, which is the Israeli position, the same position that John Bolton and Mike Pompeo argued for in the previous Trump administration. This then caused a deadlock in the negotiations, predictably, and it appears that that then opened up the pathway for the Israelis to convince Trump that what he needs to do is to allow Israel to go in militarily, with the help of the United States, in order to essentially soften the Iranian nuclear — the Iranian negotiating position.

I doubt that there will be any talks on Sunday. I think the Israeli calculation is to hope that there won’t be any negotiations going forward at all, the Iranians respond, and then, by that, making sure that the U.S. enters the war much more fully and openly than what it has been so far.

NERMEEN SHAIKH: We, Gideon Levy, we’re speaking to you in Tel Aviv. If you could tell us, you know, what the mood is there, Israel? A state of emergency has been declared in Israel. Additional attacks from Iran are anticipated. What is happening there? What are you hearing?

GIDEON LEVY: It’s a very intensive emotional mixture. On one hand, there is the fatigue of the last 20 months in which Israel is attacking Gaza on a daily basis, and many soldiers are there, the war against Hezbollah in the north. People are sick and tired. On the other hand, the James Bond sentiment wakes up now to see all those military impressive achievements. Nobody can deny those are impressive military achievements. And this gives some pride to Israelis. Israelis like it very much. Israel is, as you know, quite a militaristic society. And those achievements, killing here and destroying there, without any casualties, obviously, until now, it’s a great achievement.

But nobody pays attention to the price, the potential price, the possible price, which none of us know what will it be. And above all, there is no very clear answer: Where are we aiming to? Will we bomb every second year another location somewhere in the Middle East, and by this, Israel will continue with the same policy, the same strategy, living on the sword forever? Can’t tell you. But right now people are very proud of what happened, and very worried from the — from the retaliation, which might come any moment.

NERMEEN SHAIKH: And, Gideon, what about your response — you know, there has been some speculation that this, these attacks, and indeed the success of these attacks, in terms of hitting the targets that were presumably chosen, that this will actually bolster Netanyahu’s position within Israel, in a way that now whatever support for him was dwindling because of his — you know, the continuing assault on Gaza and the Israeli hostages not having been released, all of them.

GIDEON LEVY: You see, we are in a very, very early and preliminary stage. What looks now as a phenomonic, phenomenal success might turn into a fiasco within hours or days or weeks or months. But right now I’m sure that Netanyahu is much more appreciated than yesterday in Israeli society. I give him the credit. He didn’t do it only for domestic politics. This will be unfair to say. But his rivals are many, and I’m one of them, obviously. But this was the project of his life in the last 20 years, and now he really implemented it. We should be very careful in judging it, because, as I said, it’s too early. But, obviously, right now he is really at his peak in popularity, even though there were no votes yet. But sure, what he’s done, what he had done until now, will add him a lot of support in Israeli public opinion, no doubt about it.

AMY GOODMAN: We’re trying to determine, Trita, if the chief Iranian negotiator for the nuclear deal has been killed or severely injured. We’re talking about Ali Shamkhani. It looks like he has been killed. He was former head of the Iranian National Security Council. Can you talk about the significance of this?

TRITA PARSI: So, he has been killed, as I understand. And he was not the chief negotiator, but he was the chief of the negotiating committee that was coordinating the negotiations between the negotiating team and the supreme leader’s office. He’s a long-standing figure within the Iranian regime of Arab background. And the fact that he was targeted is also further indication that the Israelis were not trying to enhance the negotiations, but rather force either capitulation or an Iranian response that would bring the United States into the war more fully.

AMY GOODMAN: And what are the concerns you have about a wider regional war?

TRITA PARSI: Well, I mean, the concern that existed before, of course, was that this would lead to a major escalation in the region, particularly if some Arab states were allowing the United States to use its bases to support the strikes against Iran, which then would likely lead to Iran striking those countries. Oil prices would go up. Flow of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz would go down dramatically. And we would potentially see major destabilizations throughout the region. It’s not clear whether it’s going to go in that direction, particularly if the Iranian ability to respond has been significantly limited by these strikes. And again, we don’t know yet, because this picture is not sufficiently clear. At a minimum, it will delay a potential response, but it could also make sure that the response is not at all what it could have been or what many expected it would be, including inside the U.S. government, earlier on.

NERMEEN SHAIKH: And, Trita Parsi, you said earlier that the Iran-U.S. talks that are scheduled for this Sunday, June 15th, with Oman’s foreign minister and U.S. mediator Steven Witkoff, you don’t expect them to go ahead, though indications from the Trump administration seem to be at the moment that they will go ahead. What do you think?

TRITA PARSI: Well, the Trump administration is saying that they want it to go ahead, but whether it goes ahead or not depends on whether the Iranians show up. And again, I think the Trump administration is trying to use these strikes as, essentially, negotiating leverage. The question is if it will work out that way or if it actually will prompt the Iranians to significantly harden their position, potentially walk out of the NPT, kick out the inspectors and move towards weaponization. There’s a lot of different — the spectrum is quite wide there, but I suspect that it is quite unlikely that there will be any talks on Sunday.

And I also wonder where the Omanis are in all of this, because they probably feel a bit embarrassed, because they have done a very good-faith effort to actually negotiate a deal, but they agreed to that mediation because of confidence that both sides are serious about a deal. It’s not so clear any longer as to whether the Omanis or anyone else would be serious about thinking that the administration actually is looking for a deal.

NERMEEN SHAIKH: [Gideon Levy], finally, you told CNN earlier today that this would be catastrophic for Gaza, because now all the focus will shift to Iran, and the starving, dying children of Gaza will be forgotten. If you could say a little more?

GIDEON LEVY: You indicated me?

NERMEEN SHAIKH: If you could say a little bit more?

GIDEON LEVY: Yeah.

NERMEEN SHAIKH: Do you see that —

GIDEON LEVY: Yeah, yeah, sure, sure. I didn’t know you were aiming it at me. Sure. I was asked in CNN and other places. And I think this is very important, because the world’s focus will now be only on Iran, and Gaza will stop, will be totally forgotten. And Gaza is still a location of bloodbath, a terrible, terrible reality, as I don’t have to tell your viewers. But this continues. By the time we talk now, there were over 100 people killed only in the last 24 hours in Gaza. This will continue now. And if the world will focus only on Iran, this slaughter will continue day after day, and the suffer is unbearable. And we shouldn’t forget Gaza, even though Iran is now the main focus. But let’s not forget Gaza, because Gaza is really starving and dying, and the suffer should stop at once. I wish Donald Trump would be more involved in Gaza and, if Israel now has the success in Iran, at least stop the war in Gaza. At least make a ceasefire, and without even any conditions, because the reality there is really inhuman, criminal and unbearable, and we shouldn’t forget Gaza.

NERMEEN SHAIKH: Trita Parsi from the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, and Gideon Levy, Israeli journalist and Haaretz columnist, thank you both for joining us.

Coming up, Congressmember Ilhan Omar on President Trump’s widening crackdown on immigrants and protesters. Stay with us.

[break]

NERMEEN SHAIKH: “I Ain’t Got No Home in This World Anymore,” a rendition by Billy Bragg in our Democracy Now! studio.

13 June 2025 22:10 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

22:10

Iran launched missiles at Israel. Some of them were intercepted, but others hit their targets.

21:57

Israeli military: We destroyed a uranium metal production facility, enriched uranium conversion infrastructure, and laboratories in Isfahan.

الجيش الإسرائيلي: دمرنا منشأة لإنتاج اليورانيوم المعدني وبنية تحتية لتحويل اليورانيوم المخصب ومختبرات في أصفهان — سكاي نيوز عربية-عاجل (@SkyNewsArabia_B) June 13, 2025

21:21

Israel carried out airstrikes on the city of Fardis, located in Iran’s Alborz Province in the north of the country, Press TV reports.

“The Israeli airstrikes targeted positions in the city of Fardis in Alborz Province,” the broadcaster stated.

21:01

At least 18 people have been killed in East Azerbaijan Province in northwestern Iran as a result of strikes by the Israeli Armed Forces, the Iranian agency IRNA reports.

According to the agency, another 35 people have been injured. It is noted that Israeli forces targeted several sites in the province, including at least seven in the vicinity of the city of Tabriz.

20:27

Air defence across all of Iran was activated on the evening of June 13 following new airstrikes on Tehran, according to Iranian state television.

According to Press TV, missiles were intercepted south of Tehran, while Iranian television reported new strikes on the western districts of the capital.

Also, according to IRIB, strikes were carried out on the city of Karaj, located near Tehran.

18:40

Global air traffic was disrupted following Israeli strikes on Iran on June 13, as several major airlines suspended flights to and from locations in the Middle East and rerouted their aircraft, CNN reports, citing the flight tracking website Flightradar24.

The airspace over Iran and Israel, as well as over Jordan, Syria, and Iraq, was largely cleared of commercial flights on June 13.

Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport, Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport, and Queen Alia International Airport in Amman were all closed on June 13. Mehrabad Airport will remain closed until 2:00 PM on June 14, according to the state news agency IRNA.

17:38

President Donald Trump told CNN in a brief phone call Friday morning that the United States “of course” supports Israel and called the country’s strikes on Iran overnight “a very successful attack,” while warning Iran to make a nuclear deal, Azernews reports via CNN.

When asked about a statement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday that sought to put distance between the US and the Israeli action, Trump told Dana Bash: “We of course support Israel, obviously, and supported it like nobody has ever supported it.”

The president went on to urge Iran to reach a deal.

“Iran should have listened to me when I said — you know, I gave them, I don’t know if you know but I gave them a 60-day warning and today is day 61,” he told CNN.

“They should now come to the table to make a deal before it’s too late. It will be too late for them. You know, the people I was dealing with are dead, the hardliners,” the president said. He would not specify which people he was referring to.

Trump is set to speak to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, according a US and an Israeli official.

The president had warned Iran earlier on Friday to agree to a nuclear deal “before there is nothing left,” suggesting in a social media post that subsequent Israeli attacks on the country will be “even more brutal.”

The post marked Trump’s first public comments since Israel launched strikes on Iran targeting its nuclear program and military leaders, with the US president saying he had tried to steer Iranian leaders toward diplomacy, but they failed to act at great cost.

“I gave Iran chance after chance to make a deal. I told them, in the strongest of words, to ‘just do it,’ but no matter how hard they tried, no matter how close they got, they just couldn’t get it done,” Trump wrote.

Trump wrote that Iranian leaders “didn’t know what was about to happen. They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse!”

“There has already been great death and destruction, but there is still time to make this slaughter, with the next already planned attacks being even more brutal, come to an end. Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left,” Trump added.

In contrast to Trump’s aggressive tone, Rubio clarified in a statement late Thursday that the US had no involvement in the strikes.

“Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,” Rubio said.

The Trump administration is, meanwhile, still hoping that a sixth round of nuclear deal talks with the Iranians will take place in Oman on Sunday as previously scheduled, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

Special Envoy Steve Witkoff was in touch with the Omanis overnight in an effort to keep the plans for this weekend on track, sources said. But those sources acknowledged that holding the talks this weekend is highly unlikely. Oman has facilitated the US-Iran talks to date.

Despite several rounds of talks between Iran and the US to thrash out a new nuclear deal, major sticking points remain, with Iran insisting on its right to nuclear enrichment. Trump said earlier this week that he’s grown less confident of being able to strike a deal, saying in an interview earlier this week that Tehran could be “delaying” an agreement.

Trump warned of possibility of ‘massive conflict’ in Middle East

Trump had warned earlier on Thursday of the possibility that “massive conflict” in the Middle East that could take place “soon.”

US officials were increasingly concerned that the risk of Israel striking Iran had risen after Tehran said on Thursday that it would ramp up its nuclear activities due to the International Atomic Energy Agency passing a resolution saying that the country was not in compliance with its non-proliferation commitments, senior US officials told CNN.

Questioned about a potential strike earlier on Thursday, Trump said it “could very well happen.”

“I don’t want to say imminent, but it’s something that could very well happen,” Trump told reporters at the White House.

US embassies in the Middle East carried out emergency action assessments this week, and that process is ongoing as the US monitors the threat environment in the region, the officials said.

Asked what the Israelis told him to prompt the departure of US personnel from the region, Trump replied: “They didn’t tell me anything, but I said look, there’s a chance of massive conflict.”

He described the deliberations that led him to the decision.

“We have a lot of American people in this area, and I said, look, we gotta tell them to get out cause something could happen – soon. And I don’t want to be the one that didn’t give any warning and missiles are flying into their buildings. It’s possible. So I had to do it. You know, I had the choice – do I do it or not? Doing it has its downside but it also has its upside, like you’re going to save a lot of lives if it should happen. Hopefully that doesn’t happen.”

Later Thursday, Trump in a Truth Social post underscored his preference for diplomacy in Iran, saying his administration remains “committed to a Diplomatic Resolution to the Iran Nuclear Issue!”

Trump also said he does not want Israel to target Iran as negotiations on a potential nuclear deal continue, with a sixth round of talks set for Sunday in Oman.

“I want to have an agreement with Iran. We’re fairly close to an agreement. … As long as I think there is an agreement, I don’t want them going in because that would blow it. Might help it, actually, but also could blow it,” he said when asked about a potential Israeli strike.

16:03

A loud explosion was reported near Hamadan, northwestern Iran, according to a local news reporter from Mehr News Agency, Azernews reports.

The sound originated from the vicinity of the Noje Airbase in Kabudarahang, west of Hamadan city. Details about the cause of the explosion remain unclear.

15:08

Iranian president vows strong response to Israeli strike, warns of consequences

Iran’s newly elected President Masoud Pezeshkian has declared that Iran’s retaliation to Israel’s recent attack will be forceful enough to make it regret its actions. His remarks came in a televised address to the nation, following Israeli airstrikes that reportedly killed several high-ranking Iranian officials and civilians.

Azernews, citing Tasnim News Agency, reports that Pezeshkian condemned the attack as a violation of international law and a reflection of Israel’s aggressive nature.

“Of course, the Iranian people and the country’s leadership will not remain silent, and Iran’s legal and strong response will make them regret this action,” Pezeshkian stated.

“Iran will act decisively to respond to the attack and legally defend the country’s integrity, just as it has made all efforts for peace and tranquility in the world and the region.”

He emphasized that while Iran has consistently sought diplomatic paths, including negotiations and global confidence-building, the recent developments require a firm response.

Pezeshkian also urged the Iranian public to remain vigilant and not fall for disinformation amid rising tensions:

“I ask the Iranian people to maintain their unity, integrity, and solidarity, and not pay attention to rumors and false news. They should cooperate with the state so that the country can emerge stronger from this situation.”

His statement comes at a time of heightened regional volatility, with international observers warning of potential escalation following Israel’s strikes on Iranian territory.

به محض وقوع حمله جنایتکارانه رژیم صهیونی تاکنون، رئیس‌جمهور و تیم دولت مدیریت صحنه را برعهده گرفته و جلسه ویژه هیات دولت هم در این زمینه برگزار شده است؛ دکتر پزشکیان بزودی با مردم صحبت خواهد کرد

به امید خدا رژیم صهیونی از اقدام امروز خود پشیمان خواهد شد. — Masoud Pezeshkian (@drpezeshkian) June 13, 2025

14:20

Trump: Iran must make a deal before there is nothing left, and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire

14:08

Iran’s Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei has pledged a forceful response following Israel’s extensive airstrikes on Iranian territory, Azernews reports.

In a televised address to the nation, Khamenei condemned the attacks and ordered the Iranian Armed Forces to be placed on high alert, warning that Tel Aviv’s actions will not go unanswered.

The warning comes after more than 200 Israeli Air Force fighter jets reportedly struck over 100 strategic targets across Iran in an overnight assault. The strikes are said to have killed a number of senior Iranian military officers, nuclear scientists, and civilians, further intensifying tensions in the already fragile region.

In response to the strikes, Iran’s Crisis Management Headquarters issued an urgent appeal to the public to:

Remain calm and avoid panic-driven actions

Rely solely on official and national media for updates and guidance

Encourage those active in digital and social media spaces to prioritize psychological public safety and refrain from spreading misinformation

This escalation marks a dangerous new phase in the Israel-Iran confrontation and raises fears of a broader regional conflict. With both sides signaling readiness for further action, the international community has expressed growing alarm and is calling for urgent diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation in the Middle East.

13:30

Iranian media outlets reported loud explosions in the city of Tabriz on Friday, with some saying the blasts occurred near the airport. According to Fars News Agency, a new explosion was heard in the city minutes ago. The outlet also said around 10 locations in East Azerbaijan province were targeted earlier in the day

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13:10

Mossad conducted a covert operation inside Iran to destroy missile systems intending to strike Israel, Azernews reports.

תיעוד מטורף: הכוח המבצעי של המוסד בשטח איראן בעת פריסת מערכות תקיפה מדויקות שנועדו להשמיד את מערכות ההגנה האווירית האיראנית pic.twitter.com/X3Xtcc5JJ9 — איתי בלומנטל 🇮🇱 Itay Blumental (@ItayBlumental) June 13, 2025

Iran has appointed Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi as the new head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, according to a report by Fars News Agency. The move marks a significant shift in Iran’s military leadership. Further details about the appointment and its implications are expected to follow.

13:01

The Israeli Air Force bombed Iranian ballistic missiles aimed at Israel in its strikes in Iran earlier today, the military says, publishing footage of the strike. It also publishes a video of strikes on other weaponry in Iran.

The Israeli Air Force bombed Iranian ballistic missiles aimed at Israel in its strikes in Iran earlier today, the military says, publishing footage of the strike.

It also publishes a video of strikes on other weaponry in Iran. pic.twitter.com/q5KXxuScbC — Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) June 13, 2025

12:58

Iran’s main nuclear enrichment facility, Natanz, was damaged in Israel’s attack on Friday, the Iranian atomic energy agency said.

The heavily fortified facility is 150 miles south of the capital Tehran and houses thousands of centrifuges, used to enrich uranium for nuclear energy.

The complex has overground and underground facilities and it’s unclear what was damaged but no casualties were reported, the agency said.

The head of the UN’s nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, said Iranian authorities have confirmed that Natanz was “impacted” but there were no elevated radiation levels.

Grossi told members of the board at the International Atomic Energy Agency that other nuclear facilities in Iran, Isfahan and Fordow, “have not been impacted.”

12:29

Israeli fighter jets have completed a “large-scale strike” on aerial defense arrays in western Iran, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said Friday.

“As part of the strikes, dozens of radars and surface-to-air missile launchers were destroyed,” the IDF said.

The IDF earlier said 200 fighter jets had been used in its unprecedented attacks on Iran.

11:50

Iran requests UN Security council emergency session

Iran has requested an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council to discuss Israel’s unprecedented strikes on the country, the Iranian Mission to the UN told CNN.

The request comes amid growing international calls for calm, after Israel warned its military operation against Iran would continue for days and Iran vowed retaliation.

11:48

Several major airlines have suspended flights to and from locations in the Middle East following Israel’s strikes on Iran Friday, Azernews reports via CNN.

Qatar Airways has “temporarily cancelled flights to Iran and Iraq due to current situation in the region,” the airline said in a statement. Three major airports in Iran, including in the capital Tehran, and five airports in Iraq, including its capital Baghdad, have been affected, the airline said.

Emirates, one of the United Arab Emirates’ flagship carriers, has canceled flights to and from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Iran on both Friday and Saturday, the airline said.

Air India, the country’s flagship carrier, said on X that more than a dozen of its flights had been diverted, or were returning to their origin, “due to the emerging situation in Iran, the subsequent closure of its airspace and in view of the safety of our passengers.” Flights affected include routes from New York, London, Vancouver and Washington.

German carrier Lufthansa said flights to Tehran had been suspended until further notice, and its pilots would avoid Iranian, Iraqi and Israeli airspace for the time being, Reuters reported.

11:42

Azerbaijan has voiced serious concern regarding the intensifying military operations carried out by Israel on Iranian territory, Azernews reports.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan issued an official statement urging both sides to refrain from further escalation and to resolve disputes strictly through dialogue and diplomatic means based on the norms and principles of international law.

The statement emphasized the humanitarian dimension of the conflict:

“We particularly emphasize the importance of ensuring the safety of the civilian population and facilities.”

The Foreign Ministry also underlined the need for active diplomatic engagement:

“It is important to continue contacts through diplomatic channels and efforts within the framework of relevant international mechanisms in order to prevent further escalation of the situation in the Middle East.”

The appeal comes amid growing regional instability, with Baku reaffirming its longstanding position in favor of peaceful conflict resolution and international cooperation.

11:20

Jordanian state media have reported that the country’s Air Force is intercepting missiles and drones in its airspace, AP reports.

According to the agency, which quoted an unnamed senior military official, the interceptions are being carried out based on military assessments indicating that missiles and drones could fall within Jordanian territory — including populated areas — posing a potential threat to civilian safety.

The official added that the Jordanian Air Force is operating “around the clock to defend the country’s borders by land, sea, and air and will not allow any violation of Jordanian airspace under any circumstances.”

10:59

Israelis stock up on food and water as they prepare for retaliation.

Here in Jerusalem, supermarket shelves are fast depleting with people stocking up on food and water.

Most of the country was woken up at around 03:00 (01:00 BST) this morning with a short burst of sirens and a phone alert warning of a “significant threat” – with people instructed to stay close to a shelter.

Israel’s emergency services say they are mobilising blood services across the country, while some hospitals say they are discharging patients who are well enough to go home.

In the West Bank, a lockdown has been imposed on all Palestinian cities until further notice.

This is all in preparation for a retaliation – with the Israeli military warning 100 Iranian drones are on their way to Israel.

10:52

Israeli Air Force fighter jets have begun intercepting drones launched from Iran earlier today.

According to a military official, the drones are being intercepted outside Israel’s borders.

Those that are not intercepted earlier are expected to reach Israeli airspace within an hour or so.

10:21

Oil prices have jumped sharply in response to Israel’s airstrikes on Iran, triggering market volatility across multiple sectors. July futures for Brent crude rose by 4.28% to $73.35 per barrel, while July futures for WTI crude increased by 7.95% to $73.03 per barrel.

The escalation has also impacted global financial markets. Major U.S. indices, along with Asian markets, have begun to decline, while safe-haven assets such as the Swiss franc and gold are experiencing upward movement.

The price of a barrel of Azerbaijani oil of the “Azeri Light” brand on the world market increased by 1.28 USD, or 1.77%, reaching 73.45 USD reports.

According to the results of the auctions, the price of August futures of “Brent” brand oil amounted to 70.85 USD.

Meanwhile, the price of a barrel of “Azeri Light” oil on the FOB basis in the Turkish port of Ceyhan rose by 1.25 USD, or 1.76%, to 72.20 USD.

09:43

The IDF has released footage showing Israeli Air Force aircraft being prepared for combat sorties against Iran.

Israel’s military says 200 fighter jets have been used in its ongoing strikes on Iran, according to BBC.

“More than 100 targets have been struck across Iran,” IDF spokesperson Effie Defrin said during a live briefing, adding that “over 330 various munitions” have already been dropped.

Defrin said Israel’s strikes were “part of a precise and synchronized operation” and that its pilots were “still striking military targets and targets from the nuclear program across different areas in Iran.”

09:34

The government of the Islamic Republic of Iran issued a statement in response to the Israeli strikes on Tehran and other cities in the country, which, according to Iranian sources, killed military commanders and scientists.

In the official statement published by the IRNA news agency, Iranian authorities emphasised that the “night aggression of the Zionist regime against the Homeland” demonstrated Israel’s disregard for all international norms and its readiness to “officially and openly commit terrorist acts and ignite war.”

“Starting a war with Iran is playing with fire and an act of daring against a lion. Such night operations, especially at a time when diplomatic negotiations on the nuclear issue were underway, reflect this regime’s fear of Iran’s strength and its inability to contain Iran through diplomatic means,” the statement said.

Tehran stresses that Israel’s actions in Iranian airspace and the elimination of Iranian commanders “once again prove the terrorist nature of the Zionist regime.” Iranian authorities assured that from this moment they are taking all necessary defensive, political, and legal steps to, as stated in the text, “make Israel regret what it has done and deprive the Zionists of sleep.”

“The response will be decisive, unified, and uncompromising,” the Iranian government declared. “We have the legitimate right to respond, and we will exercise it. There are no disagreements in Iran today: the entire nation, the state, and the authorities stand united in the face of the aggressor.”

“Revenge for each of our martyrs is inevitable. We call on the UN Security Council to protect what remains of the international order. But even if that does not happen, as the Supreme Leader said, ‘the mighty hand of the Iranian Armed Forces will not let this regime go. Retribution is near—closer than the Zionists’ carotid artery.’”

Iranian authorities assured that the situation is under control and that a response will follow very soon.

“We did not start this. But Iran will write the final chapter of this story,” the statement concluded.

09:22

In the past few hours, Iran has launched more than 100 drones towards Israel.

According to The Times of Israel, this was reported by an official representative of the Israel Defence Forces, Brigadier General Effi Deferin.

He stated that the IDF is taking measures to intercept them.

Deferin clarified that the launches originated from Iranian territory, and it will take several hours for the drones to reach Israeli airspace.

09:17

Iran’s former national security chief Ali Shamkhani, has been killed as a result of Israeli strikes on Iran, CNN reports, citing Iranian state media.

“The assassination of Ali Shamkhani was also confirmed,” said the Iranian state news network IRINN.

Shamkhani was a key advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and served as Secretary of the country’s National Security Council for nearly ten years.

09:05

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has appointed General Ahmad Vahidi as the new commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), replacing the late General Hossein Salami.

New IRGC commander, General Vahidi.

This was reported by the Iranian news agency Nournews.

Habibollah Sayyari has been named acting Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces. He will replace Mohammad Bagheri, who was killed in the Israeli strikes.

08:57

Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, has died as a result of Israeli strikes on Iran, according to the MEHR news agency.

Earlier, the Iranian side denied the death of the general.

08:46

According to Iranian state media reports, several key figures of Iran’s military and scientific establishment were killed in a large-scale Israeli military operation aimed at undermining Tehran’s nuclear program.

Among the confirmed dead are:

– Hossein Salami — Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC);

– Gholamali Rashid — Commander of the Central Headquarters of “Khatam al-Anbiya”;

– Fereydoon Abbasi — Nuclear scientist and former head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation;

– Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi — another specialist in the nuclear program.

In addition, Ali Shamkhani, one of the closest advisors to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, reportedly sustained serious injuries, according to media reports.

The Israeli side has stated that the operation will continue and is aimed at “permanently depriving Iran of the ability to develop nuclear weapons.”

08:32

Azerbaijani airline AZAL has cancelled several flights due to the closure of airspace by a number of Middle Eastern countries over security concerns.

Flights on the Baku–Tel Aviv–Baku, Baku–Dubai–Baku, and Baku–Tehran–Baku routes scheduled for June 13 and 14 have been cancelled.

08:24

UN Secretary-General António Guterres is concerned about Israel’s strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and urges all sides to exercise maximum restraint. This was stated by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General.

“The Secretary-General condemns any military escalation in the Middle East. He is particularly concerned by Israeli attacks on nuclear installations in Iran while talks between Iran and the United States on the status of Iran’s nuclear programme are underway. The Secretary-General recalls the obligation of UN Member States to act in accordance with the UN Charter and international law,” the statement read.

“The Secretary-General asks both sides to show maximum restraint, avoiding at all costs a descent into deeper conflict, a situation that the region can hardly afford,” Haq added.

08:22

Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Mohammad Bagheri, was not harmed in the Israeli strikes on Iranian territory, according to the IRNA news agency.

The agency clarified that the general is currently at a command post.

Earlier, Reuters had reported, citing a source, that Bagheri was presumed dead.

08:15

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the surprise airstrike on Iranian territory was “very successful.”

“We struck the top command, the leading scientists involved in developing nuclear weapons, and key nuclear infrastructure facilities,” Netanyahu emphasised. “We are achieving success, but I know, and you know: there are no easy wars.”

The Israeli leader also warned that Israelis may have to “spend much more time in shelters than we have been used to until now.”

08:13

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has stated that Israel’s attack on Iran “could not have happened without coordination and authorisation from the United States.” The statement was published on the ministry’s official Telegram channel.

“The U.S. government, as the main supporter of this regime (Israel), will also be held responsible for the consequences and the dangerous repercussions of this Zionist attack,” the message reads.

It’s worth noting that Iranian Armed Forces spokesman Abolfazl Shekarchi also accused the United States of involvement in the strikes on Tehran.

Earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied any American involvement in the attacks and urged Iran not to act against U.S. interests.

07:56

Scale of the Strikes: According to Israeli military sources, the attack targeted dozens of sites across Iran. The primary objectives were critical components of Iran’s nuclear programme and facilities associated with the production of long-range ballistic missiles. A source in the Israeli military told CNN the operation “is not limited to a single day.”

Scientists and Generals Targeted: An Israeli intelligence official told reporters that the first wave of strikes included locations where senior Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists were believed to be present. “The likelihood of their elimination is high and continues to increase,” the official stated.

IRGC Commander Killed: According to several Iranian state media outlets, General Hossein Salami, commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was killed in the strikes. However, there has been no official confirmation so far.

Destruction on the Ground: Photos and videos released by Iranian state media show burning residential buildings and plumes of smoke rising above the nuclear facility in Natanz.

Mobilisation and State of Emergency in Israel: Israeli authorities have declared a state of emergency. Schools have been closed, mass gatherings banned, and citizens urged to stay home unless absolutely necessary. Hospitals have been instructed to suspend non-urgent care and switch to emergency protocols. The army is mobilising “tens of thousands” of reservists.

U.S. Response: CNN reports that the Donald Trump administration was informed in advance about the planned strike. However, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed that the United States did not participate in the operation and provided no military assistance to Israel.

Future of Nuclear Talks: The sixth round of the U.S.–Iran nuclear negotiations was scheduled for June 15 in Oman.

07:42

Israel has carried out strikes on three military sites in northwestern Iran, according to Iranian state television.

“Three military facilities in East Azerbaijan Province were targeted by the Zionist regime,” the provincial emergency management authority said in a statement broadcast by the state channel.

07:37

A spokesperson for Iran’s armed forces has stated that the strikes carried out by Israel on Iranian territory were conducted with the support of the United States. This was also reported by Iranian state media.

As previously mentioned, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has rejected all accusations of American involvement in the operation.

07:28

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei addressed the Iranian people:

“At dawn today, the Zionist regime once again revealed its malicious nature by committing a new crime on the soil of our beloved country, staining its filthy and bloodied hands with an attack on residential areas. This regime must be prepared for severe punishment.”

“The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic, with God’s permission, will not leave this aggression unanswered.”

“Several commanders and scientists were killed in the attack. Their successors and colleagues, with Allah’s help, will immediately carry on their mission.”

“Through this crime, the Zionist regime has set itself on a path toward a bitter and painful fate — and it will inevitably meet it.”

07:18

Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, stated that Israel is calling up “tens of thousands” of reservists in preparation for further developments following the strikes on Iranian territory.

“We launched this operation because the time had come. We are at the point of no return. We cannot afford to wait. We have no other choice,” said Zamir in the statement.

He added that both recent and historical lessons are clear: “When the enemy seeks our destruction, we cannot turn a blind eye. We must fight for our existence. Freedom is granted to those who are willing to fight for it.”

It should be recalled that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier stated the operation against Iran would last several days. Following the strikes on what Tel Aviv calls “nuclear targets,” Israel declared a state of emergency — schools are closed, mass gatherings are banned, and businesses have been advised to suspend operations in anticipation of a potential Iranian response.

07:17

Iran has fully closed its airspace until further notice. The announcement was made by the country’s Civil Aviation Authority, which also urged citizens not to go to airports. Earlier, authorities had temporarily suspended flights over Tehran, as confirmed by an official NOTAM notice.

07:16

Iranian media are reporting a new wave of Israeli strikes across the country. According to their reports, the current attacks are targeting the cities of Tehran, Ahvaz, and Kermanshah.

06:45

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced in a video statement that the Israeli Air Force had struck Iran’s uranium enrichment centre in Natanz, scientists involved in nuclear weapons development, and facilities he described as the “heart of Iran’s ballistic missile programme”. He said the operation would continue for several days. “We are at a decisive moment in Israel’s history,” Netanyahu declared.

Iranian state media and eyewitnesses confirmed explosions in multiple locations across the country, including Tehran and the city of Natanz, home to a key nuclear facility. According to Reuters, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council has convened an emergency meeting.

Both Iranian television and CNN reported the death of General Hossein Salami, commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), in the strikes. However, this has not yet been confirmed by independent sources.

The Israeli military said the strikes targeted “dozens” of nuclear and military facilities. Israeli assessments claim Iran possesses enough fissile material to produce up to 15 nuclear warheads in the near term.

Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz has warned of a possible retaliatory attack from Tehran. “A massive strike on Israeli territory using rockets and drones is expected imminently,” his statement said. A state of emergency has been declared in Israel.

Meanwhile, the United States has emphasised it was not involved in the military operation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement confirming the unilateral nature of Israel’s actions. “Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,” he said. Rubio added, “Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel.”

According to CNN, US President Donald Trump convened an emergency cabinet meeting. The previous day, Trump had acknowledged the possibility of an Israeli strike on Iran, while expressing hope for a peaceful resolution.

Amid the sharp escalation of the conflict, oil prices surged by more than $3 per barrel.

The situation in the region remains extremely tense. International observers warn of the risk of a wide-scale escalation that could develop into a full-scale war with unpredictable consequences for the entire Middle East.