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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Commentary from New Lines Institute’s Middle East experts: Nicholas A. Heras, Caroline Rose, and Dania Arayssi

Strikes exchanged between Israel and Iran have escalated in recent days, with death tolls and uncertainty rising in both states. Meanwhile, Israel is increasingly pressuring the United States to join its war efforts to eliminate Iranian nuclear capabilities and, perhaps, initiate regime change in Iran. In this real-time analysis, experts from the New Lines Institute react to recent developments and potential regional implications.

Nicholas A. Heras: Trump Must Intervene

Iran and Israel are pioneering a type of warfare by distance that will have wide-ranging consequences. Israel has utilized long-range strikes from aircraft, combined with clandestine operations inside Iran, to carry out a complex military campaign from far away. Iran is utilizing ballistic missiles and drone waves to strike at Israel to create airpower in lieu of possessing advanced aircraft. This conventional, non-expeditionary method of warfare between two non-contiguous states at distances of thousands of kilometers puts multiple states in the region, most them U.S. partners, in the direct path of the fighting. The risk of regional conflict due to the nature of the combat should be shaping President Donald Trump’s planning and should animate a renewed push for American diplomacy to end the fighting.

Iran’s leadership is under significant duress, and Israel is dominating the escalation ladder in the fighting. Israeli military action has not only heavily damaged its nuclear program but also degraded Iran’s air defense systems and ballistic missile and drone stockpiles. Iran’s proxy forces in the region are significantly weakened. The Islamic Republic’s regime will emerge from this war distracted by ensuring its domestic survival at the expense of its external power projection. The longer the fighting goes on, millions more people will be internally displaced in Iran and Israel, especially Iran, and tens of thousands of people could be killed and injured. The consequences of the war are dire and could become catastrophic, adding more human misery to a region already grappling with the consequences of civil wars, socio-economic and socio-political instability, and mass migration. Trump should decisively demonstrate that American stewardship in the Middle East means ending the cycle of conflict between Iran and Israel.

Caroline Rose: Expanded Fronts

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has laid out three main objectives for Israel’s ongoing military campaign against Iran:

Dismantle Iran’s nuclear program Destroy its ballistic missile production capabilities Dismantle what he calls Iran’s “terror axis”

Much attention has been paid to whether Israel can realistically achieve the first two – both clear, tangible targets. However, the third objective deserves attention as it directly relates to the scale, scope, and longevity of this regional conflict.

Netanyahu has made it clear that Israel will not agree to a ceasefire unless all three goals are fulfilled, but the third goal is deliberately vague, echoing the open-ended language used in Israel’s operations in Gaza and its wider confrontations with Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen. By framing its actions against Iran as a broad counterterrorism effort without a clearly defined endpoint, it’s likely we’ll see multiple theaters repeatedly open and close, much like previous cycles we’ve witnessed. The United States should expect Israel to encroach into contested territories in Lebanon, Syria, as well as seek to counter Iran-backed proxy forces in Iraq and Yemen.

Dania Arayssi: The United States Must Condition Support for Israeli Operations in Iran

Trump’s call for Tehran residents to evacuate underscores the escalation in this conflict, raising critical questions about its scope and duration, as well as America’s role in it. The United States and Israel have agreed on the ends – ending Iran nuclear program in the Middle East – and it appears they have also agreed on military operations being the means. However, the United States cannot afford to continue supporting Israeli military operations in Iran, even if it means ending Iranian nuclear program, for several reasons related to U.S. national security and interests.

Netanyahu has engaged in war in Gaza to end Hamas for over two years without a serious political resolution, which has added pressure on the United States both domestically and internationally, not to mention Israel’s engagement in Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen. The United States cannot afford involvement in another major conflict while managing its relationship with China and Russia, conflict in Ukraine, and urgent domestic priorities. Both military and non-military involvement would drain U.S. resources and redirect strategic attention from core national security priorities. The diplomatic costs extend throughout the Arab world: Countries including Jordan, Egypt, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia have explicitly called for de-escalation despite their normalization with Israel. Ignoring these calls would jeopardize decades of relationship-building between the United States and the Arab world.

Any U.S. support for Israel’s military operations against Iran must be strictly conditioned on clearly defined objectives, realistic timelines, and measurable goals for success. This shift in approach can be achieved through direct, high-level diplomatic and intelligence communication and cooperation between American and Israeli leadership to establish these operational parameters and accountability measures upfront. While this conditionality would represent a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy toward Israel, it is necessary to protect America’s reputation, international standing and core national security priority. This approach would prevent another open-ended conflict that damages America’s reputation, endangers civilians in Iran and the region, and increases the probability of a wider regional conflict.

The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and not an official policy or position of New Lines Institute.

4 things to know as the war between Israel and Iran intensifies

toggle caption MINA/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

There was panic and confusion in Iran’s capital city of Tehran as Israel warned hundreds of thousands of civilians to evacuate ahead of more potential strikes as the broadening conflict between the two countries spilled into its fifth day.

Cars filled with people fleeing waited in miles-long lines at gas stations, trying to buy fuel. Roads out of the city were packed with bumper-to-bumper traffic. On Tuesday, the Israeli military said it had launched a “large scale attack wave in the heart of Iran,” with dozens of fighter jets targeting 12 different sites.

Zahra, an unemployed fashion designer in Tehran, told NPR she was trying to get out of the city to head to her hometown in western Iran but all the roads were blocked. She asked that only her first name be used because she feared government reprisal for speaking to the media.

Sponsor Message

“We don’t know what we should do. What decisions can we or should we make? We don’t have internet. We cannot even hear the news,” she said in a series of voice notes that she says took her more than 18 hours to send due to the lack of signal.

“Each person is only thinking about how they can save their own lives or the lives of their loved ones,” she said. “Everyone is just thinking about how to avoid these missiles.”

President Trump posted on his social media platform late Monday also calling for civilians in Tehran to leave.

“IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON,” Trump wrote. “Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!”

On Tuesday, he went a step further, suggesting in a post that the U.S. knew the location of Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding. He is an easy target, but is safe there — We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now.”

Trump left the G7 summit in Canada a day early, due to the intensifying conflict in the Middle East.

“I have to be back. It’s very important,” he told reporters as he prepared to return to the U.S. “I have to be back as soon as I can.”

Here are four things to know about the conflict.

1. Many civilians have been caught in the crossfire

Israel says its assault on Iran is necessary to prevent the country from building a nuclear weapon – which Israel sees as an existential threat – insisting its strikes have “precisely” targeted military and nuclear facilities and taken out several top military leaders and nuclear scientists.

Sponsor Message

Those strikes have also killed more than 200 civilians, including at least 20 children, according to the Iranian government. Iran maintains that its nuclear program is peaceful.

Dena, a 48-year-old resident of Tehran – who also asked to be identified only by her first name for fear of government reprisal – says the government has given civilians no information on how to protect themselves.

“They don’t give us any practical tips. No information as to which locations we should avoid and which ones are safe to go. They don’t talk about it at all,” she says. “They are only applauding and celebrating shooting missiles at Israel.”

Iran has responded by launching more than 300 missiles and hundreds of drones toward Israel, in several waves of attacks that have sent civilians throughout both Israel and the occupied West Bank scrambling for cover amidst blaring air raid sirens. Israel’s military says many of the projectiles were intercepted, but several have hit, causing damage to residential buildings, killing at least 24 civilians and wounding hundreds more, according to Israel’s prime minister’s office.

Israel and Iran have traded direct fire several times – most recently in October of last year – since the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel in 2023 sparked the current war in Gaza. But this new round has lasted longer and been more destructive and deadly for both sides.

“Everything that we’re watching is defying expectations,” Aaron Stein, president of the Foreign Policy Research Institute, told NPR’s All Things Considered. He said Israel has gained control of much of Iran’s airspace and taken out its missile capabilities faster than many experts thought possible.

“But if they don’t get certain nuclear facilities, and Iran has the capability at the end of this thing to rapidly build a nuclear weapon, I will have judged this as a failure on the Israeli side,” said Stein.

Sponsor Message

2. Destroying all of Iran’s nuclear sites won’t be easy

Iran has several nuclear facilities underground, specifically south of Tehran in Natanz and Fordo, the latter of which is built deep inside a mountain. That poses a serious challenge for Israel’s air-to-ground capability.

The facilities – and the centrifuges they contain – can be used to enrich uranium to a purity that could be used either in a nuclear reactor to generate electricity or to build an atomic weapon, experts say.

Speaking to the BBC on Monday, the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Director, General Rafael Grossi, said it was likely that all of the 15,000 centrifuges at Natanz, Iran’s largest such facility, had been severely damaged by Israeli airstrikes. He said there was “very limited, if any, damage” visible at the underground Fordo enrichment plant.

Fordo, “is deeply buried,” says Daniel Shapiro, former U.S. ambassador to Israel and distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council, a non-partisan think thank in Washington, D.C. “[Only] the United States has the kind of bunker busting capabilities that can actually destroy that facility. But I don’t rule out that Israel has some surprises up its sleeve.”

3. Israel’s endgame is unclear

At a news briefing on Monday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel’s strikes have set back Iran’s nuclear program by a “very long time,” but emphasized that more targets remain. When asked if Israel plans to keep fighting until the Iranian government falls, Netanyahu said the main goal is to dismantle Iran’s nuclear capabilities — but also added that the “regime is very weak.”

In an interview with ABC News Monday , Netanyahu said that killing Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei would “end the conflict.”

But experts on the region tell NPR that it’s unlikely Israel is specifically trying to go that far right now.

“I don’t think regime change is the objective of this Israeli campaign,” says Shapiro, who served as ambassador to Israel during the Obama presidency. “I don’t think it’s possible to do it with this kind of military campaign, and I don’t think that’s even a legitimate objective.”

Sponsor Message

Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a non-partisan think tank, echoed that view.

“Even strategic bombing doesn’t do it,” he says. Without occupying the country, he adds, it would be nearly impossible.

Instead, Israel is likely relying on a “mowing the grass” strategy, with the expectation of striking again later in an iterative process of setting back Iran’s nuclear program, Miller says.

Meanwhile, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Tuesday that he was seeking “a real end” to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, which he called “better than a ceasefire.”

4. The U.S. could be drawn in

Although Israel operates sophisticated U.S.-made warplanes, such as the F-35 fighter, it does not possess the enormous 30,000 pound bunker-busting bombs and the B-2 stealth bombers needed to deliver them – tools only the U.S. possesses.

That puts Israel in a difficult position, says Miller of the Carnegie Endowment.

“They can’t destroy Tehran’s program on their own,” he says. “But if they stop and it survives, this will be viewed as a defeat.”

To seriously degrade Iran’s nuclear program, Israel would likely need U.S. assistance.

Whether or not Washington will do that is still a question. Trump was asked at the G7 summit in Canada what it would take for the U.S. to become militarily involved, to which he responded simply: “I don’t want to talk about that.”

But the U.S. has sent fighter jets and military planes to the region, as the conflict has escalated. B-2 stealth bombers had been in place at a nearby U.S. base in the Indian Ocean, but have since moved.

“A unilateral Israeli strike… would set back the program by a few weeks to a few months. A U.S. attack would set it back by one or two years,” says Ali Vaez, director of the International Crisis Group’s Iran Project.

Sponsor Message

However, he cautions: “If the U.S. intervenes, the door to diplomacy will be shut entirely… Iran would probably hunker down… while trying to reconstitute its nuclear program and dash for a nuclear weapon.”

The U.S. had been in the midst of talks with Iran over its nuclear program when Israel launched the surprise attack late last week. Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran were supposed to continue last weekend, but have since stalled.

There could also be consequences for the U.S., according to Shapiro.

“Iran might try to retaliate against U.S. forces at bases in the Gulf states… or to blockade energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz,” he says. “These are ways Iran might try to make sure if they suffer, everybody suffers.”

Trump has strongly warned Iran against attacking the U.S., saying the American military would respond with “full strength and might.”

Shir David contributed to this report from Tel Aviv. NPR’s Tom Bowman contributed from Washington, D.C.

The international community faces an urgent choice. We can either develop new frameworks for managing MAID-enabled conflicts before they spiral beyond control, or we can continue reacting to each escalation as it occurs (AP Photo)

Iran-Israel War Live News Updates: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities as “grave war crimes” at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, where he is also meeting top European leaders to discuss Iran’s nuclear program. The conflict between Israel and Iran continued to escalate, with the Israeli military reportedly conducting overnight strikes on multiple military targets across Iran.

Casualty count: In fresh strikes, Iranian missiles targeted a hospital and residential structures in Tel Aviv, wounding over 200 people on Thursday night. According to AP, Israel’s air campaign has targeted several nuclear and military sites, killing senior generals and nuclear scientists. A Washington-based Iranian human rights group reported that at least 639 people have been killed in Iran, including 263 civilians, and over 1,300 injured. In retaliation, Iran has launched around 400 missiles and hundreds of drones, killing at least 24 people in Israel and wounding hundreds.

Trump’s 2-week deadline: After his ominous statement regarding launching strikes against Iran, US President Donald Trump said that he will decide in two weeks whether the US military will directly get involved in the Israel-Iran conflict or not, given the “substantial chance” for renewed negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program. Earlier, Trump left the G7 summit in Canada a day early as the conflict between the two Middle Eastern countries deepened, but said that his hasty exit from the summit had nothing to do with negotiating a ceasefire between the nations. Live Updates 23:19 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Israel News LIVE Updates: Putin sees no need for OPEC+ intervention amid Iran-Israel conflict Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that the conflict between Iran and Israel hasn’t led to a significant rise in oil prices, rendering OPEC+ intervention unnecessary, according to Reuters. Putin mentioned that oil prices have increased from $65 to around $75 per barrel due to the conflict. He also noted that OPEC+ is gradually increasing oil output to maintain market balance and comfortable prices. 23:16 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Israel News LIVE Updates: European ministers urge continued talks with Iran amid escalating tensions UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and European counterparts have emphasized the need for ongoing discussions with Iran, stressing that a regional escalation would “benefit no one.” Lammy stated that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons and urged Iran to continue talks with the US, highlighting the importance of diplomacy in the current “perilous moment” between Iran and Israel.-BBC 22:58 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Israel News LIVE Updates: European-Iran talks in Geneva come to a close The meeting between European foreign ministers and an Iranian delegation in Geneva has concluded, with European leaders now set to deliver a statement outlining the key points from the discussions. The talks aimed to ease tensions between Iran and Israel.-Reuters 22:16 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Israel News LIVE Updates: Germany evacuates citizens from Israel amid tensions Germany’s air force has successfully flown 64 people out of Israel, according to the country’s defence ministry. Two A400M military transport planes are currently en route back to Germany, the ministry said, describing the operation as a “diplomatic pick-up” rather than a military evacuation mission. -The Guardian 22:06 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Israel News LIVE Updates: Iraqi UN Ambassador: 50 Israeli warplanes violated Iraq’s airspace Iraq’s UN Ambassador has accused Israel of violating Iraq’s airspace and territorial integrity with 50 warplanes, according to Reuters. 22:01 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Israel News LIVE Updates: Iran’s UN Ambassador: Iran will continue to defend itself until Israeli aggression ends Iran’s United Nations Ambassador has stated that Iran will continue to exercise its right to self-defense until Israeli aggression ends, according to Reuters. 21:43 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Israel News LIVE Updates: Putin asserts continued Russian presence at Bushehr nuclear power plan Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia will continue working at Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant, emphasizing that staff will not be evacuated despite escalating tensions with Israel. 21:41 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Israel News LIVE Updates: Iran and European officials hold 90-minute talks in Geneva Iranian and European officials met for approximately 90 minutes in Geneva before taking a break, according to a Western European diplomat who spoke to CNN. The two sides are currently consulting separately in different rooms, with direct talks expected to resume shortly . 21:25 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Israel News LIVE Updates: UN secretary-general warns of uncontrollable conflict as Israel-Iran tensions escalate UN secretary-general António Guterres has urged an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Iran conflict, warning that further escalation could have “enormous consequences” for the region and global stability. Addressing the UN Security Council, Guterres emphasized the need for diplomacy over military action and called on all parties to avoid further internationalization of the conflict. His appeal comes as European foreign ministers meet with their Iranian counterpart to explore the possibility of a new nuclear deal, despite ongoing Israeli attacks.-The Guardian 20:59 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Israel News LIVE Updates: Dozens injured in latest attack on Northern Israel Dozens of people have been injured in northern Israel following the latest attacks from Iran, according to Israel’s emergency services, reported by the BBC. Magen David Adom (MDA) says three people are in serious condition, while 20 others have sustained mild injuries, including blast and shrapnel wounds. A 51-year-old woman also died in a shelter in Karmiel after suffering a heart attack. 20:57 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Israel News LIVE Updates: Iran’s internet blackout enters 3rd day amid conflict Iran’s internet restrictions have now lasted 48 hours, severely limiting online access for Iranians amid the ongoing conflict with Israel. Internet connectivity remains extremely low, plummeting to just 3% on Wednesday afternoon, according to Netblocks, a non-governmental organisation monitoring internet governance. 20:47 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Israel News LIVE Updates: China urges return to dialogue on Iranian nuclear issue China has called for the Iranian nuclear issue to be returned to the path of dialogue and negotiation, according to Reuters. Amid escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, China emphasizes the need for a diplomatic solution to the crisis. 20:23 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Israel News LIVE Updates: UK withdraws embassy staff from Iran citing security concerns The UK has announced the temporary withdrawal of staff from its embassy in Tehran due to security concerns, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said, according to the BBC. The embassy will continue to operate remotely. This decision comes after the UK earlier temporarily withdrew family members of staff from its embassy and consulate in Israel amid safety concerns. 20:17 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Israel News LIVE Updates: US imposes new sanctions on Iran-related targets The US Treasury has announced new sanctions targeting specifically designated individuals, several of whom are affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to Al Jazeera citing the Treasury’s website. The move aims to further pressure Iran amid ongoing tensions. 20:01 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Israel News LIVE Updates: UN Chief warns of ‘trust gap’ in Iran nuclear talks over escalating conflict UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that the world is “racing towards” a crisis amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. Guterres emphasized that the nuclear question lies at the heart of the conflict, noting a “trust gap” in talks. “Iran has repeatedly stated that it is not seeking nuclear weapons. But let’s recognize there is a trust gap,” he said, appealing for an end to the fighting and a return to serious negotiations.-BBC 19:20 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Israel News LIVE Updates: Israeli army gives all-clear after missile attack The Israeli army has announced that Israelis are now permitted to leave protected areas, indicating that the immediate threat from the missile attack has passed. According to the army’s post on X, rescue forces are currently operating in several areas across the country where reports of falls have been received, working to assess and respond to any damage or injuries caused by the attack. 19:10 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Israel News LIVE Updates: Two injured in latest Iranian missile barrage on Israel According to Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service, two people were injured in the latest Iranian missile barrage, including a 16-year-old boy in serious condition with shrapnel in his upper body and a 54-year-old man in moderate condition with shrapnel injuries to his lower limbs. The MDA provided medical treatment and transported the injured to the hospital. This incident comes amid escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, with reports indicating multiple injuries across various locations in Israel due to Iranian missile strikes . 18:55 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Israel News LIVE Updates: Iran’s Foreign Minister condemns Israeli strikes at UN Rights Council Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has strongly condemned Israel’s attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, calling them “grave war crimes” at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. According to reports, Araghchi’s sentiments echo those of Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Ali Bahreini, who previously described the attacks as “war against humanity”. -Reuters 18:51 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Israel News LIVE Updates: Hundred of thousands gather in Iraq in support of Iran Thousands of Iraqis gathered in Baghdad’s Sadr City and other cities to show support for Iran, chanting anti-US and anti-Israel slogans after Friday prayers. According to Al Jazeera , the protests reflect widespread sentiment among Iraq’s Shia majority, with demonstrators denouncing Israel’s actions and warning against being dragged into the conflict. The rallies, attended by supporters of powerful Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, featured chants of “No to Israel! No to America!” and criticism of Israel’s alleged use of Iraqi airspace to bomb Iran. Protesters also expressed hope that Iran would emerge victorious and called for Iraq to support its neighbor with money, weapons, and protests. 18:35 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Israel News LIVE Updates: Sirens ring out across Israel as IDF scrambles to intercept Iranian missiles Air-raid sirens are sounding in multiple areas across Israel, including Tel Aviv and central Israel, as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) works to intercept missiles launched from Iran. The IDF has activated its defense systems, with the Air Force scrambling to eliminate the threat. Residents have been instructed to seek shelter in protected areas until further notice. -BBC 18:32 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Israel News LIVE Updates: Iran launches new missile attack on Israel According to the Israeli military, Iran fired a fresh barrage of missiles towards northern, central, and southern Israel on Friday. The military reported that sirens sounded across the country and instructed residents to seek shelter until further notice. As reported by CNN, the Israeli air forces are working to intercept and eliminate the threat, with emergency services responding to scenes where impacts have been reported . 18:31 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Israel News LIVE Updates: Israel detects multiple missiles launched from Iran, Air force scrambles to intercept The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has reported detecting several missiles launched from Iran, with alerts activated in multiple areas across the country. The IDF has urged citizens to follow the instructions of the Home Front Command, while the Air Force works to intercept and neutralize the threat. According to reports, the IDF has successfully intercepted some missiles, but the situation remains volatile, with ongoing interception efforts to protect Israeli territory. 18:05 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Israel News LIVE Updates: Iran open to nuclear limitations, but zero enrichment unlikely A senior Iranian official has stated that Iran is willing to discuss limitations on its uranium enrichment program. However, the official emphasized that completely halting enrichment is unlikely, particularly in light of recent attacks by Israel. This development comes ahead of a crucial meeting in Geneva, where foreign ministers from the UK, France, Germany, and Iran will discuss a potential pathway back to diplomacy regarding Iran’s nuclear program.-The Guardian 17:58 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Israel News LIVE Updates: Hundreds of thousands protest in Iran against Israeli strikes Massive demonstrations have erupted across Iran, with hundreds of thousands of people taking to the streets in cities big and small, to express their outrage over Israeli attacks As per Al Jazeera reports, protesters in Tehran, Shiraz, Tabriz, Isfahan, and other cities chanted slogans, waved flags of Iran, Palestine, and Hezbollah, and showed support for Iran’s retaliatory actions. The protests followed Friday prayers at the University of Tehran, where demonstrators carried pictures of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had called for solidarity among the people after the Israeli strikes began. 17:47 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Israel News LIVE Updates: UK arranges charter flights for citizens stranded in Israel The UK government, led by Foreign Secretary David Lammy, has announced plans to arrange charter flights for British nationals stranded in Israel once the country’s airspace reopens. According to the BBC, Lammy stated that the government is working with Israeli authorities to provide charter flights from Tel Aviv airport, based on demand from British nationals. British citizens are advised to register their presence in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories for further guidance on these flights. Land routes out of Israel remain open, with UK staff available to provide support and transport to nearby airports for onward commercial flights. 17:24 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Israel News LIVE Updates: Zero enrichment will be rejected, Iranian official A senior Iranian official said that zero enrichment will be rejected, especially after Israeli strikes, news agency Reuters reported. He added that the role of European powers is now more prominent as Tehran is unwilling to engage with Washington owing to its position on Israel’s campaign and Iran’s uranium enrichment programme. 17:11 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Israel News LIVE Updates: Israel slams UN rights council for giving floor to Iran ahead of nuclear talks Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva has raised “vehement objection” to Iran addressing the Human Rights Council ahead of talks with European counterparts in Geneva to try to de-escalate the conflict, according to a letter seen by news agency Reuters. “Affording the Iranian foreign minister the floor before this body continues to undermine the council’s credibility and constitutes a blatant betrayal of the many victims of this regime worldwide,” Daniel Meron said in a letter addressed to council president Jurg Lauber. (Reuters) 15:56 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Israel News LIVE Updates: Iranian nuclear scientist killed in suspected Israeli drone strike on Tehran apartment – Report An Iranian nuclear scientist was killed in a strike on a building in Tehran on Friday, according to reports cited by Reuters from Israel’s national broadcaster, Kan. While the Israeli military has not issued an official comment, Kan quoted an Israeli source saying that initial indications showed the scientist was killed in a drone attack on an apartment in the Iranian capital. In a separate statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that more than 25 air force fighter jets had attacked and destroyed over 35 missile storage and launch facilities in Iran early Friday morning. 15:23 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Israel News LIVE Updates: Israel to intensify strikes on Tehran to ‘destabilize’ regime, says defence minister Katz Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz has said he has ordered the military to intensify its strikes on regime targets in Tehran, with the aim of destabilizing the Iranian leadership and deterring further attacks. “We must strike all symbols of the regime and its mechanisms of oppression, such as the Basij, as well as the base of the regime’s power, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,” Katz said during a military assessment on Friday morning with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and other senior officers, according to The Times of Israel. Katz also said Israel should aim to trigger “a mass evacuation of the population from Tehran, in order to destabilize the regime and increase deterrence in response to missile fire on Israel’s home front,” while continuing precision strikes on nuclear sites and scientists to “thwart Iran’s nuclear program, until all objectives of the operation are fully achieved.” 15:13 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Israel News LIVE Updates: Iran rules out talks with US, calls it ‘partner to Israeli crime’ Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araqchi has ruled out the possibility of negotiations with the United States, calling it a “partner to Israeli crime against Iran.” “There is no room for negotiations with us until Israeli aggression stops,” Araqchi told Iranian state TV, according to Reuters. 14:28 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Israel News LIVE Updates: Iran’s President says unconditional end to aggression needed to stop war Iran’s president Pezeshkian says only way to end ‘imposed war is to unconditionally stop enemy’s aggression.’ 14:09 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Israel News LIVE Updates: German minister promises more talks if Iran ‘serious’ on nuclear assurances Germany together with its European partners is open to further discussions with Iran if there is a serious willingness from Tehran to provide assurances on its nuclear and missile programmes, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Friday. “My colleagues in the United Kingdom, France and also the High Representative (for the European Union) have always said that we are ready to talk,” Wadephul said ahead of a meeting with the Iranian foreign minister in Geneva. “This requires Iran’s serious willingness to renounce any enrichment of nuclear material, which could lead to nuclear weaponisation. This also requires that the missile programme can be included. If this serious willingness exists, then the consequence on our part will also be that we are prepared to hold further talks,” he added. (Reuters)

13:53 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Israel News LIVE Updates: Iran must end ‘Zionist terrorists’ adventures forever, says President Pezeshkian Iran’s President Pezeshkian says Iran has to provide a definitive guarantee to end the adventures of “Zionist terrorists” forever. (Reuters)

13:50 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Israel News LIVE Updates: Situation at Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant is ‘normal’, Russian official says Russian nuclear energy chief Alexei Likhachev said that the situation at Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant, where hundreds of Russian specialists work, was “normal” and under control. The Israeli military said at one point on Thursday that it had struck the Russian-built Bushehr facility, but later said the comment had been made by mistake. Likhachev, head of the state nuclear energy corporation Rosatom, said on Thursday that any attack on the plant could cause a Chernobyl-style nuclear disaster. Bushehr is Iran’s only operating nuclear power plant and uses Russian fuel that Russia then takes back when it is spent to reduce proliferation risk. Asked on Friday about the situation at Bushehr, Likhachev told reporters: “So far the situation is completely under control, everything is normal. The night passed in the usual anxious but manageable atmosphere.” He added: “We continue to work in pre-mobilization mode and very much hope that all our signals from yesterday reached the Israeli leadership.” (Reuters)

13:36 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Israel News LIVE Updates: What we know about Israel’s secretive nuclear weapons program Though Israel has never officially confirmed possessing nuclear weapons, experts widely regard it as the Middle East’s worst kept secret, reported CNN. “Israel is unique among nuclear-armed states as it neither confirms nor denies its nuclear capability,” notes the International Institute for Strategic Studies. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Israel is one of nine nuclear-armed nations, alongside the US, Russia, China, the UK, France, India, Pakistan, and North Korea. Israel hasn’t signed the 1970 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and opposes the creation of a WMD-free zone in the Middle East. However, it has ratified the 1963 Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, which bans nuclear tests in the atmosphere and oceans. (With inputs from CNN) 13:18 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Israel News LIVE Updates: Iran’s Red Crescent says five hospitals damaged in Israeli strikes Five hospitals in Iran have been damaged amid Israeli airstrikes, according to Pirhossein Kolivand, head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society. In an interview with state-affiliated IRNA on Friday, Kolivand said the facilities were not directly targeted but suffered damage from nearby blasts — shattering glass and causing breathing issues for patients due to smoke. He added that the incidents would be reported to international prosecutors. Under international humanitarian law, attacks affecting medical facilities are considered violations. (With inputs from CNN) 12:51 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Iran Israel News LIVE Updates: US, UK hold talks on Iran-Israel conflict US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and UK Foreign Minister David Lammy met in Washington on Thursday to discuss diplomatic efforts to contain the growing crisis. The meeting comes ahead of planned talks between Iran and European powers aimed at reviving nuclear diplomacy and preventing wider escalation. Rubio and Lammy reaffirmed their shared position that Iran must “never develop or acquire a nuclear weapon,” according to a statement from the US State Department. The UK Foreign Office also confirmed that Lammy will meet on Friday in Geneva with the European Union’s top diplomat and foreign ministers from France and Germany. The goal is to engage directly with Iran’s foreign minister to de-escalate the situation. (With inputs from Reuters) 12:31 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Iran Israel News LIVE Updates: IAEA says key buildings damaged at Iran’s Khondab site The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has information that key buildings at Iran’s Khondab heavy water research site were damaged in Israeli strikes, including the distillation unit, it said in an X post on Friday. The information was an update on an assessment from Thursday, in which the IAEA said the reactor has been hit but there were no radiological effects. (Reuters) 12:26 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Iran Israel News LIVE Updates: Countries evacuating citizens from Iran and Israel Countries around the world are taking measures to evacuate their citizens from Israel and Iran as the two nations enter the seventh day of their air war and airspace in the region remains closed. A week of Israeli air and missile strikes against its major rival has wiped out the top echelon of Iran’s military command, damaged its nuclear capabilities and killed hundreds of people, while Iranian retaliatory strikes have killed at least two dozen civilians in Israel. Here are some of the countries whose citizens have left. Australia

Austria

Bulgaria

China

Czech Republic

France

Germany

Greece

India

Italy

Japan

New Zealand

Poland

Portugal

Serbia

Sierra Leone

Slovakia

South Korea

Taiwan

United States

Vietnam (Reuters) 12:21 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Iran Israel News LIVE Updates: Iranian not prepared for talks while Israeli attacks continue, says Foreign Ministry

Iranian Foreign Minister Araqchi tells State TV, “Iran not prepared for talks with anyone while Israeli attacks continues.” (Reuters) 12:17 (IST) 20 Jun 2025 Iran Israel News LIVE Updates: Israeli defence minister warns Hezbollah against joining conflict with Iran Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned Lebanon’s Hezbollah to exercise caution on Friday, saying Israel’s patience with “terrorists” who threaten it had worn thin. The head of Iran-backed Hezbollah, Naim Qassem, said on Thursday that the Lebanese group would act as it saw fit in the face of what he called “brutal Israeli-American aggression” against Iran. In other statements, the group has made no explicit pledge to join the fighting and a Hezbollah official told Reuters last week that the group did not intend to initiate attacks against Israel. (Reuters)

Stay updated with the latest – Click here to follow us on Instagram

© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd

Tens of thousands of Americans are now at risk in the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. The Trump administration has established a task force to assist Americans struggling to exit the region. With the international airport in Tel Aviv currently closed until further notice, the primary means of evacuation is overland travel into neighboring Jordan.

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee announced on social media that efforts are underway to organize evacuation flights and cruise ship departures for Americans wishing to leave the area. He urged those in need of assistance to register with the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).

RELATED STORY | Trump says US decision on Iran-Israel conflict coming within 2 weeks

As tensions rise with both nations exchanging attacks, the safety of thousands of American citizens — whether residents, workers, or visitors — has become a pressing concern. The State Department raised its travel warning for Israel to a Level 4 on Monday, which indicates “do not travel.”

“Over the past week, to help keep U.S. citizens informed, we have issued more than 30 security alerts to countries in the region and updated the travel advisories for Iraq and Israel,” said State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce. “We remind U.S. citizens not to travel to Israel or Iraq, and not to travel to Iran under any circumstances. We continue to monitor the complex and rapidly evolving situation on the ground, as we continue to assess and address the needs of U.S. citizens.”

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Israel threatens Iran’s top leader after missiles damage hospital and wound dozens

The U.S. embassy in Israel has already begun evacuating some diplomats and non-essential personnel. Additionally, at least 40,000 American troops are stationed in the region, prompting concerns that U.S. involvement in strikes against Iran could provoke retaliatory attacks against American bases and ships. Meanwhile, the U.S. military has increased its deployment of assets in the Middle East, including an additional aircraft carrier and several dozen refueling tankers designed to support Israeli — or potentially American — fighter jets in any conflict with Iran.

This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.