Speaking to the semi-official Tasnim news agency, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei accused the US of supporting Israel’s assault on Iran, saying the attack would not have happened without Washington’s permission.
“The other side [the US] acted in a way that makes dialogue meaningless,” Baqaei said of talks the US has held with Tehran in recent months to curb its nuclear programme.
“You cannot claim to negotiate and at the same time divide work by allowing the Zionist regime [Israel] to target Iran’s territory,” he added.
Twenty-one people who were injured in Iran's rocket strikes against Israel's central Coastal Plain region earlier have been evacuated, says Israel's emergency service Magen David Adom (MDA).
In a recent post on X, the MDA said one of the injured was in a critical condition, several were seriously injured, and others were in a mild to moderate condition.
Senior Hamas leader Izzat al-Risheq has praised Iran’s successful targeting of sites “despite all the hype about the Iron Dome, and David’s Sling missile defence systems”.
In the statement, shared by local Palestinian news sites, al-Risheq said Israel’s sophisticated defences had failed and the country would “suffer from a fire it has long ignited among the peoples of the region”.
“Iran’s strong response proves that: no arrogance without a response, and no aggression without punishment,” he said.
The Israeli military said in a statement it was working on intercepting a missile launched from Yemen towards Israel, as air raid sirens sounded in Jerusalem.
Iran’s Fars News Agency is reporting that two explosions have been heard near the Fordow nuclear site.
The site at Fordow is dug into the mountains to protect it from potential attacks.
Yossi Beilin, a former Israeli Minister of Justice, says the ending of the 60-day period, during which US President Donald Trump had said he was open to negotiating with Iran, on Thursday, appeared to be a key factor in Israel’s decision to strike Iran now.
He said he hopes that this “confrontation will not go on for a very long while, because eventually it is the people on both sides who are suffering and [will pay] the price”.
“We are very good at bickering. We know how to blame each other, and it may be endless … I really hope that after a few days it will be possible to … return to the negotiating table,” Beilin said.
Qatar, alongside other Arab nations, has strongly condemned Israel's attacks on Iran. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani stated that Israel's "absurd actions" are undermining peace prospects and threatening global security. Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs labeled the attack a "clear violation" of international law and urged restraint.
The United Arab Emirates also condemned the strikes "in the strongest terms," emphasizing the need for "utmost self-restraint and judgement" to prevent further escalation. Egypt similarly condemned the attacks, cautioning about potential "unprecedented repercussions on the security and the stability of the Middle East."
People in Iran are experiencing widespread fear and anxiety, a sentiment particularly heightened as the country hasn't faced strikes of this magnitude since the Iran-Iraq War decades ago. The "shadow of war" is palpable, and a strong sense of anger is prevalent, especially among those in affected areas.
In the capital and other cities, groups are congregating, demanding immediate and forceful retaliation against Israel, urging the state to deliver a "tough, crushing response." Iranians view these recent events not in isolation, but as part of a larger, ongoing pattern of hostile actions, including crippling sanctions, past assassinations, and other aggressive behaviors from the US, Israel, and other international parties.
Israel's decision to launch strikes against Iran, dubbed "Operation Rising Lion," appears to be a culmination of long-standing concerns, particularly Iran's rapidly advancing nuclear program. Several critical factors likely converged to prompt this action. The most critical driver is Israel's assessment that Iran is nearing the capability to produce a nuclear weapon. Recent warnings from the UN nuclear watchdog (IAEA) that Iran is breaching its obligations likely reinforced Israel's belief that diplomatic avenues are insufficient, necessitating immediate military action to prevent what it views as an existential threat. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has explicitly stated Iran could develop a nuclear weapon "within a very short time." The strikes reportedly targeted Iran's main nuclear enrichment site at Natanz and included leading nuclear scientists, directly aiming to set back Iran's program.
Beyond simply delaying the nuclear program, Israel's operation also aims for deterrence and degradation of Iran's overall military capabilities, including its ballistic missile arsenal, and to deter future aggression. By striking key facilities and eliminating top military and scientific personnel, Israel seeks to "roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival." There may also have been an intelligence assessment that provided a window of opportunity, perhaps due to perceived vulnerabilities in Iran's defenses or a belief that Iran's proxies in the region have been weakened. While not the sole trigger, Iran's previous direct attacks on Israeli territory, such as the drone and missile barrage in April 2024, undoubtedly contributed to a heightened sense of urgency and Israel's determination to respond decisively. Although not the primary reason, such a significant military operation can also serve to consolidate domestic political support for the current Israeli government. Finally, the attacks come amid a clear impasse in international diplomatic efforts to curb Iran's nuclear program, suggesting Israel may have felt it had no other viable option.
Latest News Update .......
The situation is rapidly escalating and highly fluid following widespread Israeli strikes across Iran early Friday. These attacks targeted nuclear facilities, ballistic missile production sites, and reportedly killed senior Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists, including the head of the powerful Revolutionary Guard, Hossein Salami. The main nuclear enrichment site at Natanz was reportedly hit, though Iran's Atomic Energy Organization confirmed only partial damage without nuclear radiation or chemical contamination.
Shortly after the Israeli strikes, Iran launched over 100 drones towards Israel. The Israeli military announced it is working to intercept these drones outside Israeli territory. In response, Israel has declared a state of emergency, closing its airspace and reportedly calling up tens of thousands of soldiers in anticipation of further retaliation.
The international community is expressing deep concern. Iraq has called on the UN Security Council to immediately convene and take "decisive and concrete measures to deter this aggression," while NATO's Secretary-General urged Israel's Western backers to press for de-escalation. The United States stated it was aware of the strikes beforehand but was "not involved," with Secretary of State Marco Rubio warning Iran against attacking American bases in the region.
Looking ahead, it's expected that Iran's Chief Advisor's press wing and BNP leaders will hold a joint press briefing in London following the meeting between Professor Yunus and Tarique Rahman, potentially touching upon these regional developments. The situation remains incredibly tense, with fears of a wider regional conflict growing as both sides indicate a willingness to continue military actions, suggesting this is not a "one-and-done" event.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov condemns the sharp escalation in tensions between Israel and Iran, and expressed concern after Israeli strikes on Iran, according to Russia’s Interfax news agency.
Israel said it had targeted nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories and military commanders during the start of an operation to prevent Tehran from building a nuclear weapon.
Iran’s Fars news agency has posted a video showing a red flag flying above a mosque in the Iranian city of Qom.
“The red flag of revenge flies over the holy mosque of Jamkaran,” the news agency said.
اهتزاز پرچم سرخ انتقام برفراز مسجد مقدس جمکران pic.twitter.com/Ez1MvaSqvG
— خبرگزاری فارس (@FarsNews_Agency) June 13, 2025
Iran has reported that at least six of its nuclear scientists were killed in overnight Israeli attacks. Among the confirmed casualties are Fereydoon Abbasi, former head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran; Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, president of the Islamic Azad University in Tehran; and Shahid Beheshti University academics Abdolhamid Minouchehr, Ahmad Reza Zolfaghari, and Amirhossein Feqhi. The sixth victim has been identified only as Motallebizadeh.
Following Israel's attack on Iran, Rafael Grossi, the Director General of the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has urged "all parties to exercise maximum restraint" to prevent further escalation. Grossi expressed his willingness to travel to Iran "at the earliest" to assess the situation and ensure safety, security, and non-proliferation. He emphasized that the IAEA is prepared to facilitate technical discussions and support efforts promoting transparency, safety, security, and the peaceful resolution of nuclear-related issues in Iran. This call for restraint comes a day after the IAEA Board of Governors approved a resolution, for the first time in 20 years, officially censuring Iran over its nuclear program for failing to comply with international nuclear safeguards.
Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization has confirmed that the Natanz nuclear facility sustained damage in an Israeli strike earlier today. However, it stated that there is no indication of any radioactive or chemical leaks beyond the site.
In an official statement, the agency noted that no casualties have been reported so far at Natanz, which serves as Iran’s primary uranium enrichment facility. It added that assessments are still underway to determine the full extent of the damage.
The statement also criticized the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), accusing it of inaction despite repeated Iranian warnings about Israeli threats targeting the country’s nuclear infrastructure over recent years.
Israeli carriers Israir, Arika and El Al says they are evacuating and relocating aircraft from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport, adding that the move is part of a contingency plan developed over the past few days.
The airlines say they are moving their planes out of the country.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says Israel "should anticipate a severe punishment" following overnight strikes which targeted nuclear sites and killed several military commanders.
He says Israel has "committed a crime in our dear country today" and his military forces "won’t let them go unpunished".
"With this crime, the Zionist regime has prepared for itself a bitter, painful fate, which it will definitely see."
Iran has since launched about 100 drones towards Israel, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
The UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is saying that it has established through communication with Iranian officials that the nuclear site in the city of Isfahan has not been impacted by the Israeli attacks.
A fuel enrichment plant in Fordow had also not been affected as of yet, it said.
Israeli fighter jets reportedly bombed the nuclear site in the city of Natanz during its blitz early Friday morning, but the IAEA has said there is currently no increase in radiation levels at the site.
The agency has said that a nuclear plant in Bushehr was also not impacted.
Israel did not warn France ahead of its attack on Iran because it is no longer as close an ally as it was before, its ambassador to France said on Friday, adding that the strikes on Iran would last days and aimed to stop its nuclear programme.
“The French state for a certain period is not as close as it was before,” Joshua Zarka, who was previously in charge of the Iran dossier at the Israeli foreign ministry, told RTL radio. “It’s an ally but not to the point to be pre-warned of such an operation.”
French President Emmanuel Macron warned late last month that his country could “apply sanctions” against Israelis unless the government in Tel Aviv responds to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Shashank Joshi, defence editor at The Economist, says Israel's claims that Iran has been accelerating its weapons-related work "deserves very careful scrutiny".
Joshi tells BBC Radio 4's Today programme that to many Iranians waking up today, Israel's overnight strikes will look like an effort to destabilise the regime, rather than a scalpel-like strike of nuclear sites.
He adds that he expects weeks of serious disruption.
"We're at the early stage both of the Israeli campaign, which will be multiple days to inflict serious damage on Iranian sites, but also the Iranian retaliation that is inevitable."
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.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has urged Iran and Israel to "step back and reduce tensions urgently", calling the strikes "concerning".
"Escalation serves no-one in the region," he says.
"Stability in the Middle East must be the priority and we are engaging partners to de-escalate. Now is the time for restraint, calm and a return to diplomacy."
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin stated that Iran launched around 100 UAVs toward Israeli territory, and efforts are ongoing to intercept them.
He also confirmed that last night’s strikes resulted in the deaths of three top Iranian military figures: the Iranian army’s chief of staff, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and the head of Iran’s emergency command.
Earlier, Iranian state media also reported the death of IRGC chief Hossein Salami.
Meanwhile, Israel has declared a state of emergency in response to the developments.
The Israeli military claims to have killed Iran’s "three top military commanders" in a series of strikes.
In a statement on X, it identified the individuals targeted as Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces; Hossein Salami, Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC); and Major General Gholam Ali Rashid, who leads the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters.
According to the military, over 200 Israeli fighter jets carried out strikes on more than 100 sites across Iran overnight, including locations believed to be hiding senior Iranian military figures.
The operation was said to be based on “precise intelligence” provided by Israel’s intelligence services.
Oman, which has been facilitating nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran in recent months, condemned Israel's actions as a "dangerous and reckless escalation" that "violates international law."
In a statement, Oman said the strikes reflect "unacceptable and ongoing aggression that threatens regional stability" and held Israel fully accountable for the escalation and its consequences.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, was scheduled to meet with an Iranian delegation in Oman this weekend for the sixth round of talks aimed at limiting Iran’s nuclear programme.
However, the talks are now in jeopardy after Iran's Foreign Ministry accused the U.S. of complicity in Israel's attacks and pledged retaliation.
Iran’s Tasnim news agency is reporting that at least 50 people injured in the Israeli attack have been transferred to the Chamran Hospital in the northern Tehran district of Tajrish.
According to Tasnim, 35 of those who were injured were women and children.
The Hashemite kingdom’s civil aviation authority says it “temporarily” closed Jordanian airspace to all flights “in anticipation of any dangers resulting from the escalation happening in the region”.
Last year, some Iranian missiles that targeted Israeli military bases flew over Jordan.
Israel’s ‘Operation Rising Lion’, aimed at disrupting Iran’s nuclear programme, has reportedly resulted in the deaths of several high-ranking Iranian military officials and nuclear scientists.
Here are the people who are confirmed to have been killed, according to Iranian state media:
Ali Shamkhani, senior adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been seriously injured, according to Iranian reports.
Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of Iran's armed forces, has also been killed, Iran's state television has reported.
He joined the Revolutionary Guards in 1980 before rising through the ranks to become one of the country's most important military leaders.
According to several Iranian news outlets, Abolfazl Shekarchi, the spokesperson for Iran’s armed forces, has said that Israel will pay a “heavy price” for its attacks.
Reuters, citing a security source, reports that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is alive and is being kept updated on the ongoing Israeli attacks.
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