Trump 'considering US strike on Iran' after Situation Room crisis talks on Israel - as Tehran and Tel Aviv trade fire, American planes head for Gulf... and the world holds its breath

Proper news from Britain - News from Britain you won’t find anywhere else. Not the tosh the big media force-feed you every day!

By OLIVIA ALLHUSEN and NIKKI SCHWAB, SENIOR U.S. POLITICAL REPORTER IN WASHINGTON, D.C. and ELENA SALVONI and MELISSA KOENIG and DAN WOODLAND and LETTICE BROMOVSKY

Published: 08:02 EDT, 15 June 2025 | Updated: 19:40 EDT, 17 June 2025

Donald Trump is reportedly considering a US strike on Iran following Situation Room crisis talks with security advisers about the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.

Inside sources say the US President is weighing up whether to join Israel in striking Iranian nuclear sites, including its fortified facility in Fordow, CBS reports.

Speculation of a US strike on Iran had already been mounting amid reports the American military is deploying more fighter aircraft to the Middle East.

It comes after Trump urged Iran's 'UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER' as the fifth day of conflict between the two arch foes raged on.

He also issued a chilling death threat to Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and earlier said the U.S. knows where he is hiding but doesn't want him killed 'for now.'

'We know exactly where the so-called `Supreme Leader' is hiding,' the U.S. President wrote on Truth Social.

'He is an easy target, but is safe there - We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now.

'But we don't want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin.'

Both Israel and Iran launched fresh strikes at each other overnight, with Iranian state TV warning of 'a surprise tonight that the world will remember'.

Residents in Tel Aviv were seen running for shelter as missiles rained down on the city and the Iron Dome sprang into action.

Live updates below

Breaking:Trump enters the Situation Room as four B-52 nuclear bombers prepare for launch

Donald Trump has entered the White House Situation Room as he prepares to make the biggest decision of his presidency - whether to engage U.S. forces in Israel's war with Iran.

Before meeting with his generals Trump issued a chilling death threat to Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, revealing the U.S. knows his precise location and that he is an 'easy target.'

Trump's stunning declaration came as it emerged four U.S. B-52 Stratofortress bombers are currently stationed at the Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean, within striking distance of Iran.

Israel-Iran conflict: Key updates as Trump warns he wants 'real end' to nuclear programme

If you're just joining us, we have been reporting live updates throughout the day as the conflict between Israel and Iran entered its fifth day.

Here's what you need to know this afternoon:

• President Donald Trump said the U.S. knew exactly where Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was 'hiding', that he was an easy target but would not be killed, at least for now.
• The US military is deploying more fighter aircraft to the Middle East and extending the deployment of other warplanes, three US officials have told Reuters.
• A senior Israeli minister has said 'very significant targets' will be attacked in Tehran today as the IDF declares it has launched new airstrikes on Iranian missile launchers
• Defence minister Israel Katz also issued a specific threat to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei that he could face 'a fate similar to Saddam Hussein'
• Iran has also launched attacks in central Israel as the new head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) insisted 'advance missiles' have yet to be used and that the country is ready for a 'long-term war'
• Donald Trump said he wants a 'real end' to Iran's nuclear programme as he cut short his visit to the G7 summit in Canada
• Speaking on Air Force One, the US President also contradicted his national intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard by declaring Iran was 'very close' to having a nuclear weapon despite previous assessments to the contrary
• US Vice-President JD Vance said Trump may 'ultimately' decide to take further action in Iran after warning country it cannot have uranium enrichment or nuclear weapon
• It also emerged more than 40 extra jets have been sent to the UK and Europe by Donald Trump in recent days fuelling speculation of a possible strike
• The UN's nuclear watchdog has said it has seen 'direct impacts' on the underground section of Iran's Natanz nuclear facility as Israel claim it is 'on the verge' of destroying 'more than 10 nuclear targets'
• Meanwhile Iranian officials have been banned from using their mobile phones and other devices amid fears they are being tracked or hacked by Israeli intelligence

Stick with us throughout the afternoon as we continue to bring you the latest developments.

Khamenei: ‘We will show the Zionists no mercy’:

Despite Trump’s threats, the Iranian supreme leader reiterates that Iran will harshly retaliate against Israel’s attacks.

'We must give a strong response to the terrorist Zionist regime,' Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wrote in English on X.

'We will show the Zionists no mercy.'

Pictured: Iranian missile base before and after Israeli strikes

A tunnel opening at an Iranian missile base near Tabriz before and after Israeli strikes

Buildings at an Iranian missile base near Tabriz before and after Israeli strikes

Israel’s ambassador to Washington says Ayatollah Khamenei is ‘many stories underground’

By Geoff Earle, Deputy U.S. Political Editor

Isreal’s ambassador to the U.S. Michael Leiter spoke to the circumstances of Ayatollah Khamenei, hours after Trump called him an 'easy target' but said the US was not going to 'take him out' or kill him.

On Friday he ‘looks over his left shoulder for his nuclear scientists and found none,’ he said of Iran's supreme leader. 'Then he looked over his right shoulder for his generals on the IRGC … he didn’t see any of them either,' he told CNN hours after President Trump met with his security team.

He said Khamenei was 'kind of alone right now.'

‘He appointed a new chief of staff, he lasted about four days. So the Ayatollah may be many stories underground right now in hiding,’ he said. ‘That’s where he belongs.’

Israel striking Tehran, IDF says

The IDF has said the IAF is currently conducting a series of strikes in the area of Tehran.

Pictured: Missiles fired from Iran towards Israel

Rocket trails are seen in the sky above the Israeli coastal city of Netanya amid a fresh barrage of Iranian missile attacks on June 17, 2025

Missiles launched from Iran are intercepted as seen from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, June 18

Rocket trails are seen in the sky above the Israeli coastal city of Netanya amid a fresh barrage of Iranian missile attacks on June 17, 2025

A missile launched from Iran towards Israel is seen from Ramallah, Israeli-occupied West Bank, June 18, 2025

Israel's 'Iron Dome' air defense system responds to incoming Iranian ballistic missiles as seen from Tel Aviv, Israel on June 18

Israeli outlets report fire at car lot in central Israel

An Iranian missile or shrapnel appears to have fallen in a parking lot in central Israel.

Israel’s Channel 12 reported that the incident set 20 cars ablaze, and fire crews are trying to put out the fire.

US to shut embassy in Jerusalem

The US embassy in Jerusalem will be shut from Wednesday until at least Friday due to the security situation in the region, the State Department said.

'Given the security situation and in compliance with Israel Home Front Command guidance, the US Embassy in Jerusalem will be closed tomorrow (Wednesday, June 18) through Friday (June 20),' the State Department said on X.

'This includes the consular sections in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.'

Breaking:Israeli military issues evacuation order for Tehran district

The Israeli military says people should leave an industrial area of the Iranian capital known as District 18, near Mehrabad Airport.

'In the coming hours, the [Israeli] military will operate in the area as it has in the past days in areas of Tehran to attack military infrastructure belonging to the regime,' an Israeli army spokesperson said.

WhatsApp responds after Iran asks people to delete it from their devices

Iranian state television on Tuesday afternoon urged the country's public to remove the messaging platform WhatsApp from their smartphones, alleging the app - without offering specific evidence - gathered user information to send to Israel.

In a statement, WhatsApp said it was 'concerned these false reports will be an excuse for our services to be blocked at a time when people need them the most.'

WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption, meaning a service provider in the middle can't read a message.

'We do not track your precise location, we don't keep logs of who everyone is messaging and we do not track the personal messages people are sending one another,' it added. 'We do not provide bulk information to any government.'

Pictured: Missiles launched from Iran are intercepted as seen from Ashkelo

Explosions reported in Tehran and Karaj

Explosions have just been heard in Tehran and in the nearby city of Karaj, west of the Iranian capital, according to Iranian news websites cited by Reuters.

IDF says it's safe to leave bomb shelters after latest Iranian attack

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) says that the latest barrage of Iranian missiles appears to be over, and residents can leave bomb shelters.

Breaking:‘The battle begins,’ says Iran’s supreme leader

In his first statement since Trump’s threat to assassinate him, Ali Khamenei writes on X: 'In the name of the noble Haidar, the battle begins.'

Haidar is an alternative name for Imam Ali, the fourth Muslim caliph and a revered figure in Shia Islam.

The war has been raging since Friday morning, so it is not clear what the Iranian leader means with his comment, and whether it signals the start of more intense Iranian attacks.

Trump and Netanyahu spoke on the phone, Israeli source says

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on the phone ahead of Trump’s Situation Room meeting, according to an Israeli source familiar with the matter.

People take shelter for the night in tents at an underground parking lot in central Tel Aviv

The Israeli Iron Dome air defense system fires to intercept Iranian missiles over Tel Aviv

Explosions above Tel Aviv

Moments ago, explosions could be seen above Tel Aviv, Israel.

Israel's Iron Dome rockets shot into the sky to intercept missiles fired from Iran.

Iranian state TV warns of 'a surprise tonight that the world will remember'

Iranian state TV has warned of 'a surprise tonight that the world will remember for centuries.'

It comes as Israel and Iran have both launched fresh strikes against each other as the fifth day of conflict between the arch foes rages on.

IDF: Sirens sounding across Israel

A short while ago, sirens sounded in several areas across Israel following the identification of missiles launched from Iran toward the State of Israel, according to the IDF.

The public is requested to follow the instructions of the Home Front Command.

The IAF is reportedly operating to intercept and strike where necessary to eliminate the threat.

The military added it is essential for the public to continue following the instructions of the Home Front Command.

Iran says it's attacking Israeli air bases

Iran's Revolutionary Guards says it is attacking Israeli air bases used to strike Iranian territory, according to the Quds News Network.

'These strikes will continue in a sequential, complex, multi-layered and gradual manner,' it says.

Iran arrests 'terrorist team' linked to Israel

Iranian security forces on Tuesday arrested a 'terrorist team' linked to Israel with explosives in a town southwest of the capital Tehran, Iranian state media reported.

Iran preparing to retaliate against US, say reports

Iran is preparing missiles to strike US bases in the Middle East if Donald Trump joins in its war with Israel, it has been reported.

The New York Times says US officials have reviewed intelligence reports that indicate Tehran and its proxies in Yemen, Syria and Iraq are getting ready to retaliate.

Bases in the region – including in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Jordan – are on high alert, the newspaper said.

German chancellor: Israel is doing the 'dirty work' for all of us

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday expressed strong support for Israel in its military campaign against Iran as he spoke with German media on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada.

'This is the dirty work Israel is doing for all of us,' Merz said in an interview with the ZDF broadcaster.

'We are also victims of this regime. This mullah regime has brought death and destruction to the world,' he said.

In a separate interview with Welt TV, Merz also suggested Israel's attacks on Iran could lead to the demise of the Islamic republic's leadership.

'I assume that the attacks of the last few days have already weakened the mullah regime considerably and that it is unlikely to return to its former strength, making the future of the country uncertain,' Merz said.

'To be honest, I can hardly imagine the mullah regime returning to its old functions," he added.

'Large parts of the military leadership and the so-called Revolutionary Guards are no longer alive, so things will not be the same as they were.'

Asked whether he thought the United States might get involved in the military campaign against Iran, Merz said he believed there was 'no decision yet from the American government'.

'It now depends very much on how far the mullah regime is prepared to return to the negotiating table,' he said. 'If not, there could be further developments of this kind.'

Pictured: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz gives a statement at the end of the Group of Seven (G7) Summit at the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada on June 17, 2025.

Houthis to 'support Iran like Gaza', official says

A member of Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement said on Al Jazeera Mubasher TV on Tuesday that the group will intervene to support Iran against Israel like it did in support of Palestinians in Gaza.

Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthi movement's political bureau, also reiterated to Al Jazeera Mubasher TV that the group is coordinating with Tehran during its ongoing military escalation with Israel.

The Houthis, which have been launching attacks against Israel in support of Palestinians in Gaza, said on Sunday that they targeted Israel in coordination with Iran, the first time an Iran-aligned group has publicly announced joint cooperation on attacks with Tehran.

US suggests it will respond to attacks on Israeli civilians

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said: 'The president has made it clear that if Americans are hurt, or, in this case, a missile [is] shot at civilians or American soldiers, that there would be a repercussion.'

Breaking:Trump considering US strike on Iran, officials say

US President Donald Trump is considering joining Israel to strike Iranian nuclear sites, including in Fordow, sources familiar with the issue are quoted as saying by CBS.

They say this was expected to be discussed in today's meeting in the Situation Room, adding that there is not a full agreement among Trump's closest advisers.

Breaking:Israel’s missile system ‘overwhelmed’

The Washington Post reports, citing an unnamed source, that Israel may maintain its missile defence for 10 to 20 days only without new supplies of interceptors from the US.

'They will need to select what they want to intercept,' the source said. 'The system is already overwhelmed.'

Footage claims to show missile strikes on weaponry sites in Iran

Footage shows bombs hitting Tehran

Situation Room meeting concludes, White House says

By Nikki Schwab, Chief Campaign Correspondent at the White House

President Donald Trump wrapped up his meeting in the Situation Room before 4 p.m. Tuesday.

The White House said the meeting lasted about an hour and 20 minutes.

The president was meeting with the National Security Council after rushing back from the G7 Summit in Canada amid turmoil in the Middle East.

Exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi says Iranian government is 'collapsing'

Reza Pahlavi, the son of the U.S.-backed Shah who was driven from power during the 1979 Iranian revolution, has posted that the Khamenei government is ‘collapsing.’

The U.S.-educated Pahlavi posted online that ‘The Islamic Republic has reached its end and is in the process of collapsing’ and compared Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to a ‘frightened rat’ in hiding.

‘Do not fear the day after the fall of the Islamic Republic. Iran will not descend into civil war or instability. We have a plan for Iran’s future and its flourishing. We are prepared for the first hundred days after the fall, for the transitional period, and for the establishment of a national and democratic government—by the Iranian people and for the Iranian people,’ he wrote on X.

Middle East task force to coordinate support for Americans

Amid growing civilian death tolls and air shutdowns in Israel and Iran, the State Department said it has set up a Middle East task force to coordinate support for US citizens.

It also will assist missions and personnel as Israel and Iran trade rocket fire and Israel continues its bombing campaign.

State spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said the task force would provided needed information to Americans.

State Department amplifies Trump's warning to Iran not to harm US forces

State Department spokesman Tammy Bruce amplified President Trump’s warning for Iran not to harm U.S. forces.

She told reporters the U.S. was not part of the ‘initiation’ of the fight.

She read directly from his Tuesday online Truth Social post that ‘we don't want missiles shot in civilians or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin. Thank you for your attention to this matter.’

Bruce added, ‘What he has made clear is that we were not a part of the initiation of this, certainly. We're not a part of Israel's attacks on Iran that that I think, was made very plain and clear, that if Americans are hurt, or, in this case, a missile shot at civilians or American soldiers, that there would be a repercussion

Marine stands outside the West Wing as Trump debates Iran actions in the Situation Room

By Nikki Schwab, Chief Campaign Correspondent at the White House

A U.S. Marine was captured standing outside the West Wing around 2 p.m. Tuesday, the signal that President Donald Trump was down from the White House residence and at work.

The White House confirmed that the president's meeting in the Situation Room with the National Security Council had started a little while later.

Trump rushed back Monday from the G7 Summit in Canada to deal with the tense situation in the Middle East, after Israel started bombing Iran overnight Thursday.

Now Trump must decide if the U.S. wants to join in the fight or continue seeking a diplomatic solution to keep Iran from developing a nuclear bomb.

The president arrived back in Washington, D.C. early Tuesday morning after leaving the G7 Summit a full day early, skipping planned meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo.

State Department spokeswoman calls Trump 'the guiding hand' and reads his online Iran post

By Geoff Earle, Deputy U.S. Political Editor

State Department Spokeswoman Tammy Bruce read from President Donald Trump’s online posts at a briefing while Trump huddled with top advisors in the situation room.

She was pressed on whether Trump was taking more ‘ownership’ over the clash between Israel and Iran, following Trump’s online statement that ‘we have control over the skies’ of Iran, while threatening Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

‘We know that he is our lead. We know that he is the guiding hand. We know that he is one of a few who know all the details, and he is clearly has a mission and an agenda that [involves] diplomacy and changing the world for the better for people,’ she said.

‘He's making comments that are a reflection of what matters to him,’ she said.

‘One of the things we have learned about President Trump, when he tweets, when he speaks the world watches, and it’s the most clear framework that we can learn of his approach,’ said Bruce.

Russia says Israel attacks on Iran are illegal

Russia's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday denounced continued Israeli attacks on Iran as illegal and said a solution to the conflict over Tehran's nuclear programme could only be found through diplomacy.

A ministry statement posted on Telegram noted Iran's 'clear statements' on its commitment to adhere to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and its willingness to meet with U.S. representatives.

The statement also said Moscow was waiting for the International Atomic Energy Agency to provide 'unvarnished' assessments of the damage caused to Iranian nuclear facilities by Israeli attacks.

Iran arrests foreigner for filming 'sensitive' areas near nuclear power plant for Israel

Iran arrested on Tuesday a foreigner for filming 'sensitive' areas near the country's Bushehr nuclear power plant for Israel, Iranian media reported.

The Iranian website eghtesadonline said the unnamed foreigner, whose nationality was not disclosed, resided illegally and filmed the power plant for Israel's spy agency Mossad.

Czech, Slovak planes evacuate 181 people from Israel

The Czech Republic and Slovakia have taken 181 people home on government planes from Israel following its conflict with Iran, authorities said on Tuesday.

The two countries are among the first to send evacuation planes to the Middle East since Israel closed its air space Friday after conducting strikes on Iran.

A Czech government plane carrying 66 people landed in Prague on Tuesday morning, while two Slovak planes have taken 115 evacuees to Bratislava over the past two days.

'I am glad they are all OK. The transport was really demanding in the difficult environment,' Czech Defence Minister Jana Cernochova said about the Czech flight on X.

The defence ministry said most of them were Czech nationals.

'It was not possible to send the army plane straight to Israel," the ministry said in a statement, citing the air space closure.

'The evacuees were taken to an airport in a neighbouring country by buses. They crossed the border on foot.'

Czech media said a convoy with the evacuees had left Tel Aviv on Monday morning and boarded the plane in Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt.

A Slovak government plane with 73 passengers - mostly Slovaks, but also Poles, Czechs, Austrians, Slovenians and others - landed in Bratislava on Monday before 1700 GMT, said Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar.

Another Slovak plane brought 42 passengers of multiple nationalities to Bratislava from Larnaca, Cyprus on Tuesday.

Both Prague and Bratislava are contemplating sending further planes to the Middle East in the coming days.

Pictured: Briefing by the Commander of the Israeli Air Force

This image shows the Commander of the Israeli Air Force, Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar, breifing pilots

Regime change in Iran would result in 'chaos', Macron says

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday he was against military action against Iran that could lead to regime change and potential chaos, calling for a ceasefire with a return to negotiations over its nuclear programme.

Speaking to reporters, Macron said U.S. President Donald Trump appeared to have changed his opinion since he met G7 leaders in Canada on Monday where Macron claimed Trump was pushing for a ceasefire.

'We don't want Iran to get a nuclear weapon,' Macron said. 'But the biggest error would be to use military strikes to change the regime because it would then be chaos.'

More Iranian missiles detected, says Israel

Iran has launched more missiles towards Israel, the Israel Defence Forces says.

'Defence systems are working to intercept the threat,' it added.

The public have been instructed to shelter, Israeli authorites added.

Sirens are going off in different parts of the country, primarily in the north and Haifa. The public has been instructed to seek shelter.

Pictured: Israel strikes Tehran

Images appear to show fires in Tehran after an Israeli strike this evening.

In the pictures, shared on social media, explosions can be seen as thick black smoke rises into the air.

Trump says Iran's supreme leader is an 'easy target'

Netanyahu is the 'greatest threat' to security in the Middle East, Turkey's president says

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is the 'greatest threat' to security in the Middle East, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said today, according to a social media post from the Turkish Presidency.

More than 2,700 people have been evacuated from their homes in Israel, government says

At least 2,725 people in Israel have been evacuated from their homes since the latest conflict with Iran began last week, according to Israel’s Government Press Office (GPO).

As of Tuesday, the death toll in Israel remains at 24, but more than 647 people are injured, with at least 10 in serious condition, the government said.

Iran and Israel are in their fifth day of tit-for-tat strikes. At least 224 people have been killed in Iran since hostilities began on Friday, when Israel launched unprecedented strikes against Iran, targeting its nuclear program and military leaders.

Israelis take shelter in an underground train station amid attacks from Iran

Israel strikes 12 Iranian missile storage and launch sites, says IDF

The Israeli Air Force carried out a wave of strikes against 12 Iranian missile storage and launch sites, the military says.

The IDF published footage purportedly showing the identification of Iranian preparations to launch ballistic missiles at Israel, and a strike on the site.

Another video shows a strike on an Iranian air defense system at one of the sites.

Israel extends restrictions at home

Israel’s Home Front Command says a ban on gatherings and in-person educational activity will remain in place until at least Wednesday at 8pm (17:00 GMT).

Pictured: People eat dinner in parking lot amid Iranian missile attack threats

These images show people singing songs after eating dinner at an underground parking lot amid ongoing Iranian ballistic missile attack threats across the country, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on June 17 2025.

Senior Democrat urges restraint from Trump

Democrat Bernie Sanders has urged restraint from the US President amid mounting speculation of a US strike on Iran amid reports the American military is deploying more fighter aircraft to the Middle East.

The Constitution of the United States is very clear. There is no ambiguity,' the Vermont senator said.

'It is Congress that determines whether we go to war, not the president.

'Trump must not take illegal military action against Iran.'

IDF: 'Israel faces threats on many fronts'

During the short press briefing IDF spokesperson Effie Defrin also said Israel 'faces threats on many fronts'.

'While we are working to remove threats from Iran, we are still fighting their proxy, Hamas, in Gaza,' he added.

He says Hamas is still holding 53 hostages 'in brutal conditions'.

'We will not rest until they are returned home,' the spokesperson said.

IDF: Israel has 'struck deep' in Iran

Israeli Defence Force spokesperson Effie Defrin has just held a media briefing.

'We have struck deep, hitting Iran's nuclear, ballistic and command capabilities,' he says.

Defrin also confirmed that Israel killed another major Iranian security member overnight, Ali Shadmani.

'The IDF eliminated Ali Shadmani, the regime's wartime chief of general staff. Shadmani held the role for only four days before meeting the same fate as his predecessor,' Defrin said.

Shadmani filled the position after his predecessor Gholamali Rashid was killed in an Israeli strike last week.

Jordan’s king says Israeli Iran attacks on Iran threaten region and beyond

Jordan’s King Abdullah II warned in an address to the European Parliament that Israel’s 'attacks' on Iran threatened to dangerously escalate tensions in the 'region and beyond'.

Abdullah said that 'with Israel’s expansion of its offensive to include Iran, there is no telling where the boundaries of this battleground will end'.

'And that, my friends, is a threat to people everywhere,' he told lawmakers in Strasbourg.

Pictured: US bombers at the Diego Garcia base

Four US Stratofortress bombers are currently stationed at the Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean, according to an AFP analysis of satellite imagery, as the conflict between Israel and Iran extended to its fifth straight day.

The base, leased to the United States by Britain, is one of its key military facilities in the Asia-Pacific region, and was used as a hub for long-range bombers and ships during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The four B52H Stratofortresses, which can carry nuclear weapons or other precision-guided munitions, were spotted on a southern tarmac at Diego Garcia on Monday at 0922 GMT.

Images provided by Planet Labs indicate they arrived in mid-May.

A C-17 Globemaster III troop and cargo transport plane is also at the base, according to the AFP analysis, as well as six jets likely to be KC-135 airborne refuelling tanker.

Pictured: An overview of the US-UK Diego Garcia military base on the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean. Four heavy bombers were stationed there on June 16, according to an AFP analysis of satellite images

UK defence secretary: Situation in the Middle East is 'dangerous moment' for region

The UK Defence Secretary, John Healey, says the deteriorating situation in the Middle East is 'a dangerous moment' for the entire region, the BBC reports.

The government has always supported Israel’s right to security – and had grave concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme, he added.

But he calls on all sides to show restraint. Healey says a diplomatic resolution rather than military action was the only route to a lasting peace.

UAE warns of 'uncalculated reckless steps' amid Israel-Iran air war

The foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, has warned of 'uncalculated and reckless steps' that could spill out beyond the borders of Iran and Israel, according to a statement by the foreign ministry on Tuesday.

Pictured: United Arab Emirates Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan shakes hands with Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar during a meeting in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on January 7, 2025

Breaking:Strong explosions heard in western Tehran: Iranian state media

IRNA reports that 'continuous and intense' explosions are heard in the Iranian capital.

Iran issues urgent evacuation warning to residents of Tel Aviv and Haifa

Iran's Armed Forces chief of staff says in a video message posted by Iranian outlets to the residents of Israel that 'especially Tel Aviv and Haifa need to evacuate as soon as possible to save their lives'.

According to Iran’s Press TV, Seyyed Abdolrahim Mousavi, said: 'The operations carried out so far have been a warning for deterrence – the punitive operation will be executed soon.'

Trump to meet national security team in Situation Room

Donald Trump is expected to hold a meeting with top national security advisers in the Situation Room, two US officials told NBC News.

Siscussions will focus on the conflict between Iran and Israel.

The Situation Room is the White House's information and alert centre and is staffed 24 hours a day.

Israel says two rockets fired from Gaza

The Israeli military says the projectiles were launch from southern Gaza and fell in open areas.

Trump's feud with Tucker Carlson

Iran: 'punitive' attacks will be launched against Israel

According to Iran’s Press TV, Seyyed Abdolrahim Mousavi, chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, said: 'The operations carried out so far have been a warning for deterrence – the punitive operation will be executed soon.'

US deploying more warplanes to Middle East, officials say

The US military is deploying more fighter aircraft to the Middle East and extending the deployment of other warplanes, three US officials have told Reuters.

The deployments include F-16, F-22 and F-35 fighter aircraft, one official said.

Two of the officials stressed the defensive nature of the deployment.

The US could deploy warships capable of shooting down ballistic missiles to the Eastern Mediterranean, a fourth official said.

The United States already has a sizeable force in the Middle East, with nearly 40,000 troops in the region, including air defense systems, fighter aircraft and warships that can detect and shoot down enemy missiles.

Why Trump rushed home from G7

MAGA civil war over Iran

Trump planning 'further action' to stop Iran

'Unconditional surrender' Trump says after posts about Iran

Sonald Trump has just made a third social media in quick succession, in which he says: 'UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!'

In the previous two, Trump had said 'we now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran', and claimed to know where the Iranian leader is, saying: 'We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now'.

Trump: We know where supreme leader is hiding

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday the U.S. knew exactly where Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was 'hiding', that he was an easy target but would not be killed, at least for now.

'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 said in a post on Truth Social.

'But we don't want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin,' Trump said.

Breaking:Sirens sounding in southern Israel

The IDF has said sirens are sounding in southern Israel as Iran launches another barrage of ballistic missiles.

Breaking:Trump: ‘We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran’

Although US forces have not announced direct engagement in the hostilities, Trump says: 'We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran.'

It is not clear who the “we” in the statement is referring to.

'Iran had good sky trackers and other defensive equipment, and plenty of it, but it doesn’t compare to American made, conceived, and manufactured "stuff."

'Nobody does it better than the good ol’ USA,' Trump wrote in a social media post.

What are Trump's options to attack Iran?

Da Nang, a port city in Vietnam, had been bracing to receive the behemoth USS Nimitz aircraft carrier this week when the ship announced that it was changing course.

The 1092ft vessel had been conducting 'routine' security operations in the Indo-Pacific when it was called away from its duties and started heading west, towards the burgeoning firefight between Israel and Iran.

A White House spokesperson assured that U.S. forces in the Middle East remained in a 'defensive posture', despite the flurry of activity. But President Donald Trump has been more bellicose, warning Tehran that if the U.S. is attacked in any way, 'the full strength and might of the US Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before'.

Iran has threatened to drag the United States into the conflict by attacking their bases in the region should Washington intervene on Israel's behalf. Britain and France, with smaller strongholds in the Middle East, were also name-checked in the warning.

Read the full story by MailOnline foreign reporter James Reynolds here:

Iran launches eight missiles at in latest volley against Israel, state media reports

Iran has launched eight missiles at Israel in its latest offensive, according to the official Iranian news agency.

Trump 'surges planes to UK and Europe' as world braces for US strikes in Iran

Speculation is mounting of a US strike on Iran as military resources are deployed into position.

More than 40 extra jets are said to have been sent to the UK and Europe by Donald Trump in recent days.

They are thought to include stealth bombers and air-to-air refuellers - which could be critical for any operation in the Middle East.

The movements have raised expectations that action is imminent, after Mr Trump denied he was interested in securing a ceasefire between Israel and Iran and told residents to evacuate Tehran.

Read more here:

JD Vance - Trump may ultimately decide he needs to take further action

US Vice President JD Vance has said Donald Trump has 'earned trust' on how to deal with Iran as he insisted the President had shown 'remarkable restraint' in keeping Americans safe.

In a lengthy post on X, Vance said he wanted to address some 'crazy stuff on social media' surrounding Iran's nuclear capabilities.

He claimed Trump had been 'amazingly consistent' that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and made clear the country cannot have uranium enrichment.

On the question of whether the US will become involved in the conflict, Vance said it was 'ultimately' a decision for the President.

He may decide he needs to take further action to end Iranian enrichment. That decision ultimately belongs to the president. And of course, people are right to be worried about foreign entanglement after the last 25 years of idiotic foreign policy.

But I believe the president has earned some trust on this issue. And having seen this up close and personal, I can assure you that he is only interested in using the American military to accomplish American people's goals. Whatever he does, that is his focus.

Starmer - I saw no sign Trump would enter conflict

Sir Keir Starmer has said he has 'no doubt' Donald Trump will stay out of the Israeli-Iranian conflict, adding 'at no point' did the President suggest he is considering entering the conflict.

The two leaders were together at the G7 summit in Canada, but the US president left early citing the situation in the Middle East.

This is a breaking news post. More to follow

German Chancellor - 'Weakened Iran unlikely to return to its former strength'

Merz shaking hands with Donald Trump at the G7 summit

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said the Iranian regime has been 'weakened' and is unlikely to return to its 'former strength'.

Speaking at the G7 summit in Canada, Merz said Iran was facing an 'uncertain' future amid the ongoing conflict with Israel.

He suggested the destruction of Iran's nuclear programme was on the agenda of world leaders if the Iranian regime insisted against making a deal on not seeking nuclear weapons.

Merz also added European nations would offer diplomatic assistance if talks did resume.

If a new situation were to arise, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom would again be prepared to provide diplomatic assistance, as they were until last Thursday.

Minister confirms Israel's three military aims - and it doesn't involve regime change

Israel's foreign minister has outlined the Israeli military's three aims following new airstrikes against Iran.

Gideon Sa'ar said Israel had three key objectives against Iran, none of which involved regime change, although he suggested it may ultimately be the result of the IDF offensive.

Speaking in central Israeli city of Rishon Lezion, which was hit by Iranian strikes, Sa'ar told reporters:

First of all, to 'severely damage the nuclear programme [of Iran] - we haven't finished with that.'

He said the second objective was to 'damage Iran's ballistic missile programme' and the third was to 'eliminate the threat to Israel.'

Israeli air defence intercepted 'most' of the ballistic missiles fired from Iran

Israel's Defence Forces have said that most of the ballistic missiles launched from Iran a short while ago were intercepted by air defences.

The IDF said that 'several' missiles were fired, fewer than the 10 previously reported.

Israel's Home Front Command has said civilians can now leave bomb shelters.

Breaking:Iran launches missiles towards Israel, IDF says

Israel's military has warned of incoming missiles, with sirens reportedly sounding across Israel.

In a statement, the IDF said:

The defence systems are working to intercept the threat. You must enter the protected areas upon receiving the alert, and remain there until further notice.

Breaking:Israel hits western and central Iran with fresh strikes

Israel says its forces have targeted western Iran with a wave of strikes.

Explosions have also been heard in the central city of Isfahan, which hosts multiple nuclear facilities, as Israel kept up its strikes for a fifth day.

'Several explosions were heard in the east and north of Isfahan and air defences were activated against the hostile targets,' the Mehr news agency reported.

EU foreign affairs chief warns US intervention in conflict would 'definitely drag' region into war

EU High Representative Kaja Kallas has warned that potential US military involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict would 'definitely drag' the entire Middle East into a wider, more dangerous conflict.

Writing on X, she added: 'We all agree that Iran must never have a nuclear weapon. It is urgent to de-escalate the situation. The EU will play its part in diplomatic efforts.'

Israeli airline expects to begin flights tomorrow for people stranded abroad

Israel's El Al Airlines says it has received the government's permission to start flights to bring back people stranded abroad during the conflict with Iran.

The Israeli flag carrier was referring to people who had flights to Israel cancelled when its air space was closed.

It said it expects to operate flights on Wednesday from Larnaca, Athens, Rome, Milan and Paris to bring people to Israel.

El Al said that no flights from Israel to foreign countries had yet taken place since flights were grounded.

Iranian state media tells citizens to delete WhatsApp 'amid fears it is sharing information with Israel'

Iranian media has told citizens to delete WhatsApp from their phones 'as soon as possible'.

Multiple outlets claimed informed sources had warned that the app was sharing users' location and communications with Israel. No evidence was provided to support the claims.

It comes after Iran's cyber command banned the use of all connected devices for officials and their security details, apparently fearing they were being tracked or hacked by Israel, according to the Fars news agency.

Israeli diplomat claims Netanyahu is 'focused on dragging US into war'

A former diplomat has claimed Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (pictured) is 'insistent and focused' on dragging the US into his country's war with Iran to help destroy nuclear sites.

Alon Pinkas said Israel's determination to eliminate the Iranian threat of a nuclear attack will not succeed without American intervention.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Pinkas, a former consul general of Israel, said:

Israel cannot destroy Iran’s nuclear-military infrastructure alone. That requires munitions, bombers, and delivery systems that Israel does not have, which is why Mr Netanyahu is so insistent and focused on dragging the US into the war.

Pinkas added any de-escalation in the conflict will be as a result of the US with Donald Trump 'issuing contradictory statements every day'.

Picture: Iranian TV presenter features on banner in Tehran square

An Iranian television presenter who was forced to leave a live broadcast after an Israeli attack on the state broadcaster features on a new banner in Tehran.

The image of Sahar Emami, with her finger raised in apparent defiance, has been projected on a huge hoarding in Veliasr Square.

According to AFP, Emami features on the banner paired with a verse from the Persian poet Ferdowsi, which celebrates the courage of women “on the battlefield”.

Iranian media has portrayed Emami as a hero following the attack on the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) headquarters on Monday.

Earlier we reported three people were killed when the state broadcaster was bombed which forced programming to be suspended temporarily.

Italian PM Meloni 'urged Trump to reopen Iran negotiations' and 'discussed Gaza ceasefire'

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni held a bilateral meeting with Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada yesterday, according to a statement issued by her office.

'The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the most recent developments in Iran, reaffirming that it would be opportune to reopen negotiations,' it read

Meloni 'also stressed the need at this time to work towards reaching a ceasefire in Gaza' during the conversation, it added.

Meloni is pictured left at the summit with (left to right) France's President Macron, Canadian PM Mark Carney and US President Trump.

Pictures: Iranian missiles cause destruction in Arab-Israeli city of Tamra

Breaking:Iranian underground nuclear site hit during Israel strikes, UN watchdog says

The International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN's nuclear watchdog, has said it has seen 'direct impacts' on the underground section of Iran's Natanz nuclear facility.

Israel has repeatedly targeted the uranium enrichment plant which it considers a key site in the production of nuclear weapons.

The IAEA said it has studied satellite imagery produced after Israel's attacks on Friday.

Looking at other sites, the watchdog said it had not seen any changes at the Esfahan nuclear site or the underground Fordo enrichment plant.

World Health Organisation chief 'concerned' about Israel's targeting of nuclear facilities

The head of the World Health Organisation Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has shared a statement expressing his concern about the escalating violence between Israel and Iran.

The WHO chief said his organisation's 'particular concern' was the targeting of nuclear sites and the possible 'long-term impacts' this could have on the environment and people in Iran and beyond.

Israel 'on verge of destroying 10 nuclear targets'

Israel's Defence Minister has said it is 'on the verge' of destroying 'more than 10 nuclear targets' in Iran.

As we reported earlier, Israel Katz has said the Israeli Air Force will strike 'very significant targets, strategic targets, targets of the regime and infrastructure' in Tehran today.

Now, speaking to the Times of Israel regarding Iran's nuclear sites, Katz has given more information on what targets Israel has in its sights.

He also said that the underground Fordo facility is 'an issue that will certainly be addressed.'

Iranian military leadership is 'on the run', Israeli official says

Iran's military leadership is 'on the run', Israel has reportedly claimed.

The Israeli army said it bombed a secret command centre before killing Iran’s new wartime chief of staff Ali Shadmani, the Times of Israel reports.

The IDF said it stands ready to pick off the remaining military top brass, according to reports.

More than 150 people taken to hospital after Iranian strikes

The Israeli health ministry has said 154 people have been taken to hospitals across the country following Iranian strikes last night.

Officials said four were in what they described as 'moderate condition', while 130 are in 'mild condition'. Fifteen are undergoing evaluation and five are being treated for anxiety.

In its last update, Iranian authorities say at least 224 people have been killed and more than 1,200 by Israeli air strikes.

Israel said 24 people had been killed.

Israel planning to 'attack very significant targets' in Tehran

Israel's defence minister Israel Katz has declared 'very significant targets' will be attacked inside Tehran today.

He echoed Donald Trump's call for people in the Iranian capital to evacuate as Israel prepares a new offensive.

Speaking in central Israel, Katz said:

Today we are going to attack very significant targets - strategic targets, government targets and infrastructure - inside Tehran. The IDF spokesman in Persian will call on residents to evacuate.

On Monday, Katz declared Iran's state broadcaster the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) would be attacked before the headquarters were bombed during a live broadcast.

King of Jordan warns Israel-Iran conflict poses global threat

Jordan's King Abdullah has today warned the conflict between Israel and Iran poses a threat around the world.

In a speech in the European Parliament, King Abdullah said:

With Israel's expansion of its offensive to include Iran, there is no telling where the boundaries of this battleground will end. And that is a threat to people everywhere. Ultimately, this conflict must end.

Pictures: Tehran shops empty amid Trump evacuation warning

Shops and businesses at Tehran's Grand Bazaar remained closed today after US President Donald Trump urged all of the capital's 10 million residents to evacuate.

While corridors leading throughout the bazaar are usually teeming with people, photographs show they are largely deserted today on during the fifth day of conflict with Israel.

Trump called for a sudden evacuation of Tehran on social media last night, posting on Truth Social:

Iran should have signed the ‘deal’ I told them to sign. What a shame, and waste of human life. Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!

Trump claims Iran 'very close' to having nuclear weapon

Donald Trump has claimed Iran was 'very close' to having a nuclear weapon as he dismissed testimony of the US National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard.

In March, Gabbard told the Senate intelligence committee that US spy agencies did not believe Iran was building a nuclear weapon.

When questioned on her remarks, Trump said:

I don’t care what she said. I think they were very close to having it.

Israel has 'surprises up our sleeves' for Iran 'which will make Hezbollah pager plot seem simple'

The Israeli ambassador to the US has claimed Israel has 'some surprises' for the fight against Iran later this week as he suggested at warfare similar to an exploding pager operation carried out in Lebanon last year.

Speaking to Merit TV, Yechiel Leiter said 'there's still a lot of things we can do' as he insisted the full extent of Israel's blows had not yet been uncovered.

He added: 'We’ve pulled off a number of surprises - when the dust settles - you’re going to see some surprises on Thursday night and Friday, that will make the beeper operation almost seem simple.'

In September last year, Israel detonated thousands of beepers and walkie-talkies in an attack targeting Hezbollah extremists in what is believed to be a complex intelligence effort dating back years.

Hundreds of foreign nationals flee Iran into Azerbaijan, officials say

More than 600 foreign nationals have crossed from Iran into neighbouring Azerbaijan since Israel began striking the country last Friday, a government official in Baku said.

'Since the start of the military escalation between Israel and Iran, more than 600 citizens of 17 countries have been evacuated from Iran via Azerbaijan,' the government source told AFP.

The evacuees, who crossed the border via the Astara checkpoint on the Caspian Sea coast, are being transported to Baku airport and 'flown to their home countries on international flights,' the source said.

Among those evacuated are citizens of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, as well as Germany, Spain, Italy, Serbia, Romania, Portugal, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, China, and Vietnam.

Azerbaijan shut its land borders in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and has kept them closed ever since.

'In light of the evacuation need, Azerbaijan has temporarily opened its border for those leaving Iran,' the official said.

Poland's foreign ministry said it would evacuate part of its embassy staff in Tehran via Baku.

Turkmenistan - one of the world's most closed-off countries - said it had also allowed the transit of around 120 people evacuated from Iran through its territory, mainly citizens of Central Asian countries.

Iran was 'years from producing nuclear weapon' contrary to Israel claims, report says

Israel has vowed to destroy Iran's nuclear capabilities in its bombardment of the country, suggesting last week that Tehran was approaching a point of no return in its mission to build a nuclear weapon.

But US intelligence sources have reportedly claimed that Iran was up to three years from being able to produce a nuclear weapon and deliver it to a target of its choosing.

Furthermore, Israel's strikes may have only set back Iran's nuclear programme by a matter of months, an anonymous US official told CNN.

Israel says it has killed nine nuclear scientists and significantly damaged the Natanz uranium enrichment facility.

IRGC claims its missiles hit Mossad HQ in Israel

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they struck a centre of Mossad, Israel's foreign intelligence service, in Tel Aviv earlier today.

In a statement aired on state television, the IRGC said they 'struck the military intelligence centre of the Zionist regime's army, Aman, and the Zionist regime's terrorist operations planning centre, the Mossad, in Tel Aviv', adding it was 'currently on fire.'

Israel has not commented on the claims and they have not been verified, with pictures and information from the area reportedly being censored.

Pictured: Foreign nationals leave Israel after missile attack

Foreign nationals have been pictured queuing to leave Israel following a missile attack in Tel Aviv this morning.

According to Reuters news agency, people armed with suitcases have been boarding buses to leave Israel via Egypt.

On Monday, Israel's Tourism Ministry estimated about 40,000 tourists are stranded in Israel after the country’s airspace was closed until further notice amid Iranian missile strikes.

Many countries including Britain have updated travel advice to urge against all travelling to Israel while the conflict is ongoing.

Breaking:Israel launches new strikes on western Iran, reports say

The Israeli Air Force has begun a new wave of airstrikes in western Iran, Israeli media is reporting citing military officials.

The IDF is expected to provide more details on the strikes later today.

Breaking:Iran hit by cyberattack: Officials warned not to use connected devices and bank services down

Iran's cyber command has banned the use of all connected devices for officials and their security details, apparently fearing being tracked or hacked by Israel, the Fars news agency reports.

It comes as a cyberattack has disrupted the online services of Iranian bank Sepah, according to the outlet.

Pictures have shown ATMs not working in the country.

Iranian rescuers dig through rubble after buildings destroyed by Israeli strikes

We can now show you pictures from Tehran where rescuers from the Iranian Red Crescent are searching debris inside a building targeted by Israeli strikes.

Iranian media are reporting that three people were rescued from the rubble of a residential building. The footage was published by the IRNA news agency.

World picks a side as Israel-Iran conflict exposes East-West divisions

The world is watching in horror as Israel and Iran spiral into a brutal exchange of strikes that has seen US-made warplanes batter targets across the Islamic Republic while hypersonic and ballistic missiles rain down over Tel Aviv.

Now, as the death toll rises and the risk of a wider regional war grows by the hour, the international community is urging restraint, but not without expressing support for one side or the other - some more vigorously than others.

Many have made their positions clear. Iran's proxy forces and allied militias have issued scathing condemnations of Israel's actions, along with much of the Arab world. The US and Europe meanwhile have backed Israel's 'right to self-defence', albeit with varying levels of enthusiasm.

MailOnline's Chief Foreign Reporter David Averre provides a breakdown of the international reaction as the Middle East's most powerful foes come to blows - and a look at who stands where

• Read the full story here

Israel's defence minister warns Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei could face 'fate similar to Saddam Hussein'

Israeli defence minister Israel Katz has warned Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei that he could face 'a fate similar to Saddam Hussein.'.

'I warn the Iranian dictator against continuing to commit war crimes and launching missiles at Israeli civilians,' Katz said during his assessment this morning with top IDF officials, according to his office.

He went on: '[Khamenei] would do well to remember the fate of the dictator in the country neighboring Iran who chose this same path against the State of Israel.'

The comment was a clear reference to Iraqi leader Hussein, who was overthrown in 2003 during the US invasion of Iraq.

'We will continue today as well to act against regime and military targets in Tehran, just as we did yesterday against the propaganda and incitement broadcasting authority,' Katz said.

He added: 'I urge the residents of Tehran to evacuate those areas in accordance with the IDF Spokesperson’s instructions in Persian, for their own protection.'

ANDREW NEIL: Iran's dictators have one final suicidal weapon they are threatening to unleash

*this article is available only to Mail+ readers - to subscribe click here*

by Andrew Neil

A senior commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned at the weekend that the beleaguered regime in Tehran, reeling from Israel’s relentless onslaught on its leadership, military assets and energy infrastructure, might move to close the Strait of Hormuz.

It’s a threat the Mullahs regularly resort to at times of tension or when their backs are against the wall.

The Strait of Hormuz links the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean and the sea lanes beyond through which 30 per cent of the world’s seaborne crude oil and 20 per cent of liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments pass, making the channel (only 21 miles wide at its narrowest), one of the world’s most critical chokepoints for global energy supplies.

Read more here:

Iranian military chief insists nation is 'ready for long-term war'

General Ahmad Vahidi, the new head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), has reportedly dismissed Israeli claims about the destruction of Iranian missile launchers.

Vahidi, who was appointed Commander-in-Chief following the death of Hossein Salami on Friday in an Israeli airstrike, is reported to have said Iran is yet to use 'advanced missiles' and is ready for a 'long-term war'.

He supposedly dismissed 'baseless' Israeli claims that 40% of Iranian launchers have been destroyed following targeted strikes at launch sites.

Donald Trump speaks from Air Force One after leaving G7 summit early

President Trump has returned early from the G7 Leaders' Summit in Canada, with pictures showing him landing in Maryland.

Trump refused to sign a joint statement with fellow G7 leaders calling for de-escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict, an official confirmed last night.

He said he had to get back to Washington early 'for obvious reasons'.

Trump later lambasted French President Emmanuel Macron for suggesting he had left in order to negotiate a ceasefire deal between Israel and Iran.

He furiously denied the claim and ominously said his exit was for a 'much bigger' reason.

'I'm not looking for a ceasefire, we're looking at better than a ceasefire,' Trump told reporters as he touched down on US soil.

Watch what he had to say below:

Israeli Air Force jet takes out 'anti-aircraft launch squad'

Israel's Defence Forces have shared footage of a strike in Iran. The video is said to show a group launching anti-aircraft missiles at the plane before they themselves are hit by the jet.

US fuel tanker aircraft deploying to Europe

The US military has moved a large number of refueling aircraft to Europe to provide options to President Donald Trump as Middle East tensions erupt into conflict between Iran and Israel, two US said last night.

The officials also said the US aircraft carrier Nimitz was heading to the Middle East, in what one of them said was a pre-planned deployment.

The Nimitz can hold 5,000 personnel and more than 60 aircraft, including fighter jets.

Flight trackers appear to show the deployment of a number of fuel tanker planes.

Israel intelligence chief says Iran campaign will be expanded

The chief of Israel's Military Intelligence Directorate, Major General Shlomi Binder, told officers that they will soon 'break ground” in other areas of Iran after the IDF paved the way to Tehran.'

'You brought the intelligence that paved the way to Tehran and enabled the strike on the Iranian general staff. Soon, you’ll break ground in additional areas. You’ve proven that you can push boundaries and reach any target,' and IDF statement cites Binder as saying.

Referencing Israel's continued offensive in Gaza, which has been raging for more than 600 days, he added: 'Always remember that we are not fighting in just one arena. We’re fighting Iran, but our eyes are also on our hostages in Gaza and the various threats facing the soldiers on the frontlines and civilians on the home front.'

Pictures: Suffering continues in Gaza as '45 Palestinians killed waiting for aid'

At least 45 Palestinians have been killed and dozens wounded by Israeli forces while waiting for aid in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, according to officials there.

'Emergency, intensive care and operating rooms are overcrowded with the large number of casualties and deaths,' said the Hamas-run Health Ministry.

Pictures show traumatised people waiting for news of their loved ones and dead and injured men, women and children being brought to the al-Nasser hospital.

UN human rights chief Volker Turk said yesterday that Israel’s 'means and methods of warfare are inflicting horrifying, unconscionable suffering on Palestinians in Gaza.'

More than 20 months of Israeli attacks have killed 55,362 Palestinians, according to figures released by the Hamas-run health ministry, who say tens of thousands of the dead are women and children.

Iran recalls all medical staff from time off

Iran has recalled all doctors and nurses from their time off, state media reports.

The country's health ministry said on Sunday that Israeli attacks have killed at least 224 people and wounded more than 1,200. It has not issued an update since.

IDF reports 'hostile aircraft infiltration' in northern Israel

Israel's Defence Forces have warned of a 'hostile aircraft infiltration' in the north of the country after Iran's threat that it's attacks would be 'intensifying' over the coming hours.

Drone and rocket alert sirens have reportedly been sounding in several areas in the northern Golan Heights, including Majdal Shams and Masa’ada.

Watch: Fires break out across Tel Aviv after Iranian missile barrage

Firefighters have been tackling blazes across Tel Aviv this morning after a barrage of 20 Iranian missiles struck Israel.

At least two rockets hit areas north of Tel Aviv.

The Times of Israel is reporting one missile hit a storage shed near Herzliya and another hit a parking lot, where an empty bus went up in flames.

The Magen David Adom rescue service said earlier that five people received minor injuries in the parking lot.

China accuses US of 'fanning flames' of Israel-Iran conflict

China has accused Trump of 'fanning the flames' and 'pouring oil' on the conflict between Iran and Israel.

'Fanning the flames, pouring oil, making threats and mounting pressure will not help to promote the de-escalation of the situation, but will only intensify and widen the conflict,' foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told reporters when asked about Trump’s remarks at a news conference.

Trump wants 'a real end' to Iran nuclear programme

Speaking on Air Force One, the President told reporters that he wants 'a real end' to Iran's nuclear programme.

'I didn't say I was looking for a ceasefire,' the US president said on Air Force One, adding that he wants 'a real end,' with Iran 'giving up entirely' on nukes.

'The Israelis aren't slowing up their barrage on Iran,' CBS reports him as saying. 'You're going to find out over the next two days. You're going to find out. Nobody's slowed up so far.'

On any threat to American interests, he said Iran knows not to hit US troops, warning that the US would 'come down so hard if they do anything to our people.'

Trump also said he 'may' send US Vice President JD Vance or Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff to meet with officials in Iran.

But, he cautioned, it 'depends what happens when I get back' to Washington.

Breaking:Iran announces launch 'hundreds' of drones and says attack involves 'new and advanced weapons'

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards has declared a new attack involving new and advanced weapons has been launched against Israel

An Iranian military commander said the attack will 'intensify' in the coming hours, according to the official IRNA news agency.

It was also reported 'hundreds' of drones had been deployed in the offensive.

Kiomars Heidari, commander of the Army Ground Forces, is quoted as saying:

A new wave of fierce attacks by the armed forces, especially the army’s ground forces, with new and advanced weapons has begun and will intensify in the coming hours.

US bolstering its military presence in Middle East

The US has been building its already significant military presence in the Middle East amid the Israel-Iran conflict.

The USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group is currently in the Arabian Sea, while the USS Nimitz is now also headed to the region.

Nimitz was diverted to the Middle East from the South China Sea, ship tracking data shows, and is expected to arrive in the region in the coming week.

Three destroyers are also positioned in the region, which are capable of targetting missiles in the air.

Meanwhile some two dozen refuelling tankers have reportedly been placed around Europe.

Aircraft carrier USS Nimitz is seen conducting operations in the South China Sea last month, before it headed towards the Middle East.

Three people killed after Iran's state broadcaster is bombed

Iranian media is today reporting three people were killed when Israel bombed the state broadcaster live on air yesterday.

Previously, state media reported a news editor and another employee of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) were killed in the attack.

But now it is confirmed three people have died.

The attack took place yesterday during a live broadcast while a female presenter was criticising Israel. Programming was temporarily interrupted before coverage resumed a few minutes later.

Israeli defence minister Israel Katz warned Iran's state television and radio would be 'about to disappear' as he announced the attack.

Here's the moment the broadcaster was bombed:

India confirms students evacuated from Tehran

Indian nationals studying in Tehran have been evacuated from the capital for safety reasons, officials have announced.

India's Ministry of External Affairs said other Indians have been advised to leave the city amid the conflict.

It comes as Donald Trump urged for residents in Tehran to evacuate.

Israel-Iran conflict enters fifth day: What you need to know this morning

If you're either joining or returning to our live coverage of the Israel-Iran conflict, here's a quick summary of the key updates overnight and this morning:

• President Donald Trump has called for the 'immediate evacuation of Tehran' as he left the G7 summit in Canada early to attend 'important matters' back in Washington.
• During the summit, Trump refused to sign a joint statement with fellow G7 leaders calling for de-escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict, an official confirmed last night.
• Israeli media is reporting the Trump administration is preparing to join an attack on Iran if the President gives the 'green light'.
• Meanwhile loud booms have been heard over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem this morning after Iran launched a fresh barrage of missiles with air raid sirens sounding across Israel.
• Israel has declared it has killed Iran's top military commander - Ali Shadmani - whose predecessor was killed in strikes just days ago.

Stay with us for the latest developments throughout the day plus the most up-to-date pictures and videos from the conflict.

Pictures: Bus station north of Tel Aviv hit in Iranian strike

Pictures show buses at a parking lot north of Tel Aviv on fire following an Iranian bombardment.

A barrage of 20 Iranian missiles struck Israel this morning after earlier attacks overnight, the Ynet news outlet reports.

At least two rockets hit areas north of Tel Aviv, with fires ripping through buses but no reported injuries.

Iranian MP claims 21 killed in western province

An Iranian MP is reporting 21 people have been killed in Lorestan province in western Iran, according to the Iranian Labour News Agency.

The politician, who is not named, is quoted as blaming 'infiltrators' rather than direct action from Israel.

The Zionist regime has used infiltrators, and most of the actions we see across the country are by these individuals rather than the Zionist regime.

The MP did not elaborate further on how 'infiltrators' had carried out an attack.

Trump refused to sign joint statement with G7 leaders then left summit early

Donald Trump refused to sign a joint statement with fellow G7 leaders calling for de-escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict, an official confirmed last night.

The US president then left the summit in Calgary, Canada, early, with pictures showing him jetting off on Air Force One.

He said he had to get back to Washington early 'for obvious reasons'.

Trump later lambasted French President Emmanuel Macron for suggesting he had left in order to negotiate a ceasefire deal between Israel and Iran.

He furiously denied and ominously said his exit was for a 'much bigger' reason.

Pictures: Fireball erupts after building near Tel Aviv hit by Iranian rockets

Pictures: Missiles fly above Jerusalem as Iran wages new attack

These pictures show missiles in the skies above Jerusalem as Iran launches a fresh barrage of missiles this morning.

Alerts have been activated across Israel in response to the attack.

Donald Trump hits out at 'publicity-seeking' Macron's Israel ceasefire claim

Donald Trump has hit out at 'publicity seeking' French President Emmanuel Macron for suggesting he left the G7 Summit to negotiate a ceasefire deal between Israel and Iran.

Trump furiously denied the claim in a Truth Social post, and ominously revealed his exit was for a 'much bigger' reason as he is set to convene with the National Security Council in the White House Situation Room on Tuesday.

'Publicity seeking President Emmanuel Macron, of France , mistakenly said that I left the G7 Summit, in Canada , to go back to D.C. to work on a 'ceasefire' between Israel and Iran,' Trump wrote.

'Wrong! He has no idea why I am now on my way to Washington, but it certainly has nothing to do with a Cease Fire. Much bigger than that. Whether purposely or not, Emmanuel always gets it wrong. Stay Tuned!'

Read the full story here:

Explosions heard in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as IDF warns of incoming Iranian missiles

Loud booms were heard over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem on Tuesday after air raid sirens sounded in several parts of Israel and the military warned of incoming Iranian missiles.

'A short while ago, sirens sounded in several areas across Israel following the identification of missiles launched from Iran toward the State of Israel,' the military said in a statement.

The IDF added that the air force was 'operating to intercept and strike where necessary to eliminate the threat.'

Pictures and videos online show smoke billowing from buildings and a bus depot. Unconfirmed reports suggest multiple people have been injured.

Israel assassinates SECOND Iranian military chief in days, military says

Israel says it has killed Iran's top military commander - whose predecessor was killed in strikes just days ago.

The IDF said its jets killed Ali Shadmani, Iran’s highest-ranking military officer and chief war commander.

He was considered to be the closest person to supreme leader Ali Khamenei and oversaw both the IRGC and army.

Shadmani was appointed after his predecessor, Alam Ali Rashid, was killed in Israel's first strikes last week.

Khamenei announced his appointment following Rashid's death just four days ago.

Alerts activated across Israel as Iran launches fresh missile barrage

The IDF has said the Israeli Air Force is working to intercept new Iranian missiles after they were launched towards Israel this morning as the conflict enters the fifth day.

Alerts have been activated across the country with people said to be repeatedly going in and out of shelters.

A few moments ago, the IDF tweeted:

A short time ago, alerts were activated in several areas of the country following the discovery of missiles launched from Iran into the territory of the State of Israel. The public is asked to obey the Home Front Command's instructions.

At this time, the Air Force is working to intercept and attack wherever necessary to eliminate the threat. The defense is not hermetic, and therefore the Home Front Command's instructions must continue to be followed.

At this time there are no reports of injuries.

Israeli media says US is preparing to join an attack on Iran

Israeli media reports that the Trump administration is preparing to join an attack on Iran 'if President Donald Trump gives it the green light.'

An unidentified official told i24 News that even though the Secretary of Defense typically makes the decisions, it was Trump, himself, who approved the implementation of plans to deploy forces in the Middle East.

The source also claimed that 'US Central Command thinks it should join, but there are senior officials in the administration who are currently opposing the move.'

Trump denies Macron's claims he is working on a ceasefire

President Donald Trump has denied French President Emmanel Macron's claims he has offered a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran.

'Publicity seeking President Emmanuel Macron, of France, mistakenly said that I left the G7 Summit, in Canada, to go back to D.C. to work on a “cease fire” between Israel and Iran. Wrong!' the US president wrote on his Truth Social page.

'He has no idea why I am now on my way to Washington, but it certainly has nothing to do with a Cease Fire. Much bigger than that,' he teased.

'Whether purposely or not, Emmanuel always gets it wrong,' Trump concluded, urging the public to 'stay tuned!'

Iran claims two killed in strike on news station

Iranian officials have confirmed two people were killed in an Israeli air strike on a news station, which was captured on air.

Nima Rajabpour, a news editor, and Masoumeh Azimi, an administrative staff member, were killed in Israel’s attack on the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, INRA claimed.

US embassy in Israel temporarily closes

The US Embassy in Israel announced it will temporarily close 'as a result of the current security situation and ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.'

It said it directed all of its employees and their family members to continue to shelter in place 'in and near their residences until further notice.'

'The U.S. Embassy is not in a position at this time to evacuate or directly assist Americans in departing Israel,' it added.

Israeli drone taken down near Iranian nuclear facility

Iranian officials have claimed they shot down an Israeli drone near the Natanz nuclear facility, CNN reports.

The deputy governor of Isfahan province told state-affiliated FARS news agncy the drone was shot down 'inside one of the defensive rings... of Natanz installation’s air defense systems.'

The announcement was also shared to Telegram along with a photo of debris and broken machinery on the ground.

Iran's foreign minister calls Israeli attack on broadcaster 'the height of cowardice'

Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Abbas Araghchi called Israel's attack on an Iranian broadcaster 'the height of cowardice,' according to Iranian state media.

'The assault on our national broadcasting organization demonstrated the obvious desperation of the Israelis,' he said in an interview carried by IRNA.

'When they fail on the field of battle, they resort to targeting and striking a civilian center that only conveys the truth and informs.'

G7 leaders affirm support for Israel

Leaders at the G7, including President Trump, have issued a joint statement on the Middle East affirming their support for Israel.

'In this context, we affirm that Israel has a right to defend itself. We reiterate our support for the security of Israel.'

They added that Iran is 'the principal source of regional instability and terror.'

France's Macron claims Trump has put a ceasefire offer on the table

French President Emmanuel Macron has claimed US President Donald Trump has put a ceasefire offer on the table between Israel and Iran.

'There is an offer that has been made, especially to have a ceasefire and to initiate broader discussions,' the French leader said outside of the G7 summit, according to CNN.

'If the United States of America can achieve a ceasefire, it is a very good thing and France will support it and we wish for it,' Macron added.

'It is absolutely essential that all strikes from both sides against energy, administrative, and cultural infrastructures, and even more so against the civilian population, cease,' he added, arguing: 'Nothing justifies this.'

As the death toll in the Iran-Israel feud rises and the risk of a wider regional war grows by the hour, the international community is urging restraint, but not without expressing support for one side or the other - some more vigorously than others.

Many have made their positions clear. The US and Europe have backed Israel's 'right to self-defence', albeit with varying levels of enthusiasm, while Iran's proxy forces and allied militias have issued scathing condemnations of Israel's actions.

But the conflict has also exposed nations whose self-interest appears to outweigh loyalty to traditional allies.

Sen. Lindsay Graham calls on Trump to go 'all in' in fight against Iran

South Carolina Sen. Lindsay Graham has urged President Donald Trump to go 'all in' in the fight against Iran as he pushed for regime change in the Islamic coountry.

'So here is the task at hand: Be all in, President Trump, in helping Israel eliminate the nuclear threat,' he urged on Fox News Monday night. 'If we need to provide bombs to Israel, provide bombs. If we need to fly planes with Israel, do joint operations.

'But here's the bigger question, wouldn't the world be better off if the Ayatollahs went away and replaced by something better? Wouldn't Iran be better off?''

The Republican senator then reiterated his comments on X.

'No one can say that President @realDonaldTrump has not tried to seek peace regarding Ukraine-Russia and Israel-Iran. He has gone the extra mile and I appreciate that,' Graham wrote. 'However, you have to have willing partners to make peace.'

'Iran played the same old game with the wrong guy,' he claimed.

'God bless Israel, God bless the United States and God bless President Trump,' the senator concluded.

White House discusses meeting with Iranian officials

The Trump administration is trying to set up a meeting between US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Minister Abbas Araghch, Axios reports.

'A meeting with the Iranians this week is under consideration,' a US official confirmed to the outlet.

The president reportedly sees the massive bunker busters needed to destroy Iran's underground uranium enrichment facility as a key point of leverage to get Iran to strike a deal, a senior official said.

'They do want to talk,' he claimed. 'But what we don't know is "Have they been brought to their knees fully so that they realize that in order to have a country, they have to talk?"

'And assuming they get there, is there any degree of enrichment you would allow them to have?'

Israel warns of destruction of the west

The Israeli Defense Forces posted a video to X on Monday warning that if it does not stop Iran, other western countries will be destroyed.

Among the nations it lists are the United States, Belgium, France, Canada, Sweden, Germany and the UK.

'If we don’t stop them, you’re next,' it claimed.

White House denies US is getting involved

The White House has denied reports that the United States is getting involved in Israeli attacks on Iran.

'This is not true,' Principal Deputy Communications Director Alex Pfeiffer wrote on X.

'American forces are maintaining their defensive posture, and that has not changed. We will defend American interests.'

Defense Sec Pete Hegseth says Trump still wants new nuclear agreement with Tehran

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Monday night that the president's priority is still to reach a new nuclear agreement with Iran.

'We believe that Iran ... should not have a nuclear weapon,' he told Fox News' Jesse Watters. 'That position hasn't changed.'

'Right now, we've got assets in the region and we're going to defend them,' he said.

'We're strong, we're prepared, we're defensive ... President Trump hopes there can be peace,' Hegseth added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refuses to rule out targeting Supreme Leader Khamenei

In an interview with ABC News on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to rule out targeting Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

'Look we're doing what we need to do. I'm not getting into the details,' he said.

Israel says its now safe to exit bomb shelters

The Israeli military has told the public it is safe to leave protected shelters, signalling that the threat from the current Iranian missile attack is over.

Breaking:Explosions reported in Tel Aviv

The Reuters news agency is reporting explosions in the sky over Tel Aviv after the Israeli military said it was working to intercept missiles launched from Iran.

The Times of Israel reports air raid sirens are blaring across central Israel.

Breaking:Sirens sound across Israel as Iranian missiles detected

In the last few minutes, sirens have again sounded across Israel after the country's military forces detected Iranian missiles headed towards it.

Israel's air forces are 'operating to intercept and strike where necessary to eliminate the threat,' the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says in a post on X, urging the public to follow orders to seek shelter.

Official: US ‘not striking Iran’

A US official has told Fox News that the US is not striking Iran and remains in a defensive position.

Israel shoots down drones

The Israeli military says it intercepted several drones that were launched towards Israel in the past hour.

The aircraft triggered sirens in Ramat Magshimim and Haspin areas in southern Golan Heights.

U.S. President Donald Trump made ceasefire offer between Israel and Iran, says Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that U.S. President Donald Trump had made an offer for a ceasefire between Israel and Iran.

'There is indeed an offer to meet and exchange. An offer was made especially to get a ceasefire and to then kick-start broader discussions,' Macron told reporters at the G7.

'We have to see now whether the sides will follow.'

Chinese embassy in Israel urges citizens to leave

The Chinese embassy in Israel has urged Chinese citizens to return home or leave the country via land border crossings as soon as possible, on grounds that the security situation has deteriorated and Israeli airspace remained closed.

'At present, the Israeli-Iranian conflict continues to escalate, with civilian facilities damaged and civilian casualties increasing, making the security situation even more severe,' the embassy warned in a Tuesday notice on WeChat.

The notice recommended Chinese citizens to leave via the land crossing towards Jordan.

Trump's early G7 departure positive, Macron says

French President Emmanuel Macron has said that Donald Trump's early departure from the G7 summit in Canada is 'positive...given the objective to get a ceasefire in the Middle East'.

He added that Trump had told G7 leaders that there were discussions on obtaining a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, and that European governments would be ready to take part in Iran nuclear negotiations if a ceasefire is reached.

Trump requests National Security Council to convene

Donald Trump has requested for the National Security Council to convene in the situation room, Fox News reports.

The situation room is a secure intelligence management complex located in the West Wing of the White House.

It operates as a crisis management centre and secure communication hub for the president and advisors.

Macron calls for end to strikes against civilians in Iran and Israel

French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday called for strikes against civilians in Iran and Israel to end as the two countries traded heavy attacks for a fourth day.

'If the United States can achieve a ceasefire, that's a very good thing,' Macron added at a G7 summit in Canada, just as the White House announced President Donald Trump would leave the event early due the escalating crisis in the Middle East.

Foreign Secretary: UK not involved in strike against Iran

Iran missile hits Haifa

Israel's air defense system intercepts Iranian missiles

Trump leaving G7 summit day early due to Middle East crisis

US President Donald Trump will leave a Group of Seven summit Monday night, a day early, due to the Israel-Iran war, the White House said, after he warned the residents of Tehran to flee.

'Because of what's going on in the Middle East, President Trump will be leaving tonight after dinner with Heads of State,' White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on X.

Air defences activated in Natanz, Iranian media reports

Air defences have been activated in Natanz, in central Iran, the site of a key nuclear facility that has already been targeted by Israel since the start of its strikes.

Natanz is located around 225km south of the capital Tehran.

Breaking:Explosions reported in Tehran

Iranian media is reporting several explosions in the capital Tehran.

More to follow.

Breaking:Trump: 'Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran'

In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, US President Donald Trump says that 'everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran'.

His comments come after Israeli officials advised residents to evacuate parts of north-eastern Tehran earlier today, saying it planned to target 'military infrastructure'.

In his post, Trump adds that Iran should have signed the deal that he put forward to them in the most recent round of US-Iran nuclear talks.

'Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON,' he writes.

'I said it over and over again!

'Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!'

It is unclear whether he was referring to US citizens in Iran or the Iranian capital's 14 million residents.

The 'abandoned' Brits trapped in Israel:

Netanyahu refuses to rule out assassinating Supreme Leader

Pictured: An interceptor flies in the sky as missiles from Iran are fired to Israel, as seen from Tel Aviv

Pictured: Israelis take shelter during a missile alert from Iran, in Tel Aviv

Pictured: Protestors in Times Square supporting 'Iran's right to resist'

US sends ‘additional capabilities’ to Middle East

The US has sent 'additional capabilities' to the Middle East to protect US forces, Pete Hegseth has said.

The US defence secretary said in a statement:

Over the weekend, I directed the deployment of additional capabilities to the United States Central Command Area of Responsibility.

Protecting US forces is our top priority and these deployments are intended to enhance our defensive posture in the region.

Watch: Israeli army releases footage of bombing of Iranian State TV building

Civilians can leave shelters, Israeli military says

Civilians who were instructed to seek shelter after Israel detected incoming missiles from Iran are now allowed to leave those protected areas, Israel’s Home Front Command said.

Trump expects nuclear deal with Iran will be signed

President Donald Trump voiced confidence Monday that Iran would eventually sign a nuclear deal as he warned without specifying that the United States will be "doing something" once he leaves a G7 summit.

I think a deal will be signed, or something will happen. But a deal will be signed.

And I think Iran is foolish not to sign one.

Trump said without elaborating: "As soon as I leave here, we're going to be doing something. But I have to leave here."

He did not provide any further details, and is expected to leave the summit in the Canadian Rockies on Tuesday.

Trump has refused to comment on whether the United States would offer military support to Israel to destroy Iran's nuclear program.

He earlier said that the United States was not involved in Israel's offensive but has praised the strikes and boasted that Israel uses US weapons.

Breaking:Israeli military says it detects incoming Iranian missiles

The Israeli military says it has identified incoming Iranian missiles after Iran announced it had launched its ninth wave of attacks against Israel.

Sirens are going off in several parts of Israel, the Israel Defense Forces said.

Iranian media: Three medics killed in Israeli strike on Tehran

Iran’s Mehr news agency is reporting that three Iranian Red Crescent Society workers were killed by an Israeli strike during rescue operations in Tehran.

The relief group said on X on Monday: 'This attack took place while the first responders were adhering to their most basic human responsibilities and were not engaged in any military activity'.

Breaking:Iran to attack 'continuously until morning'

Iranian state news outlets cite the Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) as saying Iran will attack Israel throughout the night.

'Moments ago, the ninth wave of the combined drone and missile attack began and will continue continuously until the morning,' the IRGC's General Naeini has said, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency.

Israel's air force 'intercepts unmanned aerial vehicle'

The Israel Defense Forces says that its air force has 'intercepted an unmanned aerial vehicle' that had been launched towards Israeli territory.

This comes after Iranian state media reported that a new wave of missile attacks targeting Israel had started.

Israeli oil refinery says three workers killed in Iranian attack

Israel's Haifa-based Bazan Group said all refinery facilities have been shut down after a power station used to produce steam and electricity were significantly damaged in an attack by Iran, according to a regulatory filing on Monday.

The group said the Iranian attack resulted in the death of three company employees.

The refinery is located in Haifa Bay, according to Israeli media.

Pictured: IDF 'fighter jet strikes'

The IDF posted footage which they claim shows a strike on two F-14 fighter jets that were located at an airport in Tehran.

These jets were intended to intercept Israeli aircraft, according to the IDF.

Breaking:Iranian state media: New wave of missile attacks on Israel begins

Iranian state media is reporting that a new wave of missile attacks on Israel has just begun.

The reports say Iran has launched combined drone and missile operations targeting Tel Aviv and Haifa.

Lammy tells Israel to 'step back'

Foreign Secretary David Lammy has called on Israel to 'show restraint' and warned military action will not end Iran's nuclear capabilities.

Addressing MPs in the House of Commons, Lammy said: 'We agree with President Trump when he says negotiations are necessary and must lead to a deal.

'Fundamentally, no military action can put an end to Iran's nuclear capabilities.

'Our message to both Israel and Iran is clear. Step back, show restraint, don't get pulled ever deeper into a catastrophic conflict whose consequences nobody can control.

'Further escalation in the Middle East is not in Britain's interests, nor the interests of Israel, Iran or the region.

'There are hundreds of thousands of British nationals living in the region and with Iran a major oil producer and one fifth of the total world's oil consumption flowing through the Strait of Hormuz, escalating conflict poses real risks for the global economy.'

Pictured: Smoke rising from oil depot in Tehran

These images show thick smoke rising into the sky following what Iran says was an Israeli attack on Sharan Oil depot in Tehran, Iran, June 16, 2025

Iranian air defences thwart attack on South Pars gas field, Iranian media reports

Iranian Air Defences thwarted an attack on Monday on the Iranian South Pars gas field, the world's biggest gas field, according to the Iranian Fararu news website.

South Pars was struck by Israel on Saturday, leading Iran to partially suspend gas production.

IAF: Iranian drones shot down

Several drones that were launched at Israel have been shot down by the Israeli Air Force over the Golan Heights a short while ago, the Israeli Air Force says.

Sirens had sounded in Ramat Magshimim and Hispin

Breaking:Iran tells Israeli news channels to evacuate

Iran has issued an evacuation warning for Israeli news channels after an air strike on Tehran’s state broadcaster on Monday afternoon.

'Iran has issued an evacuation warning for the N12 and N14 channels of Israel. This order comes in response to the hostile attack of Zionist enemy against the Islamic republic of Iran’s broadcasting service,' Iranian state TV said.

Pictured: Smoke billows from Iran's state-run television station following an Israeli strike on Monday afternooon.

Israeli Air Force: Israel ‘striking Iran’s missile infrastructure’

Israel is 'striking surface-to-surface missile infrastructure in western Iran'

, according to an X post by the Israeli Air Force (IAF).

Shocking footage shows Iran's TV station on fire

Netanyahu says Israel 'changing the face of the Middle East'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that Israel was 'changing the face of the Middle East'

with its military campaign against Iran.

'We are changing the face of the Middle East,' he told a press conference in which he outlined Israel's strikes against Iranian nuclear and military targets.

'We are eliminating them, one after the other,' he said of Iran's military leadership.

Iran vows to 'pummel' Israel until attacks stop

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Monday that Iranian forces will 'pummel' Israel until the attacks against the Islamic republic stop.

'Our powerful Armed Forces are making clear to the world that the war criminals hiding in shelters in Tel Aviv will not go unpunished for their crimes,' he said in a post on X.

'We will continue to pummel the cowards for as long as needed to make sure that they are no longer firing at our people,' he added.

U.S. House Speaker Johnson postpones trip to Israel

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson said on Monday he has postponed his planned June 22 trip to Israel to address its parliament, as an escalating battle between Israel and Iran has raised fears of a broader conflict.

'Due to the complex situation currently unfolding in Iran and Israel, (Knesset) Speaker (Amir) Ohana and I have made the decision to postpone the special session of the Knesset. We look forward to rescheduling the address in the near future and send our prayers to the people of Israel and the Middle East,' Johnson said in a statement.

The trip by Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, had been set to take place on June 22.

Israel and Iran: Fighter jets 'destroyed'

Iran and Israel both say they have downed fighter jets today.

Iranian air defences shot down an F-35 fighter jet, Iranian state news reports.

The plane was downed in Tabriz, Nour News said.

Meanwhile, the Israeli air force says it attacked a pair of F14 jets at an airport in Tehran.

Israeli Foreign Minister says Israel has not finished its operation in Iran

On Monday Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar told European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas on X that Israel has not finished its opertation in Iran.

Key Israeli military intelligence hubs on Iran's list of targets news agency says

Key Israeli military and intelligence centres including the Ramat David air base near Haifa are on Iran's list of targets for airstrikes, Iran's semi-official Student News Network reported on Monday.

'In the coming hours, a crushing and proportionate response will be given within the framework of legitimate defence,' the news agency said.

Iran condemns Israeli attack on state TV as 'war crime'

Iran condemned Israel's attack on a state TV building on Monday as a 'war crime', and called on the UN Security Council to take action.

The strike on the offices of IRIB during a live broadcast was a 'wicked act' and a 'war crime', said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei.

'The UNSC must act now to stop the genocidal aggressor from committing further atrocities against our people," he added.

An Israeli attack on Monday hit the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) building, cutting off live coverage immediately.

The blast occurred as the presenter was live on TV lambasting Israel before she was seen leaving the live broadcast, Iranian media reported, sharing a video of the incident.

Live coverage resumed shortly after.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also condemned the attack, calling it 'inhuman, criminal and a terrorist act.'

After decades of enmity and a prolonged shadow war, Israel on Friday launched a surprise attack, saying it was targeting Iran's nuclear and military facilities.

So far it has killed at least 224 people in the Islamic republic, including top military commanders, nuclear scientists and civilians.

Iran has retaliated with barrages of drone and missiles that have killed at least 24 people in Israel, according to the latest figures from the prime minister's office.

Iran does not recognise Israel and has long accused it of carrying out sabotage operations against its nuclear facilities, as well as assassinating its scientists.

Pictured: Smoke and fire in Haifa following strike

This image shows smoke and fire rising at an impacted facility site in Haifa following a missile attack from Iran on Israel on June 15.

Iran tells UN strikes on Israel are self-defense

Iran's strikes on Israel are self-defense and are 'proportionate defensive operations directed exclusively at military objectives and associated infrastructure,' Iran's U.N. Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani told the U.N. Nations Security Council on Monday.

He wrote in a letter that any cooperation by third countries with Israel's strikes on Iran 'makes them complicit in the legal responsibility and consequences of this crisis.'

Under Article 51 of the founding United Nations Charter, the 15-member Security Council must immediately be informed of any action that states take in self-defense against armed attack.

Iran state TV reports 'number' of staff killed in strike on headquarters

Iran state TV has reported a 'number' of casulaties after an Israeli airstrike hit their headquarters earlier today.

One reporter said that staff were 'working until the very last moment before the attack'.

The IDF claimed that the centre was being used for military purposes 'under the guise of civilian activity',

Germany to evacuate citizens from Israel

Germany will start evacuating its citizens from Israel via Jordan's capital Amman with a charter flight planned for Wednesday, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday.

'Germans in Israel who are registered on the Elefand crisis preparedness list have been informed about this option and the details,' the spokesperson said.

US tells citizens to Depart Iran immediately

US citizens should leave Iran immediately, the state department has warned.

Those who are unable to leave should be prepared to shelter in place for extended periods of time, it added.

The department said Americans should not travel to Iran for any reason.

IDF: Israel ‘cuts Iran’s ballistic missile threat by half’

Israel has reduced Iran’s ballistic missile threat by half, a senior Israeli official has said, The Telegraph reported.

Capt Masha Michelson, head of the IDF international desk said: 'We strike a terror target and then we eliminate launchers and trucks carrying ballistic missiles.'

'We have been able to narrow the Iranian regime’s ability to fire ballistic missiles at Israel by 50 percent.'

She added Israel has also 'eliminated approximately 30% of Iran’s ballistic missile stockpiles'.

Germany announces plans to evacuate citizens from Israel

Germany will start evacuating its citizens from Israel via Jordan, a foreign ministry spokesperson has said.

A charter flight will travel from the capital, Amman.

Germans in Israel who are registered on the Elefand crisis preparedness list have been informed about this option and the details.

It joins Portugal, Slovakia and Poland who have already announced plans to try and remove their citizens.

Pictured: Europeans flee Israel

This image shows Slovaks, along with Czechs, Austrians and Slovenians disembarking from a flight from Amman, after they left the region following a missile attack from Iran on Israel.

'Iran preparing for very big blow', says senior security official

A senior security official has reportedly told an Iranian news agency that 'Iran is preparing for a very big blow after the first evil of the Zionist regime.'

Netanyahu refuses to rule out killing Ayatollah

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said targeting Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei would end, not escalate, the ongoing fight between the two countries.

Speaking to ABC News about reports that President Trump rejected an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran's Supreme Leader over concerns that it would escalate the conflict, Netanyahu said:

It's not going to escalate the conflict, it's going to end the conflict.

We've had half a century of conflict spread by this regime that terrorizes everyone in the Middle East; has bombed the Aramco oil fields in Saudi Arabia; is spreading terrorism and subversion and sabotage everywhere.

The 'forever war' is what Iran wants, and they're bringing us to the brink of nuclear war.

The 'forever war' is what Iran wants, and they're bringing us to the brink of nuclear war. In fact, what Israel is doing is preventing this, bringing an end to this aggression, and we can only do so by standing up to the forces of evil.'

Asked if Israel would indeed target the supreme leader, Netanyahu said that Israel was:

Doing what we need to do. I'm not going to get into the details, but we've targeted their top nuclear scientists.

Breaking:IDF - Iran launches missiles at Israel

Iran has launched missiles toward Israel, the Israel Defence Forces have claimed.

Alerts have been activated in several areas in the north of the country, it added.

The air force is working to intercept and attack wherever necessary to eliminate the threat.

The defense is not hermetic, and therefore the instructions of the Home Front Command must continue to be obeyed.

Israeli Air Force strike military base in Tehran

Pictured: Smoke rises after an Israeli strike on the Iranian state TV building

Breaking:Israel confirms attack on Iranian state media

Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz has threatened to strike "everywhere" against the government of Iranian "dictator" Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a statement issued after Israeli air strikes hit Iran's state broadcaster in Tehran.

"The propaganda and incitement broadcasting authority of the Iranian regime was attacked" by Israeli forces, Katz said, noting that the strike followed the "vast evacuation of residents in the area"

He added: "We will strike the Iranian dictator everywhere."

Watch: Bloodied journalist speaks in front of burning Iranian state TV building

Trump says Iran should negotiate 'before it's too late'

US President Donald Trump said Monday that Iran was not winning its conflict with Israel and should re-enter negotiations "before it's too late."

"They have to make a deal, and it's painful for both parties, but I'd say Iran is not winning this war, and they should talk, and they should talk immediately, before it's too late," Trump told reporters at a G7 summit in Canada.

Anchor reveals extent of damage after TV studio is attacked

Elham Abedini has revealed the extent of damage caused following an attack on the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting offices in Tehran.

The blast saw programming temporarily interrupted before live coverage resumed a few minutes later.

Watch: Moment Iran's state broadcaster is bombed live on air

This is the shocking moment Iran's state broadcaster was bombed live on air during an Israeli attack.

The blast occurred at the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) building in Tehran.

Moments before the blast the female presenter was lambasting Israel before she was forced to leave the broadcast.

Several employees were killed in the attack, Iranian media have reported.

Watch the video below:

Iranian state TV returned to broadcast minutes after attack

Iran's state broadcaster returned to live coverage after going off air for a few minutes following Israel's attack.

'The Zionist regime the enemy of the Iranian nation minutes ago conducted a military operation against the Islamic Republic of Iran news network', part of IRIB, said a senior official at the broadcasting service Hassan Abedini.

The regime (Israel) was unaware of the fact that the voice of the Islamic revolution and the great Iran will not be silenced with a military operation.

In text displayed on screen, the broadcaster says all its programmes 'are resuming live without any interruptions'.

Several Iranian Broadcasting Corporation employees killed in attack - report

Iranian media outlets have reported a number of Iranian Broadcasting Corporation employees were killed following the Israeli attack.

Israel targeted the live news program studio of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) in an attack on the country's state-run broadcaster.

The news program host was reportedly reading a threatening statement from the National Security Council to citizens seconds before the attack

G7 leaders want de-escalation between Iran and Israel

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said he believes G7 leaders meeting in Canada were united in wanting de-escalation between Israel and Iran.

'I do think there's a consensus for de-escalation,' Starmer told reporters at the summit in the Canadian Rockies.

Obviously, what we need to do today is to bring that together and to be clear about how it is to be brought about. But the risk of the conflict escalating is obvious, I think, and the implications - not just for the region but globally - are really immense, so the focus has to be on de-escalation.

Starmer said he spoke with most G7 leaders after they arrived Sunday and had spoken by telephone to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Iranian state broadcaster attacked by Israel - report

The AFP news agency is reporting the Iranian state broadcaster has been hit following an Israeli attack on Tehran.

Multiple explosions have been heard across the capital following an evacuation request issued by the IDF.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz previously warned Iran's state television and radio were 'about to disappear'.

This is a breaking news post. We will bring you more as we get it.

Israel vows Iranian TV is 'about to disappear'

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has said Iran's state television and radio were 'about to disappear' following an evacuation warning.

The alert issued for District 3 in Tehran where the state broadcaster IRIB is based.

In a statement, he said:

The Iranian propaganda and incitement megaphone is about to disappear. Evacuation of nearby residents has begun.

Israel's military urged residents in the capital's northern District 3 to evacuate 'immediately', saying it intended to carry out air strikes there.

The area marked for evacuation is an upmarket part of the Iranian capital home to at least four hospitals and medical centres, a major police building and the state broadcaster.

Breaking:Iran asks Gulf states to mediate for ceasefire with Israel, insiders say

Tehran has asked Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman to press Donald Trump to use his influence on Israel to agree to an immediate ceasefire with Iran in return for Tehran's flexibility in nuclear negotiations, two Iranian and three regional sources told Reuters.

Gulf leaders and their top diplomats worked the phones all weekend, speaking to each other, to Tehran, Washington and beyond in an effort to avoid a widening of the conflict as longstanding enemies Israel and Iran intensified their attacks in their biggest ever confrontation.

Breaking:Iran's Guards warn Tel Aviv residents to evacuate, state media says

Iran's Revolutionary Guards called on the residents of Tel Aviv to evacuate as soon as possible, Iranian state media reported on Monday, shortly after Israel issued an evacuation warning for a designated area in Tehran.

Iran 'open to negotiations so long as US does not join Israeli attack'

Iran has urgently signalled it is open to negotiations so long as the US does not join Israel's attack on it, officials have reportedly told the Wall Street Journal.

The Islamic Republic has suggested it is seeking to end hostilities amid Israel's devastating aerial campaign, which has taken out top military leaders, the report states.

Officials also sent messages to Israel saying it is in the interest of both sides to keep the violence contained, it is reported.

Iran has also reportedly told officials it could accelerate its nuclear program and expand the scope of the war if there are no prospects of resuming talks with the US.

However, even if Tehran is seeking de-escalation, Israel is unlikely to relent in its attacks, boasting today that it has 'full aerial superiority' over Tehran.

Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed that Israel will continue its air attacks until Iran's nuclear program and ballistic missiles are destroyed.

UN nuclear agency warns of possible contamination at Iran's Natanz site after Israeli strikes

The head of the UN nuclear watchdog agency said there is a possibility of both radiological and chemical contamination within Iran's main nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz following Israeli strikes.

The radiation poses a significant danger if uranium is inhaled or ingested, International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi said.

The risk can be effectively managed with appropriate protective measures, such as using respiratory protection devices while inside the facilities, Grossi said.

He added that radiation levels outside the complex are presently normal.

'The level of radioactivity outside the Natanz site has remained unchanged and at normal levels, indicating no external radiological impact to the population or the environment from this event,' he said.

Grossi was addressing an urgent session of the IAEA's board in Vienna that was convened at the request of Russia to discuss Israeli attacks against Iranian nuclear facilities.

He said that there apparently was no additional damage at Natanz and the Isfahan nuclear research site since Saturday.

Breaking:IDF issues evacuation warning for Tehran as strikes hit military base in Iranian capital

The IDF has for the first ime issued an evacuation warning for Tehran, telling residents in a large area of the city to leave ahead of planned strikes.

'Dear citizens, for your safety, we ask you to immediately leave the mentioned area in District 3 of Tehran,' the IDF's Arabic-language spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee said in a statement.

'In the coming hours, the Israeli army will operate in this area, as it has in recent days throughout Tehran, to strike the Iranian regime's military infrastructure,' the warning added.

The order was made as blasts were reported in both eastern and western parts of the city.

Iran’s Fars news agency reports that an Israeli attack targeted a military base in western Tehran, causing its air defence system to activate.

Iranian media is also reporting explosions in eastern parts of the capital, which is home to just under 10 million people.

Footage shows huge plumes of smoke rising from several parts of the city.

It comes after videos from last night and today have shown huge queues of traffic as people desperately try to flee the city.

Israel's operation in Iran 'expected to last two to three weeks'

Israel's campaign against Iran could last between two and three weeks, an Israeli officials has reportedly said.

'There’s a bank of military targets that we can complete pretty quickly,' the official told The Times of Israel.

'If they decide to expand it to more like government symbols, economical targets, all that, then it will take longer.'

The anonymous official reportedly said that a tighter nuclear agreement between Iran and Western powers is the goal.

Israeli airline extends flight suspension due to 'security developments'

Israeli carrier El Al has extended a suspension to commercial flights due to 'recent security developments'.

Its flight schedule was cancelled until at least June 19 over the weekend, with flights to a number of locations now cancelled until June 23.

All bookings with the airline are blocked until June 30, and it is not clear when normal operations will resume.

However, El Al also announced this afternoon that it is opening registration for repatriation flights for customers stranded outside of Israel.

'The rescue flights will be operated in a phased manner, and therefore patience will be required from El Al customers staying abroad,' the airline said in a statement.

'We recommend that passengers prepare and make accommodation and lodging arrangements.'

Watch: Israeli Air Force destroy trucks allegedly smuggling weapons to Tehran

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has shared videos of trucks being destroyed by the Israeli Air Force as part of apparent efforts to smuggle weapons to Tehran.

Grainy footage appears to show a series of explosions on the roads amid claims surface-to-air missile launchers were being transported towards the capital.

In a post on X, the IDF wrote:

Starting this morning, the Air Force identified several trucks containing weapons, including trucks carrying surface-to-air missile launchers, moving from western Iran toward Tehran in an attempt to escape IDF attacks. In a quick round-robin attack, the Air Force attacked the trucks and destroyed the weapons and launchers.

Earlier today, the The Israeli Air Force claimed it has established full control of the skies above Tehran and destroyed a third of Iran's ballistic missile launchers.

World is facing a new nuclear arms race and is becoming more unstable, report warns

The world is facing a new nuclear arms race with the likelihood that a nuclear weapon will be used increasing as the global security situation becomes more unstable, a new report has warned.

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s (SIPRI) Yearbook, published on Monday, highlights what it says is a dawning news arms race between the nine nuclear-armed states - the US, Russia, UK, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel.

'We are at a step change, which has been going on since just before the pandemic,' SIPRI director Dan Smith told Al Jazeera.

'It’s not just little bits and pieces here and there. It’s everybody moving in that direction of upgrading, including the new nuclear weapon state of North Korea and the relatively new ones of Pakistan and India, who went nuclear in the 90s.'

Exclusive:How Iran could decide to launch attacks on British soil

Iran could target British overseas military bases and embassies if the UK offers direct support to Israel in its war with the rogue state, a military expert said today.

The Islamic Republic has threatened to attack US, UK and French military forces if they help Israel block missile and drone retaliation for Friday's attack on its nuclear programme.

The number of Typhoon fighter jets stationed at RAF Akrotiri on Cyprus, which is just over 250 miles from Israel, has been bolstered in recent days.

Professor Justin Bronk, a senior research fellow at RUSI, said an Iranian attack on Akrotiri was highly unlikely at present, but the risk could grow if the UK launched Typhoons from the base to defend Israel from Iranian drones

'In theory, Iran might interpret that as direct intervention, but I still think it's unlikely they'd be a direct response as that could provoke the Americans,' he told MailOnline.

Read the full story by Rory Tingle and Mark Nicol here:

Pictured: Family mourns loved one killed in Iranian missile strike on Israel

The family of Bella Ashkenazi attend her funeral after she was killed when an Iranian missile hit her home in Holon, Israel

Benjamin Netanyahu states Israel's aims in Iran - as Israeli president calls for Tehran regime change

Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel's aims in targeting Iran are twofold - 'Eliminating the nuclear threat and eliminating the missile threat.'

Speaking from the Tel Nof Air Force base, the Israeli prime minister warned the people of Tehran to 'get out' of the city, echoing evacuation orders in Gaza, where the UN says almost two million people have been displaced.

Meanwhile, Israeli president Isaac Herzog stated that there should be a regime change in Iran.

During a visit to the site of a missile attack, he said: 'I think the Iranian people are fed up, and they want change. And so, of course, do the entire region, we deserve change.'

Netanyahu said on Sunday that regime change in Iran 'could certainly be the result' of Israel’s ongoing military campaign.

However he stopped short of saying that this was the goal of Israel's offensive, while foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar denied outright that it was Israel's objective.

Herzog pictured yesterday in the Israeli city of Bat Yam following a missile strike,

Lebanese pool party cheers as missiles fly overhead amid Israel-Iran war

Revellers at a Lebanese pool party have been seen cheering and dancing as Iranian missiles flew over to hit Israeli targets.

Bizarre footage shared over the weekend showed partygoers in a large swimming pool dancing, clapping and cheering as long-range missiles soar off to Israel in the distance.

Read the full story and watch the video here:

Breaking:Israeli Air Force 'begins new wave of airstrikes in central Iran'

The Israeli Air Force has begun a new wave of airstrikes in central Iran, a military official has told Israeli media.

The IDF is expected to provide details on the strikes later today.

Pictured: Smoke rises from oil depot in Tehran after Israeli attack

Putin and Erdogan condemn Israel's 'act of force' against Iran

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan condemned Israel's 'act of force' against Iran.

The two leaders called for an immediate cessation of hostilities when they spoke by phone on Monday, the Kremlin said.

'Both sides expressed the most serious concern about the ongoing escalation of the Iran-Israel conflict, which has already led to a large number of casualties and is fraught with serious long-term consequences for the entire region,' a statement from Moscow said.

'The leaders spoke in favor of an immediate cessation of hostilities and the settlement of contentious issues, including those related to the Iranian nuclear programme, exclusively by political and diplomatic means.'

The two sides agreed to remain in close cooperation, the statement said.

How much damage has Israel inflicted on Iran's nuclear programme?

Israel's strikes on Iran have targeted several of its nuclear facilities, as it claims the Islamic republic is seeking to develop nuclear weapons - an accusation Tehran denies.

Experts told the AFP news agency that while the attacks have caused some damage to Iran's nuclear programme, they are unlikely to have delivered a fatal blow.

Here is an update on Iran's nuclear sites as of today:

• What is the extent of the damage?

Israel's operation included strikes on Iran's underground uranium enrichment sites at Natanz and Fordow, and on its Isfahan nuclear site, the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said, citing Iranian officials.

A key, above-ground component of Iran's Natanz nuclear site has been destroyed, including its power infrastructure.

Agency chief Rafael Grossi said Monday that there has been no indication of a 'physical attack' on the underground cascade hall containing part of the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant and the main Fuel Enrichment Plant. However, power loss at the cascade hall 'may have damaged the centrifuges', the machines used to enrich uranium.

• Can the programme be destroyed?

While Israel can damage Iran's nuclear programme it is 'unlikely to be able to destroy it,' Ali Vaez, International Crisis Group's Iran project director, said, arguing that Israel does not have the massively powerful bombs needed to destroy the fortified, bunkered facilities in Natanz and Fordow.

Destroying those would require US military assistance, added Kelsey Davenport, an expert with the Arms Control Association. She also stressed that Israel's unprecedented attack cannot erase the expertise Iran had built up on nuclear weapons, despite killing nine Iranian nuclear scientists.

• What are the risks to the Iranian population?

The IAEA has not detected any increase in radiation levels at the affected sites.

'There is very little risk that attacks on Iran's uranium enrichment facilities would result in a harmful radiation release,' said Davenport.

But an attack on the Bushehr plant could 'have a serious impact on health and the environment', she added.

• Is Iran close to developing a nuclear bomb?

After the United States unilaterally withdrew in 2018 from a landmark deal that sought to curb Tehran's nuclear activities, Iran has gradually retreated from some of its obligations, particularly on uranium enrichment.

As of mid-May, the country had an estimated 408.6 kilogrammes enriched to up to 60 percent - just a short step from the 90 percent needed for a nuclear warhead.

Iran theoretically has enough near-weapons-grade material, if further refined, for about 10 nuclear bombs, according to the definition by the Vienna-based IAEA.

Tehran has consistently denied ambitions to develop nuclear warheads. But Davenport warned the strikes could strengthen factions in Iran advocating for an atomic arsenal.

Where is Iran's Supreme Leader?

Donald Trump is said to have already vetoed an Israeli opportunity to kill Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei since the conflict erupted on Friday.

But Tehran's 86-year-old supreme leader will still be fearing assassination, hiding out in 'as secure a location as they can manage' as Israel continues to target high ranking officials with deadly precision strikes across the country, onlookers believe.

Speaking on the BBC's Newscast over the weekend, The Economist's defence editor, Shashank Joshi, assessed that Khamenei would likely avoid any public appearances as his remaining loyalists work desperately to keep him out of Israel's crosshairs.

'I think they'll be concerned that Israel has clearly penetrated them inside out, so they will be looking to all possible corners from how to keep him safe, perhaps moving him from place to place,' he said.

Read the full story by James Reynolds here:

Israel began planning Tehran assault eight months ago, ex-defence minister says

Israel's former defence minister Yoav Gallant has told how the country had started preparing attacks on Tehran eight months ago.

Mr Gallant made the remark while sharing an image of himself visiting Bat Yam, an Israeli city hit by Iranian missiles in recent days.

In a post on X, Mr Gallant said:

Iran did not understand that as early as October 24, we began paving the air corridor for an attack on Tehran - now we are able to respond to any enemy missile with dozens of heavy and precise bombs in the heart of Tehran; this is what we will do. Thanks and appreciation to the IDF and the security forces for their determined action in the operation to remove the existential threat.

Watch: Iranian hospital damaged by Israeli strike

We can now show you video from Farabi Hospital in Kermanshah where an Israeli missile attack earlier today caused severe damage.

Iran has condemned the attack on a hospital as a 'war crime'.

Israel-Iran conflict top of the agenda as world leaders meet in Canada

G7 leaders will gather in the Canadian Rockies on Sunday with the Israel-Iran conflict expected to be a top priority.

Before leaving for the summit on Sunday, US President Donald Trump was asked what he was doing to de-escalate the situation.

He told reporters:

I hope there's going to be a deal. I think it's time for a deal. Sometimes they have to fight it out.

Trump has lauded Israel's offensive while denying Iranian allegations that the US has taken part and warning Tehran not to widen its retaliation to include US targets.

The President has repeatedly said Iran could end the war by agreeing to tough restrictions on its nuclear programme, which Iran says is for peaceful purposes but which Western countries and the IAEA nuclear watchdog say could be used to make an atomic bomb.

Erdogan tells Putin that Israel poses 'threat' to Middle East

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused Israel of threatening security in the Middle East in a phone call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin earlier today.

Erdogan was quoted saying: "The spiral of violence that began with Israel's attacks on Iran has put the security of the entire region at risk, (and) that the lawless attitude of the (Israeli premier Benjamin) Netanyahu government poses a clear threat to the international system, and that the region cannot tolerate a new war."

Speaking to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian earlier today, Erdogan said Turkey is ready to play a 'facilitating role' to end the conflict between Israel and Iran.

EU hits out at Russia's offer to mediate Israel-Iran conflict

The EU has said Russia has 'zero credibility' as a potential mediator between Iran and Israel, after US President Donald Trump suggested Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin could play a role.

'There has been a recent Russia-Iran partnership agreement, which signals deepening cooperation across multiple areas, including foreign policy and defence. In light of such, Russia cannot be an objective mediator,' EU spokesman Anouar El Anouni said.

It comes after Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier today that Russia remains ready to act as a go-between for the Israel and Iran.

Moscow has previously proposed to store Iranian uranium in Russia in an attempt toi ease tensions and said its offer remained on the table.

Iran accuses Israel of 'war crime' by targeting hospital

Iran has accused Israel of carrying out a 'war crime' by targeting a hospital in one of its western cities.

Earlier we reported Iranian media claimed Farabi Hospital suffered 'serious damage' after an attack in Kermanshah, more than 500km west of Tehran.

In new remarks, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said:

'Farabi Hospital in the city of Kermanshah in western Iran was targeted by the Israeli regime's aggressive attacks,' adding that 'attacking hospitals alongside attacks on residential areas is a gross violation of international law and a war crime'.

A previous media report stated a workshop near the hospital was the target of the Israeli attack.

Breaking:Pakistan closes border with Iran, officials say

Pakistan has closed all its border crossings with neighbouring Iran for an indefinite period, provincial officials said on Monday, as Israel and Iran trade intense strikes and threaten further attacks.

'Border facilities in all five districts - Chaghi, Washuk, Panjgur, Kech and Gwadar - have been suspended,' Qadir Bakhsh Pirkani, a senior official in Balochistan province, which borders Iran, told AFP.

Pakistan has threatened to drop a nuclear warhead on Israel if Benjamin Netanyahu uses nuclear weapons against Iran, according to a top Iranian officer.

'Gaza tragedies continue as attention shifts elsewhere,' UNRWA chief warns

The head of the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) has warned that the humanitarian disaster is continuing to worsen in Gaza as the world's attention is diverted elsewhere.

Philippe Lazzarini said 'scores of people' have been killed and injured in recent days in the enclave, which has been relentlessly bombarded by Israeli strikes and a ground offensive for more than 600 days.

The death toll in Gaza has surpassed 55,000 and more than 60 percent of the territory’s buildings have been destroyed in Israel's campaign, according to the Hamas-run government in Gaza.

Read Lazzarini's full post here:

Brits stranded in Israel call on UK government to repatriate them

British nationals stranded in Israel amid the conflict with Iran have called on the UK government to repatriate them.

Flights in and out of the country have been cancelled since Israel and Iran began launching strikes against each other on Friday.

Max Radford, 52, from London, said on social media that he feared his stay in Israel would be 'indefinite'.

He urged the government to send planes to Cyprus in preparation for a window to fly into Israel.

'There is absolutely no question that the British government should be putting on repatriation flights,' he said.

'They should know that there are thousands of Brits here that are stranded. They need to do something. There is no airline that can do it.'

The British government advised against all travel to Israel over the weekend.

'My message to British nationals there is clear: your safety remains our top priority. Follow our travel advice for the latest updates,' David Lammy said.

It comes as Poland has announced that it is preparing to evacuate 200 of its citizens from Israel via Jordan's capital Amman.

Cancelled flights and an empty departures hall at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.

Poland to evacuate citizens from Israel

Poland is ready to start evacuating around 200 of its citizens who were on visits to Israel via Jordan's capital Amman, a deputy foreign minister said earlier today.

'We assume we will be ready in the next few dozen hours, (the evacuation) will concern those who are stuck as tourists and those staying for a short stay,' Henryka Moscicka-Dendys told reporters.

Key updates in the Israel and Iran conflict: What you need to know

If you're just joining us, the conflict between Israel and Iran shows no signs of abating after Iranian missiles rained down on Israeli cities in a heavy overnight onslaught four days after strikes were launched on Tehran.

Here are the main updates you need to know:

• US President Donald Trump will leave the G7 summit in Canada early 'so he can attend to many important matters,' White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has said.
• Donald Trump has requested for the National Security Council to convene in the situation room, Fox News reports.
• US President Donald Trump posted on social media that 'everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran' and branded Iran 'foolish' for not signing a deal with the US on its nuclear program before Israeli strikes began.
• The Israeli military earlier issued a notice urging residents of one district of Tehran to evacuate.
• Iran issued an evacuation warning for Israeli news channels after an air strike on Tehran’s state broadcaster on Monday afternoon, suggesting it was planning to retaliate with a similar attack.
• Iran issued an evacuation warning for Israeli news channels after an air strike on Tehran’s state broadcaster on Monday afternoon, suggesting it was planning to retaliate with a similar attack.
• Iran's state broadcaster has been bombed live on air in an attack by Israel aimed at wiping out what it described as a 'propaganda megaphone'
• The attack happened as Israel urged all civilians in an area of northern Tehran to evacuate as it carries out further attacks on military infrastructure
• Israel's defence minister warned television and radio are 'about to disappear' shortly before the blast
• Iran's Revolutionary Guards responded by urging all residents of Tel Aviv to evacuate as soon as possible
• It comes as Iran's leadership is reportedly showing the first signs of backing down after apparently signalling it is open to negotiations to end the hostilities with the US and Israel
• Further reports claim Tehran has asked Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman to press Donald Trump to use his influence on Israel to agree to an immediate ceasefire
• Earlier on Monday, Israeli authorities said 24 people have been killed as a result of Iranian missiles including 11 since midnight after attacks in the cities of Tel Aviv, Haifa, Bnei Brak and Petah Tikva. Iran says Israeli strikes have killed 224 people
• US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee revealed the US Embassy suffered 'minor damage' amid the barrage of missiles which rained down on Israel Monday morning
• The Israeli Air Force has claimed it has established full control of the skies above Tehran and has destroyed a third of Iran's ballistic missile launchers
• Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has vowed 'we will hold our ground' as he urged people in the country to unite against Israel
• Videos circulating online appear to show some Iranians in Tehran and Karaj chanting slogans against Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the Islamic Republic
• Iran is preparing to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), an international pact aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons
• US aircraft carrier USS Nimitz is heading west towards the Middle East after leaving the South China Sea this morning

Israel says 24 killed in Iranian strikes since Friday

Israel has updated its death toll on the fourth day of attacks from Iran in retaliation against Israeli attacks first launched on Friday.

The Israeli military’s Home Front Command said 24 people have been killed. Most of those who have died were not in bomb shelters, it added.

Iranian leader is 'hiding in an underground bunker with his family' as Israel weighs up assassination

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is hiding in an underground bunker with his family as Israel continues to strike leading officials and other targets, according to reports.

Khamenei was evacuated to an underground safehouse in Lavizan, northeast Tehran, hours after Israel began its strikes on Friday, Iran International reports.

He also sought shelter in the bunker when Iran launched attacks on Israel in April and October last year, sources said.

Another source told the outlet that Israel did not assassinate Khamenei on Friday as it wanted to give him a final chance to scrap his uranium enrichment programme.

It comes after reports yesterday that US President Donald Trump vetoed Israeli plans to assassinate Khamenei.

Russia ready to mediate to resolve Israel-Iran conflict

Russia remains ready to act as a mediator in the conflict between Israel and Iran, the Kremlin has said.

Moscow's previous proposals to store Iranian uranium in Russia remain on the table, spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Mr Peskov said while the offer to resolve the conflict was still on the table, the outbreak of hostilities has complicated the situation.

Israel strikes Iran hospital - report

Iranian media said that a hospital in the country's west suffered serious damage after an Israeli strike in the area on Monday.

'Following the Zionist criminal regime's attack on a nearby workshop in Kermanshah city, Farabi Hospital also suffered serious damage,' the Tasnim news agency reported.

Fars news agency carried a video of the hospital showing shattered glass, collapsed ceilings, and extensive damage in patient rooms.

Israeli defence minister says 'there is no intention to harm Tehran residents' after earlier statement that they would 'pay' for Iran strikes

Israel's defence minister has rowed back on an earlier statement in which he said the residents of Tehran 'will pay the price' following Iranian missile attacks on Tel Aviv.

'There is no intention to physically harm the residents of Tehran as the murderous dictator does to the residents of Israel,' Israel Katz wrote on X.

His earlier statement had drawn condemnation from many inside Israel, including prominent TV journalist Emily Schrader.

'The residents of Tehran are not the target and you know it! This is an irresponsible statement,' she wrote on X.

'The residents of Tehran are with us, but they won't be if you do stupid things like this. At least the IDF knows better and focuses on military objectives and also on protecting civilian lives, not on tweets like this on X.'

Below is the latest post from Katz:

UN Human Rights chief warns Israel-Iran escalation is 'deeply worrying' and calls for attacks to end

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk has said the military escalation between Israel and Iran is 'deeply worrying' and has called for restraint and a return to diplomacy.

Speaking as he presented his annual report to the 59th Human Rights Council in Geneva, Turk urged all parties to engage in 'urgent diplomatic negotiations to end these attacks and find a way forward.'

He emphasised the need for both sides to respect international law, particularly in relation to the protection of civilians caught in the middle of the conflict.

'I call for full respect of international law by both sides, in particular the protection of civilians in densely populated areas,' he said.

Iranian president vows 'we will hold our ground'

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has called on the nation to be united as it comes under attack from Israel.

Speaking in a televised address, Pezeshkian said Iran was not the 'aggressor' and urged people to 'stand together hand in hand' .

He also insisted that while Iran does not 'seek to possess nuclear weapons', it does have the right to 'benefit from nuclear energy and research'.

The enemy cannot destroy Iran and its people through murder and terrorism. There are hundreds of other heroes who will carry the banner and continue the path after every targeted attack.

We must be united in the face of this belligerence. It’s our people’s right to seek justice. We will hold our ground.

Masoud Pezeshkian at an Iranian government meeting on Sunday

Iranians 'heard chanting "Death to Khamenei"' amid Israel missile attacks on Tehran

Videos shared by Iran International appear to show residents in Tehran and Karaj chanting slogans against Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the Islamic Republic amid Israeli air strikes on Sunday night.

Residents in high-rise blocks could reportedly be heard shouting 'death to the Islamic Republic,' 'death to the dictator' and 'death to Khamenei' as well as other anti-regime chants.

Video below:

Video: CCTV shows moment Iranian missile strike hits Tel Aviv suburb

Israel has 'full aerial superiority' over Tehran and has destroyed a third of Iran's ballistic missile launchers, IDF says

The Israeli Air Force has established 'full aerial superiority' over the Iranian capital, Tehran, IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin has said in a press conference.

He also said that the air force has destroyed a third of Iran's ballistic missile launchers and is managing to disrupt 'extensive parts' of its attacks on Israel.

'We are striking Iranian cells that are launching missiles at Israel and our aircraft in real-time,' he said.

Breaking:Iran preparing to leave Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

Iran is preparing a bill to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), according to foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei.

He made the statement while stressing that Iran remains opposed to the development of weapons of mass destruction.

Israel is not a signatory to the treaty, despite facing international pressure to do so.

The only country to sign and then withdraw from the treaty until now is North Korea.

The treaty, signed by the United Kingdom, United States and almost 200 other countries, aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament.

Map: Cities in Israel hit by Iranian strikes

US aircraft carrier leaves South China Sea and heads west amid Middle East tensions

U.S. aircraft carrier USS Nimitz left the South China Sea on Monday morning heading west, according to data from ship tracking website Marine Traffic, after a reception for its planned port call in central Vietnam was cancelled.

The carrier had planned to visit Danang City later this week, but two sources, including one diplomat, said a formal reception slated for June 20 had been called off.

One of the sources said the US Embassy in Hanoi had informed him about the cancellation, due to 'an emergent operational requirement'.

Data from Marine Traffic showed the carrier on Monday morning was moving west in the direction of the Middle East, where the battle between Israel and Iran is escalating.

The US has repeatedly said it is not considering joining Israel's war with Iran.

Israeli authorities confirm 24 killed since Iran conflict

Iranian missiles have killed at least 24 people in Israel since Friday, the Israeli prime minister's office said in an updated toll following the latest attacks.

The toll issued on Monday includes 11 deaths recorded since midnight, the office said, including four in Petakh Tikva near Tel Aviv, three in Haifa and one in the Bnei Brak suburb of Tel Aviv.

It also includes two bodies retrieved following a previous strike on Bat Yam and one more killed in an unspecified location.

Tel Aviv wakes up to more damage after latest Iranian missile strikes

China urges Iran and Israel to 'immediately' work to cool tensions

China has urged Iran and Israel to 'immediately' take steps to reduce tensions.

'We urge all parties to immediately take measures to cool down the tensions, prevent the region from falling into greater turmoil, and create conditions for returning to the right track of resolving issues through dialogue and negotiations,' Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said.

Pictured: Satellite images show damage inflicted on Iranian military bases and nuclear enrichment plants after Israeli strikes

'Iranian response is a matter of principle'

Mousavi meeting King Charles at Buckingham Palace last week

The Iranian ambassador to the UK, Seyed Ali Mousavi, Iranian ambassador to the UK, has said his country's response to Israel is a 'matter of principle'.

Speaking to Sky News, Mousavi said Iran was acting in self-defence after Israeli attacks on its nuclear facilities. Israel claims it has attacked Iran to halt its nuclear program.

Describing the Israeli regime as 'barbaric', Mousavi was questioned over how long Iran could fight Israel with the countries exchanging attacks for four days.

He told Sky News:

This is about self-defence, there is no doubt about it. We are a responsible member state of the UN and we do all activities according to our international obligations. Any activities are only in the framework of self-defence.

He added Iran's nuclear activities are 'monitored' and dismissed recent remarks by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which found Iran had enough uranium to create nuclear weapons, as 'politically motivated'.

Israel smuggled drone parts and explosives into Iran 'for months' before attack was launched

Israel spent months smuggling parts for hundreds of explosive-laden drones into Iran, insiders have revealed.

Mossad agents took the equipment over the border in suitcases, trucks and shipping containers, sources told the Wall Street Journal.

They also brought munitions capable of being fired from unmanned platforms into the country ahead of the coordinated attack on Friday, the sources said.

IDF claims eight Iranian drones were intercepted by Israel's new defence shield

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has claimed eight Iranian drones were intercepted by Navy missile ships using a new shield for the first time.

A spokesman said the unmanned aerial vehicles were stopped by the Barak Magen, a newly installed air defence system on the country's Sa'ar warships.

The IDF says Barak Magen is capable of carrying out long-range interceptions of a variety of threats including drones and cruise missiles.

It was used for the first time on Sunday, the military said.

In total, Israel has intercepted 25 drones from Iran since attacks were launched on Friday, the IDF said

Death toll in Israel rises to 8 - report

Israeli Army Radio is reporting the number of people killed in Israel as a result of the latest Iranian missiles strikes has risen to eight.

Earlier today, Israel's Magen David Adom emergency service said five people were killed and 92 wounded following the attacks.

But in a further update, the outlet said three people missing people in the city of Haifa were confirmed dead - meaning the toll now stands at eight.

It means more than 20 people have been killed in Israel since the country’s military launched the attacks on Iran four days ago. More than 300 others have also been wounded.

Israel 'expected to issue evacuation orders to Tehran residents in coming hours'

Israel is expected to issue evacuation orders to residents in various neighbourhoods of Tehran, an official has reportedly claimed.

Strikes are expected on infrastructure and government buildings, the official told The Jerusalem Post.

They said this was referred to as the 'Beirut model' after Israel carried out strikes on the Lebanese capital.

It comes after Israeli defence minister Israel Katz said 'the residents of Tehran will pay the price' following Iranian missile attacks on Tel Aviv.

Videos from last night and this morning show long queues of cars heading out of Tehran as people fled the city amid the rising threat.

Israeli national security advisor says Iran still has 'thousands of ballistic missiles' at its disposal

Israeli national security advisor Tzachi Hanegbi has said that Iran still has 'thousands of ballistic missiles' in its arsenal, indicating a higher figure than previously estimated.

'This is not a battle that over the long term will be able to bring an end to the Iranian threat,' Hanegbi told Israel's Army Radio.

Military analysts have reported that Iran is thought to have some 1,500 to 2,000 missiles, though it has already fired hundreds of those, and Israel is thought to have struck and destroyed some as well.

Hanegbi also said that Israel's current war was planned independently and does not rely on the US.

'For the goals we have defined for ourselves, we do not need the United States,' he said.

Pictured: Explosions are seen in Tel Aviv and Haifa during Iranian missile attack

Pakistan 'will nuke Israel if it uses a nuclear weapon against Iran', claims Iranian official

Pakistan will launch a nuclear attack on Israel if it drops a nuclear bomb on Iran, a top security official in Tehran has claimed.

General Mohsen Rezaee, a senior officer in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and a member of Iran's National Security Council, said: 'Pakistan has assured us that if Israel uses a nuclear bomb on Iran, they will attack Israel with a nuclear bomb.' He added that Pakistan has promised to 'stand behind Iran'.

Pakistan's defence minister has since denied the claim.

Read more here:

Iran executes man accused of spying for Mossad

Iran has executed a man who was found guilty of spying for Israel's intelligence agency Mossad, the semi-official Fars news agency reported on Monday, identifying the man as Esmail Fekri.

The execution is the third in recent weeks related to the conducting of espionage on behalf of Israel.

Meanwhile Israel has said it has taken two individuals into custody over alleged links to Iranian intelligence.

Tehran residents will 'pay the price' for strikes on Israel, defence minister warns

Israeli defence minister Israel Katz has threatened that Tehran's residents 'ill pay the price, and soon' in retaliation for Iranian missile strikes on Israel.

'The arrogant dictator of Tehran has become a scared murderer who fires at Israel’s civilian home front in order to deter the IDF from continuing to carry out attacks that are destroying his capabilities,' Katz said in a statement.

His comments were in apparent reference to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Iranian missiles have repeatedly targeted the densely populated Tel Aviv metro area as well as other cities in the country since fighting began on Friday.

'Minor damage' reported at US Embassy in Israel

The US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee revealed the Embassy suffered 'minor damage' amid the barrage of missiles which rained down on Israel Monday morning.

In a series of updates shared to X, he revealed the embassy would remain closed on Monday 'as a shelter in place still in effect.'

'Some minor damage from concussions of Iranian missile hits near Embassy Branch... but no injuries to US personnel,' he added.

Moments later, he urged 'the 700,000 Americans living is Israel, check Embassy website for updates re: travel advisories, airport re-opening or official [embassy] operations.'

US President Trump had earlier warned Iran US forces would not hold back if any American interests were targeted or damaged in the fighting.

'If we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the U.S. Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before,' he said.

Monday's death toll rises to four, Israeli medics say

The death toll of Iran's latest strikes on Israel has risen to four, according to emergency service Magen David Adom.

Two women and two men, all aged in their 70s, have died since the barrage of missiles struck civilian targets in the early hours of Monday.

Tens of thousands of British citizens were trapped in a war zone tonight as officials admitted an evacuation from Israel is currently impossible.

Officials have dusted off previous contingency plans for an airborne evacuation of British nationals from Israel. But insiders tonight admitted it was impossible to put in place while Israel’s airspace remains closed to all civilian flights.

The government does not hold up to date information on the number of Brits living in Israel, but reports suggest it could be as many as 60,000.

Israel's Defense Force reveals it has hit a new target in Iran

In a statement to X early Monday morning, the IDF revealed fighter jets had struck the Quds Force headquarters of the Revolutionary Guards and the Iranian army.

These strikes were 'guided by precise intelligence from the Intelligence Directorate. In these headquarters, Quds operatives planned terrorist operations against Israel through proxies of the Iranian regime in the Middle East,' the IDF said.

'In these command centers, Quds operatives advanced terrorist attacks against the State of Israel using the proxies of the Iranian Regime in the Middle East.'

Witness recalls shelter doors being 'blown in' by missiles

Guydo Tetelbaun was in his apartment in Tel Aviv when the alerts came in shortly after 4am that an attack was imminent.

'As usual, we went into the (shelter) that's right across the street there. And within minutes, the door of the (shelter) blew in,' the 31-year-old chef said.

'A couple of people came in bloody, all cut up. And then when we came to the apartment, after it quietened down, we saw there wasn't much of it... Walls are caved in, no more glass,' he added.

'It's terrifying because it's so unknown. This could be the beginning of a long time like this, or it could get worse, or hopefully better, but it's the unknown that's the scariest.'

Iran's latest attack 'caused Israel's multi-layered defence systems to target each other'

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said the latest attack employed a new method that caused Israel's multi-layered defence systems to target each other.

'The initiatives and capabilities used in this operation, despite the comprehensive support of the United States and Western powers and the possession of the most up-to-date and newest defence technology, led to the successful and maximum hitting of the missiles on the targets in the occupied territories,' it said.

WATCH: Emergency service crews searching for survivors in the rubble after Iranian assault

Babies saved from crumbling building

New pictures have emerged of babies being pulled from the wreckage of buildings which were hit in Iran's strikes on Israel.

74 Israelis hospitalized following Iran's missile strike

A spokesperson for Magen David Adom emergency service has updated the tally of people injured to 74.

A spokesperson confirmed on X emergency service personnel had 'evacuated 67 victims from 4 different scenes to hospitals.'

Among the victims is a 30-year-old woman in serious condition, and six more who are in moderate condition.

There are '60 are in mild and anxious condition who were evacuated to hospitals throughout the central region,' the emergency service wrote on X.

Casualty count grows to three as Israel's national emergency service confirms latest death toll

At least three people in Israel have been killed in Monday's early morning strikes from Iran, a spokesperson for emergency service Magen David Adom claimed.

The victims were identified as two women and a man in his 70s, the spokesperson said.

This takes the total number of casualties in Israel since the violence escalated earlier this week to 17.

Pictures emerge of chaos in Israel amid Iranian strike

At least 29 injured in Iran's latest strike on Israel, officials claim

Israel’s national emergency service Magen David Adom said 29 people were injured in the latest missile strike on the region amid ongoing conflict with Iran.

'Following the latest barrage, from all rocket strike sites, MDA teams have so far evacuated 29 people with physical injuries, including 3 in moderate condition and 26 in mild condition,' a spokesperson said.

'Search and rescue efforts are still actively ongoing at all sites.'

Three dead, 74 injured as Iran launches early morning attack on Israel

Missiles rained down on Israel early on Monday morning as Iran launched a new retaliatory attack on Tel Aviv.

Multiple buildings across four separate sites were reportedly damaged in the barrage, as locals were urged to hunker down in bunkers and wait out the violence.

Israel's air defence system was working to shoot the missiles out of the sky.

According to local authorities at least three people were killed, one person was seriously wounded with as many as 74 others suffering varying injuries.

'Rescue forces are operating in several areas across the country where reports of falls have been received,' the Israeli military wrote on X.

The Israel Electric Corporation confirmed Israel's power grid was damaged by the strikes.

'Teams are working on the ground to neutralize safety hazards, in particular the risk of electrocution due to torn electrical wires,' a spokesperson said.

'At the same time, work is being carried out to repair the infrastructure and restore the electricity supply.'

An hour after the strikes began, Israelis were told the threat had passed and it was safe to leave their bunkers.

Trump's former national security adviser calls for backing Israel

Gen. Mike Flynn, who served as President Donald Trump's national security adviser during his first term, has called on the president to back Israel in the war.

'Stopping Israel from finishing the job – whether by cutting off the supply of weapons it requires to prosecute the war or by otherwise interfering with its pursuit – will mean that some residual nuclear program remains in the hands of Sharia-supremacists who remain and are determined to destroy both Israel and the United States,' he writes on his Substack.

'The U.S. military will inevitably be required to contend with the calamity that will follow.'

'All we are saying is give peace a real chance by making Donald Trump’s legacy in the Middle East the only one worthy of the name: ensuring that Israel and America are decisively victorious over the Sharia-supremacist regime that has for far too long enslaved the Iranian people and threatened and actually killed ours and those of the Jewish state,' Flynn concludes.

Medics responding to central Israel

Magen David Adom says its medics are heading to several scenes.

IDF warns civilians to 'stay close to bunkers' amid fears of Iran attack

The IDF has told civilians to stay in close proximity to bomb shelters until further notice, amid fears Iran may strike the country again.

WATCH: Haifa engulfed by flames following Iran missile strike

Pictured: The Iranian intelligence general eliminated by the IDF

Mohammed Kazemi, the head of intelligence for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was eliminated by the IDF during an attack on the capital.

Kazemi was killed alongside Hassan Mohaqiq, his deputy, and Mohsen Bagheri, a third intelligence officer, during an attack on the capital.

He is pictured below, with one image showing him speaking to his predecessor Hossein Taeb.

Iranian security forces 'discover secret Israeli drone manufacturing site'

Iran's security forces have discovered a secret Israeli drone manufacturing site, south of the Iranian capital of Tehran, it is being reported.

Tasnim, Iran's semi-official news agency, has claimed the three-floor building has been discovered in the Iranian city of Shahr-e Ray.

It said on X that homemade bombs and more than 200kg of explosives had reportedly been discovered there.

The agency also claimed Israeli agents had allegedly used the space to put together and store drones.

Iran foreign ministry claims Israeli strikes have killed many women and children

The Iranian foreign ministry has claimed Israeli strikes have killed many women and children.

In a post to X, its spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei challenged how Israel has characterised its strikes on the Iranian capital of Tehran.

He claimed:

G7 summit in Canada overshadowed by Israel-Iran conflict

Leaders of some of the world's biggest economies have arrived in the Canadian Rockies for a Group of Seven summit.

But it is partly overshadowed by an escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.

Israel's strikes on Iran and Tehran's retaliation, which appeared to catch many world leaders unawares, is the latest sign of a more volatile world.

Trump in recent days vetoed an Israeli plan to kill Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a US official said - showing how far Israel was prepared to go.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he had discussed efforts to de-escalate the crisis with Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as other world leaders.

He said he expected 'intense discussions' would continue at the summit.

Sir Keir Starmer arrives in Canada yesterday for the G7 summit

Global oil prices are up - which could be bad news for UK shoppers

Global oil prices have risen as the conflict between Israel and Iran intensifies.

During early trading in Asia, US crude oil was up by around $2 to come in at $75.01 per barrel.

Brent crude futures was similarly marked up by more than $2, then standing at $76.37 a barrel.

It came after a seven per cent rise on Friday, when the conflict began.

With the attacks taking place in a very energy-rich part of the world, traders have expressed concerns they could see supply disrupted.

The cost of crude oil has massive impacts on the everyday lives of British people - affecting aspects of life as diverse as the price of petrol to keep your card on the road, to how expensive food is.

Middle East expert: 'Iran lacks the firepower to sustain prolonged war with Israel'

A top Middle East expert has said Iran lacks the resources to sustain a protracted conflict with Israel.

Sina Azodi, a lecturer at George Washington University in the US, said: 'Israel receives the most advanced US weapons system and European weapons systems and has access to far more financial resources.'

Iran has been able to stage successful attacks in the short term, he explained.

But with multiple economic sanctions and an arms embargo, even nations friendly to it like Russia and China are likely to support it with military aid.

Mr Azodi explained: 'Iran has to rely on its domestic capacity to build missiles and launch them in large barrages that can overwhelm Israeli air defences and I don’t believe Iran can sustain this for a prolonged time.'

Trump hopes Israel and Iran can reach a ceasefire

President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he hopes Israel and Iran can broker a ceasefire but said sometimes countries 'have to fight it out' first.

Talking to reporters as he left for the G7 summit in Canada, Trump said the US will continue to support Israel but declined to say if he asked the US ally to pause strikes on Iran.

Of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he said: 'We get along very well and I think we have great respect for each other.'

The American premier said he thinks there is a good chance of a ceasefire deal at some point - but 'we'll see what happens'.

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters as he leaves for the G7 summit

Iran is 'not open' to ceasefire negotiations

Iran told mediators Qatar and Oman that it would not be open to ceasefire negotiations while strikes were ongoing.

An official, who spoke anonymously to Reuters, said: 'The Iranians informed Qatari and Omani mediators that they will only pursue serious negotiations once Iran has completed its response to the Israeli pre-emptive strikes.'

WATCH: IDF release footage claiming to show strike on Iran's nuclear HQ

In a video released by the IDF of surface-to-surface strikes on missile sites in Iran, Israel claims to have struck Iran's nuclear HQ.

IDF: Israel striking missile sites in centre of Iran

The IDF has said Israel is currently striking surface-to-surface missile sites in the centre of Iran.

Netanyahu: Israel has destroyed Iran's main nuclear site

In his interview earlier today, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Isreal had destroyed Iran's main nuclear facility in Natanz.

He told Fox News: 'Speaking to Fox News on Sunday, the Israeli prime minister said: “We’ve destroyed the main facility in Natanz. That’s the main enrichment facility.'

Natanz is a complex at the heart of Iran's enrichment programme on a plain abutting mountains outside the Shi'ite Muslim holy city of Qom, south of Tehran.

It houses facilities including two enrichment plants: the vast, underground Fuel Enrichment Plant (FEP) and the above-ground Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant (PFEP).

Iran calls for 'Islamic Army' to wage war on Israel

Top Iranian official Mohsen Rezaee has claimed Tehran is looking to form an 'Islamic Army' with several other countries in the Middle East.

He told Iran state media: 'We want to form an Islamic army with Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and several other countries.'

Syrian woman 'killed by Iranian drone after it struck her home'

A civilian woman was killed Sunday in Syria's western Tartus province when a drone struck her home, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

It marked the first reported casualty on Syrian soil since the latest escalation between Iran and Israel began.

The Britain-based war monitor reported the death of 'a woman after a drone fell on her house' in a village in rural Tartus, suggesting the drone was likely Iranian.

Since the start of the Iran-Israel escalation, people across Syria have observed dozens of missiles flying overhead, several of them intercepted.

They have exploded in various regions, fuelling concerns over a broader regional conflict.

Pictured: Aftermath of devastating missile attack on Israeli city of Zavdiel

Israeli strikes have killed 224 people, health ministry says

Iran's health ministry said Sunday that three days of Israeli strikes on the country had killed 224 people and injured more than 1,200.

'After 65 hours of aggression by the Zionist regime, 1,277 people have been injured. 224 women, men and children have been martyred,' the ministry's spokesman Hossein Kermanpour wrote on X,

He added that 90 percent of those killed had been civilians.

Earlier we reported that the Washington-based Human Rights Activists claimed the strikes had killed at least 406 people and wounded another 654 in Iran.

Israel attacks multiple 'weapons production sites' across Iran

Israeli strikes earlier today attacked a number of 'weapons production sites' across Iran, the IDF has said.

It said in a post on X that today's 'widespread wave of attacks' had hit infrastructure of the Quds Force, the Revolutionary Guards, and the Iranian army in Tehran.

Iran confirms three intelligence generals killed in Israel strikes

Moments ago we reported that the intelligence chief Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Mohammed Kazemi, and his deputy, Hassan Mohaghegh, had been killed in an Isreali air strike on Sunday.

Iran's official IRNA news agency has now reported that commander Mohsen Bagheri,was also killed.

'Three intelligence generals, Mohammad Kazemi, Hassan Mohaghegh and Mohsen Bagheri were assassinated and fell as martyrs,' the agency said, citing a Revolutionary Guards statement.

WATCH: Moment Iranian missile hits Israeli city

Macron: Russia should not mediate talks between Israel and Iran

French President Emmanuel Macron has dismissed the suggestion that Russian President Vladimir Putin could mediate in the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, citing Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

'I do not think that Russia, which is today engaged in a high-intensity conflict and has decided not to respect the United Nations charter for several years now, could be in any way a mediator,' Macron told reporters on a trip to Greenland.

US President Donald Trump said earlier that he was 'open' to the possibility after discussing it with Putin.

WATCH: Huge traffic queues in Tehran as people flee Iranian capital

Breaking:Iran intelligence chief and his deputy killed in Israel attacks

The intelligence chief of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Mohammad Kazemi, and his deputy were killed in Israel's attacks on Tehran on Sunday, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency said.

Iran warns of 'devastating response' to Israel attacks will leave it 'uninhabitable'

A senior Iranian military official has warned of a 'devastating response' to Israel's attacks, which will leave the country 'uninhabitable'.

'The scale of the devastating response by Iran's brave fighters will certainly encompass all parts of the occupied territories (Israel),' said Colonel Reza Sayyad, a spokesman for the armed forces.

'Leave the occupied territories because they will certainly no longer be habitable in the future,' and shelters will 'not guarantee security', he added in an address broadcast on state television.

Israel Air Force and Navy have intercepted 'more than 100 Iranian drones' since Friday

The IDF has cliamed that Israel's Air Force and Navy has intercepted 'more than 100 unmanned aerial vehicles launched from Iran' since Friday.

'Air defense systems and missile ships are constantly working to intercept and eliminate threats', it added in a post on X.

Footage shared on the social media sites also shows what appear to be two Navy missile boats shooting down missiles launched from Iran.

Seven people injured in Iranian missile attack on Haifa

Isreal's fire services have sent rescuers to a building on the coast that sustained a 'direct hit' following Iran's latest missile strike.

Magen David Adom published footage of its teams deployed in the coastal city of Haifa, showing several cars on fire and a residential building whose facade was torn off by a blast.

An AFP journalist reported a large plume of black smoke visible on the city skyline from a distance.

MDA said its teams transported seven people injured in the attacks, including a 72-year-old woman.

Paramedic Shira Gur said she was dispatched to a city in north Israel where 'a building and vehicles were reported to be on fire due to a rocket impact.'

EU minsters to hold emergency meeting on Tuesday

EU foreign ministers will meet Tuesday for an emergency meeting on the Iran-Israel conflict, and 'possible next steps' to bring about de-escalation, an official for the Bloc's foreign policy chief said.

'In light of the gravity of the situation in the Middle East, EU High Representative Kaja Kallas has convened a meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers via video link for Tuesday,' she said on Sunday.

'Urgent need' for negotiated solution in Israel-Iran conflict, says EU president

President of the EU commission Ursula von der Leyen has said she has spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to dicuss the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

In a post on X, she said there is an 'urgent need for a negotiated solution' between Isreal and Iran, adding that the EU is committed to 'peace, stability, and diplomatic efforts leading to de-escalation'.

Pictured: Fires raging in Israel following latest Iranian missile strike

Iran claims Israel launched 'deliberate strike' on its Foreign Ministry

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said several civilians have been injured after a missile strike on its Foreign Ministry in Tehran.

WATCH: Israel intercepts missiles over Tel Aviv after latest Iranian missile strike

Breaking:Israeli air strike hits military targets in Iran

The IDF has released footage of an Isreali air strike in 'the hear of Tehran' following an attack on Sunday.

It said earlier that it had launched a wave of strikes on dozens of surface-to-surface ballistic missile targets in the country.

Breaking:Two people injured following Iran missile strikes

Israel's ambulance service, Magen David Adom, said two people have been taken to hospital with shrapnel injuries following strikes in northern Isreal.

IDF says 'several areas' across Israel hit by missiles

The IDF has confirmed that 'several areas across the country' have been hit by strikes from Iran.

It added that Isrealis could now leave their bomb shelters following the latest attack.

The IDF said in a post on X: 'Rescue forces are operating in several areas across the country where reports of falls have been received.'

Pictures from AFP have also shown smoke billowing from the city of Haifa, after seemingly been hit by missile.

Pictured: Iran launches latest barrage of missiles towards Isreal

Breaking:Iranian missile hits Isreal city of Haifa

A missile has hit the city of Haifa in Isreal, after Iran launched a new wave on strikes on the country on Sunday.

Iran warns Israeli residents to leave vicinity of 'vital areas'

Iran's armed forces told residents of Israel to leave the vicinity of 'vital areas' for their safety, in a video statement broadcast by state TV on Sunday evening.

It came around the time taht Iran sent a new barrage of missiles towards Israel.

An armed forces spokesperson said: 'We have a data bank of vital and critical areas in occupied territories (Israel) and call upon you not to let the brutal regime use you as human shields.

'Do not stay or travel near these critical areas.'

Air raid sirens heard in Jerusalem amid latest Iran strikes

Air raid sirens and booms rang out in Jerusalem while missiles flew across the sky on Sunday evening, AFP journalists said.

Just moments ago, the IDF said the Isreali Air Force 'is working to intercept' the attack.

'Sirens sounded in several areas across Israel following the identification of missiles launched from Iran toward the State of Israel,' the military said in a statement.

Iran 'activates air defences amid Israeli strikes'

Iran activated its air defences in Tehran and western parts of the country on Sunday, media reports in the Islamic republic said, as Israel intensified its attacks.

'A few minutes ago, the Kermanshah air defence system was activated,' the Mehr news agency said.

The official IRNA news agency said air defences were also activated in the Iranian capital.

Pictured: Smoke fills the sky in the aftermath of an Israeli strike on Iran

Tens of thousands of British citizens trapped in Israel amid ongoing conflict

By Jason Groves, Political Editor

Tens of thousands of British citizens are currently trapped in a war zone as officials admitted an evacuation from Israel is currently impossible.

The Foreign Office issued an urgent warning against all travel to Israel following two nights of bombardment by deadly Iranian missiles and drones.

Officials have dusted off previous contingency plans for an airborne evacuation of British nationals from Israel.

But insiders have admitted it was impossible to put in place while Israel’s airspace remains closed to all civilian flights.

New Foreign Office guidance has advised against all travel to Israel and urged those stranded there to follow local advice and stay away from missile debris.

‘We recognise this is a fast-moving situation that poses significant risks,’ it said. ‘The situation has the potential to deteriorate further, quickly and without warning.’

The Foreign Office warned anyone looking to flee the country that Israeli airspace ‘remains closed’ and that the conflict with Iran ‘may disrupt road links’.

Breaking:Missiles launched from Iran towards Israel

Iran has reportedly launched missiles towards Isreal in its latest attack on the country since Friday.

The IDF said the Isreali Air Force 'is working to intercept' the attack and has 'activated alerts in several areas of the country'.

Keir Starmer speaks with UAE President about 'grave situation' in Iran-Israel conflict

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has spoken to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in a call earlier today.

The pair discussed the 'grave situation' in the Iran-Israel conflict, according to a Downing Street statement.

'The Prime Minister reiterated that his priority is diplomacy and dialogue, in order to de-escalate as quickly as possible,' it said.

WATCH: Netanyahu Fox News interview in full

Fox News have shared the full interview with Israeli Prime Minister on its official X account. You can watch it below.

Israeli Air Force begins new wave of strikes on western Iran

The Israeli Air Force has launched a wave of strikes on dozens of surface-to-surface ballistic missile targets in western Iran, the IDF said in a post on X.

'Urgent action' needed to prevent Israel-Iran conflict escalating, Turkey president says

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said 'urgent action' was needed to prevent the Iran-Israel conflict engulfing the Middle East, in a call with US counterpart Donald Trump on Sunday.

'President Erdogan hailed the recent comments by US President Trump concerning a resolution of the conflict between Israel and Iran... and stressed that urgent action is needed to prevent a catastrophe that could enflame the whole region,' the Turkish presidency said in a statement.

During the call, Erdogan said the 'spiral of violence unleashed by Israel's attacks on Iran have caused irreparable economic and civil damage to both sides' and called for moves to 'halt this dangerous escalation', it said.

IDF warns Israeli strikes will continue to Tuesday at the earliest

The official account of the IDF said in a post on X that Isreal would continue its 'defense policy' until at least 8pm on Tuesday.

Officials claim US is not in favour of going after Iran's political leadership

Here's a bit more detail on the earlier post stating that Donald Trump vetoed an Israeli plan in recent days to kill Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

A senior U.S. administration official told the press agency on Sunday: 'Have the Iranians killed an American yet? No. Until they do we're not even talking about going after the political leadership.'

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said top U.S. officials have been in constant communications with Israeli officials in the days since Israel launched a massive attack on Iran in a bid to halt its nuclear program.

They said the Israelis reported that they had an opportunity to kill the top Iranian leader, but Trump waved them off of the plan.

The officials would not say whether Trump himself delivered the message. But Trump has been in frequent communications with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

When asked about Reuters report, Netanyahu, in an interview on Sunday with Fox News Channel's Special Report With Bret Baier. said: 'There's so many false reports of conversations that never happened, and I'm not going to get into that.

'But I can tell you, I think that we do what we need to do, we'll do what we need to do. And I think the United States knows what is good for the United States.'

Israel strikes have set Iran back 'quite a bit'

Netanyahu believes Israel's airstikes have set Iran back 'quite a bit', adding 'I think they were completely surprised'.

He also told interviewer Bret Baier that Isreal has secured a 'free highway to Tehran' after securing air superiority agianst Iran's forces.

'We can now pick off the targets we need in Tehran and in other places,' he added.

Iran death toll 'rises to 406 people'

Israeli strikes have killed at least 406 people and wounded another 654 in Iran, according to Washington-based Human Rights Activists.

Iran's government has not offered overall casualty figures.

In Israel, at least 10 people were killed in Iranian strikes overnight and into Sunday, according to the Magen David Adom rescue service, bringing the country's total death toll to 13.

Netanyahu: Trump is Iran's 'enemy number one'

Here's another exerpt from Netanyahu's interview with Fox News earlier today, in which he told Bret Baier that Iran sees Trump as 'enemy number one'.

Iran attacks on Israel kill five Ukrainians

Iran's retaliatory attacks on Israel have killed five Ukrainian nationals, including three children, in the Israeli city of Bat Yam, near Tel Aviv, Kyiv said on Sunday.

The five were killed Saturday in the 'massive' Iranian strikes when a missile hit a residential building in the city, the Ukrainian foreign ministry said.

Turkey ready to play facilitator role to resolve Israel Iran conflict

Tayyip Erdogan told Donald Trump in a phone call on Sunday that Ankara was ready to play a facilitator role to resolve the conflict between Israel and Iran, the Turkey President's office said.

Erdogan welcomed Trump's latest statement on a possible peace between Iran and Israel, his office said.

He also urged his US counterpart to take action immediately to prevent a disaster 'that could set the region on fire'.

Breaking:Trump 'vetoed Israeli attack on Iran Supreme Leader'

Reuters is reporting that Donald Trump recently vetoed an Israeli plan to kill Iran Supreme Leader, according to two US officials.

When asked about the claims in an interview, Netanyahu said: 'I'm not going to get into that.'

Israeli strikes could see regime change in Iran

Netanyahu has said that Israel's military attacks could result in a regime change in Iran.

He is currently speaking to Fox New's Bret Baier on his 'Special Report' program in one of his first interviews since Israel's attacks on Iran began on Friday.

Breaking:Netanyahu informed US about Israel's strikes on Iran ahead of time

Israel president Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed he informed the US and President Donald Trump about the country's attacks on Iran on Friday ahead of time.

Pictured: Iranians watch in horror following Israeli strike on Sharan Oil depot

Pictured: Iranian officials forced to clear cars out following airstrike

Breaking:Israeli death toll rises to 14

Israel's government has confirmed that the death toll of Iranian strikes has risen to 14, after another body was recovered in the city of Bat Yam.

France's Macron hoped escalating Middle East violence will 'calm' in 'coming hours'

Speaking during a visit to Greenland, French president Emmanuel Macron has said he hopes the 'coming hours will bring calm and a road forward for discussion, to avoid any escalation of nuclear capabilities, acquisition of nuclear capacities in Iran, and to prevent any unrest in the region.'

He added: 'We will have the opportunity, in a few hours, to revisit this matter with G7 leaders.'

Top Israeli defence official meets with defence firms to discuss weapons production acceleration

Amir Baram, a director in Israel's defence ministry, has reportedly held a top-level meeting with the heads of Israel's biggest defence contractors.

He reportedly called for the pace of weapons production to be accelerated, and for enhanced levels of protection of critical infrastructure.

Baram said: 'Our defense is not hermetic.'

Israeli security service arrests two men on suspicion of spying for Iran

Shin Bet, Israel's security service, arrested two Jewish Israelis suspected of carrying out missions on Iran's behalf.

They were arrested in an overnight raid, and are currently being held and interrogated.

WATCH: Iranians flee Tehran as Middle East violence continues

WATCH: Israel attacks Iranian nuclear scientists in car bombings

Israel denies responsibility for Iran car bombs

Israeli officials have denied partaking in the detonations of car bombs in Tehran.

Breaking:Israel admits it expected civilian casualties from Iran strikes

Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar says that while his government expected civilian casualties from its attack on Iran, it 'didn't have any other choice.'

He said: 'When we took this historic decision, tough decision, we knew we will have difficult times and we will face casualties, but saying that, we didn’t have any other choice.'

IDF bombs Iranian refuelling plane at Mashhad Airport

Pictured: Palestinians rush for cover after Israeli strike on Bureij camp

Breaking:Israel: The goal of our operation is not regime change

The IDF has denied claims that it is carrying out strikes on Iran to force the current regime out.

Israel's cabinet extends nationwide state of emergency until end of the month

Israel's cabinet has approved extending the nationwide state of emergency until at least June 30.

Pictured: Iranians desperately flee Tehran amid ongoing strikes

Breaking:Trump: 'It's possible' for US to get involved in Iran-Israel conflict

President Donald Trump told a news network Sunday it remains possible the United States will become involved in the Iran-Israel conflict and that he would be 'open' to Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin being a mediator.

'It's possible we could get involved' in the ongoing battle between the Middle East arch-foes, Trump said in an interview, according to ABC News.

The network added that Trump stressed that the United States is 'not at this moment' involved in the military action.

As for Putin being a potential mediator in the conflict, 'he is ready. He called me about it. We had a long talk about it,' Trump said.

Pictured: Israeli strike hits Tehran police HQ

Russia says it can play 'key role' in Israel-Iran mediations

Russia's investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev said in a post on X on Sunday that Russia can play 'a key role' in mediating the conflict between Israel and Iran.

Dmitriev was responding to a post by U.S. President Donald Trump in which he said he had spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin about the conflict.

Breaking:Iran claims 'Israel detonated five car bombs in Tehran'

Iran has claimed that Israel has detonated five car bombs in Tehran.

Iran's IRNA news agency reported that they were set off by Israel-linked groups.

These claims have not yet been verified.

14 Iranian nuclear scientists killed by Israeli strikes

Reuters is reporting that at least 14 Iranian nuclear scientists were killed in Israeli attacks.

Etihad Airways cancels flights between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv

Etihad Airways has cancelled flights between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv until at least June 22.

It said in a statement: 'This remains a developing situation, and some disruption and delays may be expected in the coming days.'

Israel 'strikes Iran's intelligence and justice ministries'

Israel has reportedly struck Iran's Justice and Intelligence ministries, in the heart of Tehran.

Threat to Tel Aviv appears to have passed

The IDF has now said that civilians in central and northern Israel don't need to seek shelter in bunkers anymore.

WATCH: Bunkers across Tel Aviv filled with civilians

Pictured: Israelis take shelter at the side of highway

Breaking:Trump: 'Iran and Israel should make a deal'

US president Donald Trump has urged Iran and Israel to make a deal with each other.

Writing on his social media platform Truth Social, he said: 'Iran and Israel should make a deal, and will make a deal, just like I got India and Pakistan to make, in that case by using TRADE with the United States to bring reason, cohesion, and sanity into the talks with two excellent leaders who were able to quickly make a decision and STOP!

'Also, during my first term, Serbia and Kosovo were going at it hot and heavy, as they have for many decades, and this long time conflict was ready to break out into WAR.

'I stopped it (Biden has hurt the longer term prospects with some very stupid decisions, but I will fix it, again!). Another case is Egypt and Ethiopia, and their fight over a massive dam that is having an effect on the magnificent Nile River.

'There is peace, at least for now, because of my intervention, and it will stay that way! Likewise, we will have PEACE, soon, between Israel and Iran! Many calls and meetings now taking place.

'I do a lot, and never get credit for anything, but that’s OK, the PEOPLE understand. MAKE THE MIDDLE EAST GREAT AGAIN!'

Russian embassy in Tehran working to evacuate citizens

Russia's embassy in Tehran said on Sunday that it was working on the option of evacuating Russian citizens from Iran by a land route.

Explosions heard in Tel Aviv

Explosions have been heard in the Tel Aviv area. It is not currently known what has been hit in the Israeli city, nor how many missiles Iran has fired.

Iran asks Iraq to block Israel from its airspace

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian urged Iraq on Sunday to block Israel from using its airspace and territory to launch attacks on the Islamic republic.

'We emphasise that the Iraqi government must exercise greater vigilance and protection of its borders and airspace so that Iraqi territory is not misused against the Islamic Republic of Iran,' said Pezeshkian in a call with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.

Netanyahu says Iran will pay 'very heavy price' for Israeli deaths

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Iran would pay 'a very heavy price' for killing Israeli civilians.

Speaking at the site of a missile strike in Bet Yam, he said: 'Iran will pay a very heavy price for the premeditated murder of civilians, women and children.'

Iran ups death toll to 128

Iran says the death toll from Israel's strikes is now 128.

Latest pictures show Tehran covered in smoke

Iran attack forces sirens to sound across central Israel and Jerusalem

Sirens are being sounded across central Israel and Jerusalem, as Iran launches another missile barrage.

The IDF says it is workring to shoot down the missiles.

Fresh alert issued in Israeli city as IDF warns people to avoid public spaces

Officials in the city of Bat Yam have issued a new warning telling people to stay near a protected space.

It comes as the IDF told Israelis across the country to avoid gatherings and public spaces.

The military said: 'Movement in public areas should be minimised, and public gatherings must be avoided. Upon receiving an alert, enter a protected space and remain there until an official update is issued.'

Israel strikes Yemen in overnight bombing campaign targeting Houthi leader

Israel bombed Yemen overnight in an attempt to kill a top military official in the Houthi group, the New York Times has reported.

An airstrike on the country saw Israel attempt to take out Mohamed Al-Ghamari, the Houthi military’s chief of staff.

It is not currently known if Al-Ghamari was killed or injured in the attack, and the Houthis have not publicly commented on it yet.

Surreal scenes in Lebanon as people party unfazed on rooftops under a sky of fiery missiles

Iran warns of more 'severe' retaliation as reports say 128 died in strikes

Iran has warned of 'more decisive and severe' attacks as local media reported 128 had been killed in Israel strikes on Friday and Saturday.

President Masoud Pezeshkian said that Iran's military has so far responded 'strongly and appropriately'.

Pictured below is a partially collapsed block of flats in Bat Yam after it was struck by an Iranian ballistic missile.

Video: Lebanon continues partying as Iran's missiles light up the sky

Britons have been warned not to travel to Israel as the conflict with Iran ramps up today.

The Foreign Office is now advising 'against all travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories'.

Planning is also believed to be under way to evacuate UK nationals if the situation deteriorates further.

The stark message came as Israel and Iran continued to bombard each other overnight.

Read the full story below.

US-led coalition 'shot down drones', says Iran

Two drones launched from Iran towards Israel were shot down over Iraq by the US-led international coalition to defeat the Islamic State group, two Iraqi military officials told news agency AFP.

'The international coalition at Ain al-Asad (military base) shot down two Iranian drones that were en route to Israel,' one official said, referring to an Iraqi airbase housing foreign troops in western Iraq.

The drones were shot down overnight Saturday to Sunday, he added, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The other official said the drones were targeted because they entered the defensive perimeter of the anti-jihadist coalition, where troops are instructed to engage any potential threat.

Breaking:Two explosions heard in central Tehran

Two explosions have been heard in central Tehran.

Unverified footage posted on X shows three pillars of smoke rising in the city.

According to the Tasnim news agency, missile-like projectiles hit two locations today.

The news agency shared footage of the explosion site, saying it occurred near the central Valiasr Square.

The video showed columns of smoke rising from the area, with debris and shattered glass scattered across the scene. Other media carried similar reports.

Netanyahu: 'Iran will pay heavy price'

Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed Iran 'will pay a heavy price for the murder of civilians, women, and children'.

The Israeli Prime Minister warned 'it will happen soon' after he said Tehran had targeted the civilians deliberately in a barrage of missile attacks that were launched overnight.

Netanyahu made the comments on X alongside photos of the PM visiting the city of Bat Yam where flats were destroyed in the strikes.

Iran will pay a very heavy price for the murder of women, children, and innocent civilians – and it will happen soon. I am here at the scene together with the rescue forces and the Home Front Command. On behalf of the people of Israel – we send a hug to the families and once again call on every citizen: obey the instructions – it saves lives.

We are in an existential battle, facing a cruel enemy who is planning destruction. Our soldiers and pilots are operating bravely – above the skies of Iran. This is a war of salvation. We will strike them with one blow – and we will win.

New footage shows IDF striking Iran's 'nuclear programme HQ'

Israeli airline cancels flights to and from major cities

El Al, Israel's national airline, has cancelled flights going to and from major European cities, as well as Tokyo and Moscow.

It said today that all flights have been cancelled up to and including June 17.

The carrier said: 'Once approvals are received from the relevant security and aviation authorities, we will do everything possible to allow as many Israelis as possible to return home, gradually resume our regular flight schedule and operate rescue flights from destinations near Israel.'

Iran admits seven more top air force officials killed in Friday strikes

Iran's Revolutionary Guard has released a list of seven further air force commanders who were killed in Israel's strikes.

The list includes its head, Amir Ali Hajizadeh.

Explosions hear in Tehran’s northwestern neighbourhoods

The BBC has reported that explosions have been heard in Tehran's Shahrak-e Gharb and Saadat Abad neighbourhoods.

Iranian officials have told local media that the capital's air defence systems have been activated.

Iran says mostly women and children killed and injured by Israeli strikes

Iran's health minister Mohammad-Reza Zafarghand has today said that the majority of those killed by Israeli airstrikes since Friday are women and children.

While no official tally has been given for the entire weekend's violence, Iran's UN agency said on Friday that at least 78 had been killed, while 320 were wounded.

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