Israel-Iran war highlights | US strikes 3 nuclear sites in Iran

US President Donald Trump on Saturday (Jun 21) announced a “very successful attack” on Iran's three nuclear sites, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.

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Explosions and plumes of smoke could be seen rising over the Iranian city of Ahvaz in footage released on Saturday (June 21) while Israel says it completed strikes on military targets in the area. A statement from the Israeli army said  Israeli warplanes targeted a site where missile launchers were stored in Ahvaz in southwestern Iran.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has condemned “blatant Israeli aggressions against the Islamic Republic of Iran, which undermine its sovereignty and security, constitute a clear violation of international laws and norms, and threaten the security and stability of the region,” the state-run Saudi Press Agency reports.

Speaking at a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul, he calls for “the immediate cessation of military operations, the avoidance of escalation, and a return to the negotiation track between Iran and the international community.”

Iran and Saudi Arabia were long regional arch-rivals but have normalised relations in recent years. Riyadh was quick to side publicly with Tehran after Israel launched a surprise barrage of strikes on Iran last week.

Bin Farhan also reiterates Saudi Arabia’s support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. The kingdom and France had been set to co-chair a conference in New York this month on the topic, which was postponed due to the outbreak of the Israel-Iran war.

The IDF says that it intercepted the drone that set off sirens in two Golan Heights communities, with no injuries reported.

According to the military, the drone “was launched from the east,” a term the Israel Defense Forces has used in reference to attacks from Iraq and Yemen.

Amid speculation whether US President Donald Trump would strike Iran, Israeli officials said that they do not want to wait two weeks for Tehran to reach a deal to dismantle key parts of its nuclear program, Reuters reported, citing sources. It added that Israel could act alone before the deadline given by Trump is up, and Tel Aviv has communicated its concerns to the US administration officials on Thursday in a tense phone call, as described by the sources.

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Iranian State TV announces the launch of the 19th wave of Operation True Promise 3.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards announced early Sunday the launch of suicide drones towards Israel, the latest wave of attacks as fighting between the two fores entered the 10th day.

"A vast wave of attack and suicide drones has been heading for hours towards their (Israeli) strategic targets throughout the regime's territory, from the north to the south of the occupied territories," Guards spokesman Ali Mohammad Naini was quoted as saying by state television. 

Iranian media said Saturday that Israel had launched strikes on the southern city of Shiraz, which hosts military bases, triggering the air-defence systems.

"Shiraz's air defenses have been activated in some areas of the city and have been engaged in fighting hostile targets and Zionist aircrafts," Mehr news agency reported.

Iran's atomic agency chief Mohammad Eslami said Saturday that the Arak heavy water reactor hit by Israel earlier this week was dedicated to "health and medicine".

"The products of the Arak heavy water plant are used in the fields of health and medicine. You (Israel) are targeting a centre active in the field of medical radiopharmaceutical research," said Eslami, according to a government statement.

The Israeli military Saturday said it launched a fresh wave of strikes on Saturday in the area of southern Iran's Bandar Abbas, targeting drones storage sites and a weapons facility.

Israeli forces are "currently striking UAV storage facilities and a weapons facility in southwestern Iran in the area of Bandar Abbas," a military statement said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posts on X, “Good week, citizens of Israel. We will continue together until victory.”

The IDF is currently attacking unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) depots and a weapons depot in southwestern Iran, in the Bandar Abbas area.

Iranian media said an Israeli strike on Saturday hit a military base in Qom province south of Tehran, wounding one person, as fighting between the two foes raged for the ninth day.

"A few minutes ago, one of the evacuated military bases... was hit by projectiles from the Zionist regime," ISNA news agency reported quoting an official statement from Qom province, with another news agency, Tasnim, saying one person was injured.

Fourth flight carrying 280 Indians from Iran lands in New Delhi

Iran threatens to strike military aid shipments to Israel

"We are ready to discuss and cooperate to build confidence in the field of peaceful nuclear activities, however, we do not agree to reduce nuclear activities to zero under any circumstances," Pezeshkian said

Blasts heard in Tehran's centre, north

Hezbollah official says ex-bodyguard of slain leader killed in Israeli strike in Iran

Sri Lanka extends its sincere gratitude to the Government of India for the timely assistance to evacuate Sri Lankan nationals from Iran alongside Indian citizens. This act of solidarity exemplifies the strong and enduring partnership between Sri Lanka and India, and is deeply appreciated by the people of Sri Lanka: Foreign Ministry of Sri Lanka

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with ministers and senior security officials, according to Hebrew media reports, amid the ongoing aerial campaign against Iran.

The IDF said that approximately 30 IAF fighter jets, with the IDF intelligence direction, struck dozens of military targets, with over 50 munitions, in the area of Ahvaz in southernwestern Iran.

American B-2 stealth bombers took off from the Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri towards a strategic base in Guam in the western Pacific on Saturday amid an escalating war between Israel and Iran. This comes after US President Donald Trump took a “two-week” deadline for deciding whether America will join Israel in striking Iran or not.

As tensions between Israel and Iran intensify with war entering the second week, American B-2 stealth bombers took off from the Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri towards a strategic base in Guam in the western Pacific, Israeli public television KAN broadcaster reported 

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For decades, Iran has built up a network of militias that shared a hatred of Israel and America, and called them the ‘Axis of Resistance’, but the silence from the resistance forces amid the ongoing war with Israel has raised major questions about its existence and its power in the region. Led by Iran, the 'Axis of Resistance’ included now-gone Syria’s Assad regime, the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, various Iraqi Shiite militias, the Yemeni Houthis, and Palestinian factions like Hamas and Islamic Jihad

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UN nuclear watchdog in a statement on Saturday (June 21) said that a centrifuge manufacturing workshop has been hit in Esfahan

Internet-access advocacy group NetBlocks.org reported on Saturday that the limited internet access that had come back up in Iran has once again “collapsed.”

The group said on X that the disconnect came after “a brief period when residents could exchange messages with the outside world.”

A nationwide internet shutdown has been in place for several days, isolating Iranians.
Iran cited concerns about Israeli cyberattacks for the shutdown of mobile and web services. But many Iranians and activists see it as another example of state information control and targeted internet shutdowns the Islamic Republic has deployed during periods of protests and unrest.

"It's more like a never-ending story ... It feels like a lifetime ago when it started, and it just goes on and on and on," says Tel Aviv resident Adam, as Israel enters its ninth day of war with Iran. His feelings are shared by Avram, who says he's "tired" and "afraid". "I feel a kind of emptiness ... I'm not sleeping, they wake me up every day. Every night they send bombing, so we're not sleeping well."

Several "powerful explosions" were heard Saturday afternoon in southwestern Iran's Ahvaz, the daily Shargh reported, on the ninth day of hostilities between the Islamic republic and Israel.
Ahvaz is the capital of Khuzestan province, which is situated on the Iraqi border and is Iran's main oil-producing region. The Israeli military had previously announced it was striking "military infrastructure" in the southwest.

Explosions were also reported from Ahvaz and the port of Mahshahr. At the same time, air defenses have begun operating in these cities.

Israeli Air Force in a statement on X said that Israeli Air Force fighter jets are currently attacking military infrastructure in southwestern Iran.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday that France and its European partners would ramp up talks with Iran following more than a week of hostilities between the Islamic Republic and Israel.

"I am convinced that there is a way out of war and to avoid even greater dangers," Macron said on X after holding phone talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. "To achieve this, we will step up the negotiations initiated by France and its European partners with Iran."

The Mahan Air evacuation flight IRM071A carrying over 256 Indian students, the majority from the Kashmir Valley has safely landed at Delhi Airport.

Sigh of relief for families who had been anxiously waiting for their children's safe return. Many of these students were frightened and emotionally drained after enduring days of uncertainty and fear in the conflict zone. Their safe arrival has brought a huge sigh of relief to their loved ones back home.

“Thanks to Government of India for their efforts and timely coordination with Iranian authorities. We remain committed to ensuring the safe evacuation of all remaining students, especially those from vulnerable and remote regions,” said Jammu and Kashmir Students Association

Israeli air attack targeted military installation in Iran's southern city of shiraz. No casualties have been reported, as per semi-official news agency ISNA. 

Four Revolutionary Guards fighters have been killed in northwest Iran, news agency AFP reported.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says it would be “very, very dangerous for everyone” if the United States becomes actively involved in the war with Israel. U.S. President Donald Trump is weighing American military involvement, which Araghchi said “would be very unfortunate.” Araghchi was speaking to reporters in Istanbul on his way home from talks in Geneva, which failed to produce a diplomatic breakthrough.

Israel's first responders said Saturday that a residential building in north Israel had been hit by a drone after the army reported an intrusion in the Beit She'an valley. "A drone strike hit a two-storey residential building in northern Israel", the Magen David Adom said in a statement, adding that its rescue teams found no visible casualties as they arrived.

Israel struck Iran's Isfahan nuclear site overnight for the second time since the start of the war between the two arch foes, a military official said on Saturday. "Isfahan we targeted in the first 24 hours of our operation, but we carried out a second wave of strikes there overnight, deepening our achievements and advancing the damage to the facility," the military official told reporters during a briefing on condition of anonymity. He added that Israel "dealt a severe blow to Iran's centrifuge production capabilities."

Medics are responding to reports of a drone impact in Beit She’an, after sirens warning of a drone infiltration sounded in the area. There are no immediate reports of injuries. It apparently marks the first Iranian drone to impact in a populated area since the conflict began on June 13.

Two more drones launched from Iran at Israel were shot down over the Arava region in southern Israel on Saturday (June 21), the IDF says. Meanwhile, sirens sound following a new suspected drone infiltration in Beit She’an Valley.

Russian President Vladimir Putin while speaking to Sky News said, "Russia, as well as the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), has never had any evidence that Iran is preparing to obtain nuclear weapons, as we have repeatedly put the Israeli leadership on notice."

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says it would be “very, very dangerous for everyone” if the United States becomes actively involved in the war with Israel.

The Geneva talks which was attended by Araghchi has failed to produce a diplomatic breakthrough.

Israel's military said Saturday it had killed a top Iranian official in charge of military coordination with Palestinian militant group Hamas.

"Fighter jets struck and eliminated in the area of Qom the commander of the Palestine Corps of the Quds Force, and the key coordinator between the Iranian regime and the Hamas terrorist organisation, Saeed Izadi," the military said in a statement.

 Boarding is currently underway and the flight is scheduled to arrive at New Delhi at 4:30 PM. The evacuees are mostly Kashmiri students.

The first flight carrying 330 Chinese evacuees from Iran arrived at Beijing Capital International Airport on Friday. 

According to IDF, he was targeted in a strike while driving in a car, more than 1,000 kilometers from Israel. Shahriyari headed the Quds Force's Unit 190 and was responsible for the secrete transfer of weapons to Iran's proxy groups, especially Hezbollah, according to IDF.

Amid ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, old social media post of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have surfaced drawing attention for his unexpectedly liberal and feminist tone. Some over a old post show Khamenei expressing support for women’s rights, sharing an interest in poetry, and backing the Black Lives Matter movement.

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Israel on Saturday claimed it had killed Saeed Izadi, head of the Palestine Corps of Iran's elite Quds Force, in a precision missile strike on an apartment in the city of Qom.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz in a statement, declared that Izadi has been eliminated. The killing marks the latest elimination of Iranian high-level commanders by Israel.

Israel launched strikes on Iran’s nuclear site in Isfahan early Saturday, according to Iranian state-linked Fars news agency. Citing a security official, the report said multiple attacks were carried out, with most of the blasts linked to Iranian air defence systems intercepting incoming threats. The official added that there was no leakage of hazardous materials and no risk to public safety. 

Explosions were reported early this morning in the Iranian city of Isfahan, home to a key nuclear facility. Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency claimed the site was targeted by Israel, but stated there was no leakage of hazardous materials. The Israeli military is yet to comment on the incident.

As tensions escalate, top diplomats from the UK, France, and Germany met with Iran’s top negotiator Abbas Araghchi in Geneva. The goal: restart nuclear talks derailed by the war.

Araghchi said Iran is open to diplomacy, but only "once the aggression is stopped."

Tehran did "support the continuation of discussion with" the European countries and was willing "to meet again in the near future", Araghchi told reporters.

Meanwhile, France pushed for dialogue to resume immediately, "without awaiting the cessation of strikes".

President Donald Trump said Friday that Iran had a "maximum" of two weeks to avoid possible US air strikes, indicating he could take a decision before the fortnight deadline he set a day earlier.

Trump added that he was not inclined to stop Israel attacking Iran because it was "winning," and was dismissive of European efforts to mediate an end to the conflict.

"I'm giving them a period of time, and I would say two weeks would be the maximum," Trump told reporters when asked if he could decide to strike Iran before that.

He added that the aim was to "see whether or not people come to their senses."

Israel's top military commander, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, has warned that the confrontation with Iran may not end anytime soon.

In a national address, Zamir said: "We have embarked on the most complex campaign in our history to remove a threat of such magnitude, against such an enemy."

"We must be ready for a prolonged campaign," he added.

He also said that Israelis needed to brace for more difficulties as Iranian ballistic missile strikes continue.

Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar says his country’s military strikes have pushed back Iran’s nuclear timeline by at least two to three years.

In an interview, Saar stated, "According to the assessment we hear, we already delayed for at least two or three years the possibility for them to have a nuclear bomb."

This comes amid growing international unease over Iran's uranium enrichment, which the UN's nuclear watchdog says is approaching weapons-grade. However, as per IAEA, there was no evidence that Tehran had all the components to make a functioning nuclear warhead.