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Here’s where things stand on Monday 16 June 2025:
- The intelligence chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and two other generals were killed in Israeli attacks on Sunday.
- Renewed Israeli attacks hit Tehran and other Iranian cities for a third straight day, as Iran launches retaliatory strikes on Israel.
- Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the Iranian response will stop when Israel halts its attacks on Iran.
- Iran says at least 224 people have been killed since Israel launched attacks. In Israel, at least 13 people have been killed.
- Meanwhile, Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 55,362 people and wounded 128,741, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. An estimated 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023, and more than 200 were taken captive.
Iran slams Israeli ‘surgical strikes’ as propaganda, says women and children killed
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei has accused Israel of spreading propaganda about its military operations, calling claims of “surgical strikes” with no civilian harm a blatant lie.
“In just three recent strikes in Tehran, 73 women and children were killed,” Baqaei said on X, adding that in one location – the Chamran residential complex – 20 children were killed, with 10 more still trapped under the rubble some 48 hours later.
“Targeting families, kids and women… That’s the routine barbarity,” he added.
Israeli army says it launched strikes on central Iran
The Israeli military has issued a statement saying it launched a series of air strikes targeting what it claims are missile sites in central Iran.
Iran’s national news agency confirms killing of IRGC intelligence chief
Iran’s official IRNA news agency has confirmed that an Israeli strike on Sunday killed the intelligence chief of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Mohammed Kazemi, along with two other officers.
“Three intelligence generals, Mohammad Kazemi, Hassan Mohaghegh and Mohsen Bagheri were assassinated and fell as martyrs,” the agency said, citing a Revolutionary Guards statement.
Iran’s foreign minister says US opposed UNSC emergency session
Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi said Iran requested an emergency session at the UN Security Council but that the request was turned down due to ‘interference’ by the US.
Tehran also requested an urgent meeting with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) over Israel’s attacks on Iranian nuclear sites.
“We hope this session produces a resolution or at least a strong statement,” Aragchi told reporters.
The official also criticised the stance taken by the US and some European countries in favour of Israel.
“It is both astonishing and deeply regrettable that, even in the face of a blatant military strike on nuclear facilities – which are protected under international law – these countries failed to condemn the attack. Some even used language that implicitly legitimises it,” he said.
“Western backing of Israel only reinforces our conviction that we can count on no one but ourselves and our armed forces.”
US embassy in Iraq warns of potential attacks on sites frequented by Americans
The diplomatic mission in Baghdad has issued a statement saying it is aware of an increased potential for violence targeting US-owned businesses and locations frequented by US citizens, as Israel and Iran continue to exchange attacks.
“We urge all US citizens in Iraq to avoid locations frequented by foreigners and any large gatherings or crowds,” the embassy said.
It comes as Iraqi activists have called for a protest this evening near Baghdad’s Green Zone – where the embassy is located – to demand its shutdown and the departure of its staff from the country.
What are Netanyahu’s aims in the war on Iran?
Yossi Mekelberg, a consulting fellow at Chatham House, said that Netanyahu is pursuing several aims in Israel’s military operation in Iran.
The stated aim is to target Iran’s nuclear capabilities and reduce its regional influence. While Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar earlier denied that regime change is not one of the objectives, “obviously Israel would like to see [that]”, Mekelberg said, adding that this was a “rather unrealistic” outcome.
The current conflict is also helping Netanyahu delay his corruption trial indefinitely.
“In the last few weeks, he gave evidence in his corruption trial and it was cross-examined by the prosecution,” the analyst said. However, Iran’s attacks mean the proceedings are now going to be postponed “for a long time”.
Hamas expresses solidarity with Iran
Hamas’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, issued a statement declaring support for Iran in the wake of its confrontation with Israel.
“We stand alongside Iran, its leadership, and its people,” the group said, praising what it called the “historic and pivotal” role of Iranian leaders in backing the Palestinian cause and resistance.
The group mourned the deaths of senior Iranian military commanders and civilians killed in what it described as “ongoing Zionist aggression”, and said the Iranian response had “shaken the foundations of the [Israeli] occupation”.
“Our people, especially in Gaza, watched with pride the powerful strikes delivered” to Israel, the statement added.
Israeli army says intercepted more than 100 Iranian drones
The Israeli army says its air and navy forces have intercepted more than 100 “unmanned aerial vehicles” launched from Iran.
Iranian media reports cars detonated in Tehran
Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported earlier today that the Israeli army detonated five car bombs in Tehran.
Citing an informed source, it said the explosions took place after Iranian air defences successfully repelled the latest wave of Israeli strikes on the country.
An Israeli official, speaking to public broadcaster KAN, denied the claim and any Israeli involvement.
Huge turnout at a second Dutch protest seeking gov’t action against Israel
An estimated 100,000 demonstrators in the Netherlands donned red clothing and marched to protest the Dutch government’s policy toward Israel.
Protesters walked a 5km (3-mile) loop around the centre of The Hague to symbolically create the red line they say the government has failed to draw to halt Israel’s campaign in Gaza.
“I don’t want to be complicit in these horrendous crimes happening there, and I want to speak out,” protester Marin Koning said.
The protest sent a “clear signal”, according to Marjon Rozema of Amnesty International Netherlands. Dutch officials must “act now, at both the national and international level, to increase the pressure on the Israeli government,” she said in a statement.
Was Iran months away from producing a nuclear bomb?
Israeli officials have argued that the ongoing military operation against Iran was necessary as the country was months away from producing a nuclear weapon.
Al Jazeera’s senior political analyst Marwan Bishara said Israel has no credible evidence to sustain its claim, which the US also knows to be inaccurate.
“Netanyahu played into the same theatre of deception that was played before the war on Iraq in 2003,” he said.
In March, the United States’ Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told the US Congress that Iran was not building a nuclear weapon and that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei did not authorise the nuclear weapons programme that he suspended in 2003.
Bishara said Netanyahu’s interview with Fox News was reminiscent of a speech given by former US National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice in reference to Iraq’s purported possession of weapons of mass destruction.
The claim that Iraq was actively building nuclear weapons prior to the 2003 US-led invasion was debunked.
Photos: Iranian missile attack hits Israel
EU foreign ministers to meet on Tuesday
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has called a videoconference of EU foreign ministers for Tuesday to discuss developments in the Middle East.
“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,” the spokesperson said.
“The meeting will provide an opportunity for an exchange of views, coordination on diplomatic outreach to Tel Aviv and Tehran, and possible next steps.”
IRGC intelligence chief, two Iranian generals killed in Israeli attacks
Iran’s Tasnim news agency is reporting that the head of IRGC’s intelligence organisation and two other generals were killed in Israeli attacks on Sunday.
Israeli strike hits a Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Iran
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said Israel launched a “deliberate and ruthless strike” on one of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs buildings.
“Several civilians were injured in the attack, including a number of my colleagues who were taken to the hospital for treatment,” Khatibzadeh said on X.
Trump believes peace between Iran and Israel possible
Trump took to his social media platform to say that he believed that peace could be achieved between Iran and Israel, and that there were many phone calls, many meetings taking place to try to bring that about.
This is a situation where the US president does not want to see the conflict between Iran and Israel escalate.
One of the things Trump campaigned on in 2024 was not involving the US in any more global conflicts. The US public is not particularly interested in military intervention. The US has been quite focused on the matter of immigration raids, on the crackdown against those protesting those raids, and on trying to … focus on economic issues.
Israeli army says safe to leave shelters ‘in several areas’
The Israeli army has issued a statement saying the public can now leave shelters, signaling that the threat from the latest barrage of Iranian missiles is over.
“Rescue and emergency forces are operating in multiple locations nationwide where reports of impacts have been received,” the army said in a post on X.
Meanwhile, Israel’s ambulance service said its teams were providing medical treatment and evacuating to the hospital two “lightly injured individuals” who sustained shrapnel wounds in the country’s north.
Iranian missiles land in Israel, spark fires
Israeli media are reporting that missiles have fallen in several parts of Israel as Iran launched a new wave of retaliatory strikes.
The Israeli Army Radio said a missile fell in Haifa and a building was hit in the eastern part of Tel Aviv.
A missile also fell directly on a building in northern Israel, according to Yedioth Ahronoth.
The Israeli Broadcasting Authority said four people were injured in the Lachish area and two buildings were damaged in Haifa.
Which Iranian oil and gas facilities has Israel hit?
Israel has struck some of Iran’s most vital oil and gas facilities, the first such attacks despite decades of rivalry between the Middle Eastern nations, raising fears of a widening conflict and threatening turmoil for the markets.
Late on Saturday, Iran’s Ministry of Petroleum said Israel struck a key fuel depot, while another oil refinery in the capital city of Tehran was also in flames, as emergency crews scrambled to douse the fires at separate sites.
What are the key energy sites in Iran hit in Israeli attacks? And why do they matter?
Read all about it here.
Moscow can play a ‘key role’ in mediating Israel-Iran conflict
Russia’s investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev made these comments in a post on X after Trump told ABC News he spoke to President Putin about the conflict.
As for Putin being a potential mediator in the conflict, Trump told an ABC News reporter: “He is ready. He called me about it. We had a long talk about it.”
Military chief says Israel will ‘intensify’ operations in Iran
Israeli army chief Eyal Zamir has issued a statement vowing to increase attacks on Iran, as part of a “historic and unprecedented operation aimed at delivering a significant blow to an existential threat”.
“We will continue to intensify our operations and, in doing so, strengthen our security for years to come,” Zamir said. “We knew there would be a price, and it underscores why we acted now, before it became too late.”
Iran’s armed forces tell Israelis not to stay or travel near ‘vital areas’
Iran’s armed forces told Israelis to leave the vicinity of “vital areas” for their safety, in a video statement broadcast by state TV around the time that Iran sent a new barrage of missiles.
“We have a data bank of vital and critical areas in occupied territories and call upon you not to let the brutal regime use you as human shields. Do not stay or travel near these critical areas,” an armed forces spokesperson said.
Iranian Health Ministry says 128 killed in Israeli attacks in two days
At least 128 people were killed by Israeli attacks across Iran on Friday and Saturday, Iran’s Health Ministry has been quoted by local media as saying.
The Etemaad Daily cited the ministry as saying that around 900 injured individuals were admitted to hospital.
At least 40 women, as well as several children, were reported among the victims.
Conflict escalating as Iran issues stark warning to Israel
It seems escalation is the name of the game after several rounds of back and forth. Iran is now starting new retaliatory actions against Israeli territory.
Prior to initiating this latest round of attacks, the spokesperson of the armed forces told Israelis that they have to leave because the land will be “inhabitable” in the near future.
This is a very strong message of warning. He also said that staying in shelters won’t bring security.
People across the country are angry;is is the biggest wave of attacks since the Iran-Iraq War in 1988.
Israeli army says working to ‘intercept’ Iranian missiles
The Israeli army has issued a statement saying its air force is working to “intercept and strike wherever necessary” after missiles were launched from Iran a short while ago.
“The defence is not airtight, and therefore, it is imperative to continue following the instructions of the Home Front Command,” it said in a post on X.
Four injured in Haifa after Iranian missile attack
Israel’s National Emergency Service is reporting at least four people injured in Haifa, northern Israel, following Iranian missile strikes.
Reuters news agency is also reporting projectiles landing in Haifa, with explosions reported on impact.
Netanyahu ordered negotiators to ‘advance’ talks on releasing captives
Netanyahu says he ordered negotiators to “advance” talks on releasing captives held in Gaza.
“I gave instructions the day before yesterday to advance negotiations, because I sense an opening.
“We will complete both missions: the destruction of Hamas and the release of the hostages,” he said.
G7 to seek agreement on key points to solve Israel-Iran conflict
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the upcoming Group of Seven (G7) meeting could reach an agreement on four key points to help resolve the conflict between Israel and Iran.
Speaking as he prepared to fly to Canada for the summit, Merz said the four points were:
- Iran cannot develop or possess nuclear weapons.
- Israel has the right to defend itself against existential threats, which Merz said Iran’s nuclear programme represented.
- The conflict should not escalate.
- A scope for diplomacy must be created.
“I would like to add that in Germany we are also getting ready in case Iran should target Israeli or Jewish targets in Germany,” Merz told reporters, without going into more detail.
G7 leaders were expected to gather for a summit in the Canadian Rockies from Sunday until Tuesday.
Israel shuts down all airports, airspace
The Israeli Civil Aviation Authority has announced a complete closure of airspace and airports.
‘Israel looking for greater US military involvement in Iran’
Meron Rapoport, editor of Israeli news outlet Local Call, says, “It is important for Netanyahu, when he speaks to the international media, to present himself as the leader who is saving the Western world from the evilness of Iran”.
Rapoport was commenting after the Israeli PM’s interview with Fox News from an undisclosed location.
Rapoport added that Netanyahu was not looking for Trump “to bring peace, but more war” through US military involvement.
“Some Iranian nuclear facilities are deep in the ground and only the US [can hit them], and I think this is what Netanyahu is looking for,” he said.