Iran launched missile strikes on Israel early yesterday, in retaliation for recent Israeli airstrikes that targeted critical components of Iran’s nuclear program and military infrastructure, resulting in the deaths of top scientists and generals.
The Iranian strike killed at least three people and injured dozens.
Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations said the Israeli strikes killed 78 people and wounded over 320. Israel defended the strikes as a preemptive measure to prevent Iran from nearing nuclear weapons capability, despite assessments from the US and experts that Tehran was not actively pursuing a bomb.
The developments have thrown upcoming nuclear talks between the US and Iran into uncertainty, just days ahead of their planned meeting in Oman.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the Israeli strikes and said continuing nuclear negotiations with the US no longer made sense. Spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Israel had crossed all red lines with what he called a "criminal act." While he didn’t confirm cancellation of Sunday’s scheduled talks, he noted that Iran’s final decision remained unclear.
Jordan, which had temporarily closed its skies due to the conflict, announced it would reopen airspace to civilian flights Saturday morning. The move suggests Amman sees no immediate risk of continued missile activity, despite earlier Iranian projectiles and Israeli fighter activity passing through its territory.
Casualties in Israel
A woman was confirmed dead in Tel Aviv following a missile strike, and two more were killed in central Israel when a missile hit residential areas. A total of 19 people were wounded in that attack. Another seven were injured, including one moderately, in a second barrage.
UN Chief calls for calm
UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged both Iran and Israel to halt their military actions and return to diplomacy, saying, "Enough escalation. Time to stop. Peace and diplomacy must prevail."
Tehran airport blaze
Iran’s Mehrabad International Airport reported a fire, with local media sharing footage of smoke and flames. The cause remains unclear.
Second wave of Iranian strikes
Iran launched a fresh wave of missiles early Saturday. Explosions and sirens were heard over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, with several missiles appearing to strike the ground. Israeli military confirmed the new assault and urged residents to seek shelter.
Iranian air defenses active
Loud explosions and the firing of Iranian air defense systems were heard across central Tehran shortly after midnight, as Israeli attacks reportedly continued. Air raid sirens were also activated in the capital.
Iran threatens to strike US, UK, and French bases if they help defend Israel
Iran has issued a stark warning to the United States, United Kingdom, and France, threatening to target their military bases and ships in the region if they assist Israel in countering Iranian attacks.
The warning follows confirmation from American officials on Friday that the US military had helped intercept Iranian missiles aimed at Israel, according to the Telegraph.
The strikes were part of a massive retaliatory barrage launched by Tehran less than a day after a surprise Israeli attack early Friday morning. The UK was not believed to have taken part in the missile defence effort.
Amid rising tensions, the British government is reportedly monitoring the safety of personnel at its embassy in Tehran, concerned they could face reprisals. Meanwhile, both the U.S. and Canada have closed their embassies in the Iranian capital.
On Saturday, Iranian media reported new Israeli airstrikes targeting locations in Tehran and several cities in the west and northwest, including military bases and key defence installations.
The strikes reportedly hit Tabriz in the northwest, along with areas in the provinces of Lorestan, Hamedan, and Kermanshah.
Continuing nuclear talks with US ‘unjustifiable’, Iran
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has said continuing nuclear talks with the US is "unjustifiable".
Abbas Araqchi told Kaja Kallas, the EU foreign policy chief, that given the current situation and what he calls the "savagery" of Israel, talks can’t be justified, BBC reports.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump still appears optimistic and has called on Iran to accept the nuclear deal.
The president wrote on Truth Social early Friday, "I gave Iran chance after chance to make a deal. I told them, in the strongest of words, to ‘just do it,’ but no matter how hard they tried, no matter how close they got, they just couldn’t get it done." He went on:
"Certain Iranian hardliner’s spoke bravely, but they didn’t know what was about to happen. They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse!" Trump said.
"Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left, and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire. No more death, no more destruction, JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE."
So far, the US and Iran have held five rounds of talks, mediated by Oman in April and May.
The main sticking point is said to be uranium enrichment on Iranian soil.
Recent strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites mean it will take time for the country to rebuild its previous facilities.
Iran’s strikes against Israel will continue, threaten officials
Senior Iranian military officials have warned that Tehran’s military response against Israel is far from over, declaring that further strikes are imminent and will be "very painful and regrettable for the aggressors".
"This confrontation will not end with last night’s limited actions," one unnamed official was quoted as saying by Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency.
"Iran’s strikes will continue," he said.
The development follows a dramatic escalation in hostilities between the two long-standing rivals, with Iran and Israel exchanging missile and air strikes overnight. The confrontation began after Israel launched its largest-ever air offensive against Iran early on Friday, targeting key military and nuclear infrastructure.
In retaliation, Iran launched a barrage of missiles and drones early Saturday morning, resulting in the deaths of at least three people and injuring dozens more, according to Iranian state media reports cited by AP and Al Jazeera.
The Israeli strikes, reportedly involving warplanes and drones-some of which had allegedly been smuggled into Iran in advance-targeted strategic facilities, military commanders, and nuclear scientists.
Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations claimed the Israeli attacks left 78 people dead and more than 320 injured.
Israel defended its actions, stating that the operation aimed to prevent Iran from nearing nuclear weapons capability. This stance, however, contrasts with assessments from international experts and the United States, who have said Tehran was not actively pursuing nuclear arms at the time of the attack.
The UN and several international actors have called for de-escalation, warning that further conflict could have catastrophic consequences across the region. Yet, with both nations vowing continued action, fears of a broader war continue to mount.
3 F-35 fighter jets downed, two Israeli pilots in custody: Iran claims
Iran’s Army (Artesh) has reported the downing of three Israeli F-35 fighter jets, likely by Iranian-made air defenses, Iranian media has claimed.
A statement by the Army added that the pilot was captured after ejecting over western Iran, reports Tehran Times.
With this latest downing, Iran has neutralised three F-35 fighter jets since Israel began its aggression on Friday.
Of the two others, one pilot is believed to be liquidated, and another too captured by Iranian forces, the report said.
Israel military says Friday strikes killed nine Iran nuclear scientists
The Israeli military said yesterday that its air strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities the previous day resulted in the deaths of nine senior Iranian nuclear scientists.
"During the Israeli Air Force strikes at the onset of Operation Rising Lion, nine senior scientists and experts who advanced the Iranian regime’s nuclear weapons programme were eliminated," the military said in a statement, listing the names of those killed.
"Their elimination represents a significant blow to the Iranian regime’s ability to acquire weapons of mass destruction."
The military said the strikes were based on "precise intelligence gathered by the intelligence directorate."
