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Trump sees Iran's airspace under "full control" – Israel's defense minister threatens Khamenei

Die Welt

Germany

Tuesday, June 17


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Escalation and War Concerns

G7 Summit and International Reactions


The air war continues: Israel intensifies its massive attacks in Iran during the night and morning. Dorothea Schupelius reports from Tel Aviv and Alfred Hackensberger reports from Damascus.

US President Trump considers Iranian airspace under"full control." Israeli Defense Minister Katz has openly threatened Iran's supreme leader in the event of further attacks. Meanwhile, the Israeli Air Force is once again attacking northern Tehran. More in the live ticker.

The air war continues unabated: Israel's air force is attacking targets in Iran. Counterattacks by the Iranian military, now limited to isolated rockets, have, however, been without devastating consequences, according to Israeli media. A total of 24 people have been killed in Israel since Friday. According to official figures, at least 224 people have been killed in Iran since the start of the major Israeli offensive on Friday night. Nearly 1,300 people have been injured, according to a representative of the Iranian Ministry of Health.

Since Friday morning, Israel has been attacking nuclear facilities in Iran, among others, killing several military leaders and nuclear scientists. The"preemptive strike" is justified by Iran's advanced nuclear program.

All developments of the military conflict:

8:11 p.m. – Starmer: Trump will not drag the US into conflict with Iran

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is confident that US President Donald Trump will not drag his country into the conflict between Israel and Iran."I don't think anything the president has said here or anywhere else suggests that the US will get involved," Starmer told reporters at the summit in Canada, which Trump had left early the day before because of the conflict in the Middle East.

7:44 PM – Trump convenes National Security Council

US President Donald Trump is convening the National Security Council to address the conflict between Israel and Iran. The council will meet on Tuesday, said a White House official who asked not to be identified. Trump had previously toughened his tone toward Iran, fueling speculation about possible US intervention.

7:17 PM – USA deploys more fighter jets to the Middle East

According to insiders, the US is deploying more fighter jets to the Middle East. Furthermore, the deployments of additional jets in the region will be extended, the Reuters news agency reported, citing three US officials. According to one of the insiders, these are F-16, F-22, and F-35 aircraft. Two of the people spoke of a defensive mission for the fighter jets, which can be used to intercept drones, for example.

7:15 p.m. – Iran bans government officials from using mobile phones

Iran is banning government officials and their bodyguards from using all internet-connected communication devices. The ban, announced on Tuesday, includes mobile phones, smartwatches, and laptops, reports the semi-official Fars news agency. No further details were given. However, the ban suggests that Iranian authorities believe the devices' digital signatures provide a leverage point for Israel to target senior officials.

6:26 PM – Trump sees Iranian airspace “completely” under control

US President Donald Trump believes he has complete control over Iranian airspace in the conflict with Israel."We now have complete and total control over the airspace over Iran," Trump wrote on his online service Truth Social on Tuesday. Iran had plenty of good air defense systems, but they were not comparable to US systems, the president emphasized.

5:55 PM – Federal Foreign Office announces second special flight from Amman

The Federal Foreign Office has announced a second special flight from the Jordanian capital, Amman, to evacuate Germans from Israel. The flight is scheduled for Thursday, according to a ministry spokeswoman in Berlin. A flight from Amman to Germany scheduled for Wednesday will have space for 180 people, according to the information.

With regard to Iran, it is stated that the borders between Iran and Armenia and between Iran and Turkey are open."The Federal Government is continuously reviewing all options for exit and is in close contact with the region's foreign missions in the crisis management team." According to the Elefand crisis preparedness list, 4,000 Germans reported that they are currently in Israel, and there are over 1,000 registered in Iran.

17:14 – Israel’s Defense Minister threatens Khamenei

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has threatened Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei with death if Iranian missile attacks against Israel continue."He should remember the fate that befell the dictator of Iran's neighboring country who acted against Israel in this way," Katz said, referring to Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, who was overthrown and later executed in 2003.

17:09 – Israel does the “dirty work” for us in Iran, says Merz

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed his respect for Israel's attack on Iran, viewing it as a service to its Western allies."This is the dirty work that Israel is doing for all of us," he said in an interview with ZDF on the sidelines of the G7 summit. The leadership in Tehran has"brought death and destruction to the world with attacks, with murder and manslaughter, with Hezbollah, with Hamas." The attack by the radical Islamist Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023,"would never have been possible without the regime in Tehran," Merz continued.

"I can only say I have the greatest respect for the Israeli army and the Israeli government having the courage to do this." Otherwise,"we might have continued to see this regime's terror for months and years, and then possibly with a nuclear weapon in hand," the Chancellor said.

17:01 – Israeli military reports new rocket attack from Iran

According to the army, Iran has again attacked Israel with several rockets. Most of the missiles were intercepted by air defenses, it added. According to the Magen David Adom rescue service, there are currently no injuries. Sirens wailed in several parts of the country, including the coastal metropolis of Tel Aviv. People in the affected areas were allowed to leave their shelters shortly afterwards.

16:45 – Israeli army reports attacks on rocket sites in western Iran

The Israeli army reportedly attacked several positions in western Iran on Tuesday, hitting"dozens" of rocket launchers."These attacks hit several positions and dozens of surface-to-surface rocket launchers," the army said in a statement. Drone sites in western Iran were also attacked, according to the army.

Meanwhile, Iranian media reported two explosions in the western Iranian city of Tabriz. According to Iranian reports, there were also several explosions in the central city of Isfahan."Several explosions were heard in the east and north of Isfahan, and air defenses were activated against the enemy targets," the Mehr news agency reported. Isfahan is home to several nuclear facilities.

16:28 – Merz praises major Israeli attack on Iran

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz highlighted the successes of the Israeli army in its attacks on Iran. Israel has"very successfully" destroyed the facilities of the Iranian nuclear program, Merz said on Tuesday on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada in a WELT talk special with Jan Philipp Burgard, editor-in-chief of the WELT Group. The mullah regime is"significantly weakened" and unlikely to return to its former strength."It won't go back to the way it was until last Thursday."

3:01 PM – Is Iran building a nuclear bomb? Trump contradicts intelligence agencies

US President Donald Trump is distancing himself from an earlier statement by his National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard regarding Iran's nuclear program."I don't care what she said," the Republican said in response to a journalist's question. He himself believes Iran was"very close" to having a nuclear bomb.

At the end of March, Gabbard told the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee that, according to U.S. intelligence, Iran is not currently building a nuclear bomb. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has not yet granted a new authorization for the program, which has been suspended since 2003, she said. At the same time, she warned against a weakening of the public taboo in Iran surrounding the topic of nuclear weapons, which could encourage supporters in Tehran's leadership.

3:00 PM – Severe explosion in northern Tehran

Israel's air force is once again attacking the north of the Iranian capital Tehran. Eyewitnesses reported a massive explosion in a densely populated and affluent district with well-known shopping centers.

Auf diesem von der iranischen Gesellschaft des Roten Halbmonds veröffentlichten Foto arbeiten Rettungskräfte am Ort einer Explosion nach einem israelischen Angriff in Teheran
In this photo released by the Iranian Red Crescent Society, rescue workers work at the scene of an explosion following an Israeli attack in Tehran. Source: Uncredited/Iranian Red Crescent

2:55 p.m. – Israeli army: Iran fired around 400 rockets at Israel

According to Israeli military sources, Iran has fired 400 rockets and hundreds of drones at Israel since Friday. Dozens of missiles have landed on Israeli territory, they added. However, the number of missiles has recently decreased – partly due to the Israeli offensive.

According to military sources, Israel destroyed dozens of rockets and more than a third of Iranian rocket launchers. However, there could be other reasons for the decline in attacks, the statement added. What those might be remained unclear.

13:20 – Wadephul calls on Iran to negotiate

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is calling for negotiations. The Iranian government must now declare its willingness to do so, Wadephul said in an interview with WELT TV."We must now quickly ensure that these hostilities, these belligerent actions, come to an end and that we can negotiate." The Europeans are ready to participate in this process. The minister is cautiously optimistic about a negotiated solution:"If this is pursued seriously, then there is a prospect of it happening very soon."

The war between Israel and Iran is escalating. The Foreign Ministry is evacuating German citizens. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) warns the Iranians:"It is never too late to come to the negotiating table."

12:28 p.m. – Trump wants a “real end” to Iran’s nuclear program

US President Donald Trump wants a"real end" to Iran's nuclear program. He isn't looking for a ceasefire, Trump told reporters on Air Force One:"An end, a real end, not a ceasefire, an end."

He emphasized once again that the regime in Tehran should have agreed to a new nuclear deal."I told them to make the deal," Trump said."So I don't know. I'm not exactly in the mood to negotiate."

12:03 p.m. – Israel: Iran fired around 30 rockets at Israel

According to Israeli military sources, Iran has fired around 30 rockets at Israel since last night. Most of the rockets were intercepted, but several also hit the country, Israeli military spokesperson Effie Defrin said.

US President Donald Trump has stated that he has made no attempt to engage Iran in peace talks."Iran should have accepted the agreement that was on the table," Trump writes on his Truth Social platform.

11:25 a.m. – Strack-Zimmermann: “The moment will come when we can be grateful to Israel.”

FDP MEP Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann describes the major Israeli attack on Iran as an opportunity for a new order in the Middle East."The moment will come when we can be grateful to Israel for having done this," she said in an interview with WELT TV. She sees that sympathy for Israel has weakened in the European Parliament."Many are saying: It has to stop everywhere now." Strack-Zimmermann added: "There is a huge opportunity for Israel, once the danger in Iran has been ended, to truly ensure a lasting, great peace in the Near (and) Middle East, once the terrorists there have been reined in or even destroyed."

FDP politician Dr. Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann comments on the current war in the Middle East:"There is a huge opportunity for Israel to ensure lasting peace there once the threat in Iran has ended."

10:59 a.m. – Alarm again in Israel – drone shot down

An air raid warning was sounded again in northern Israel. According to Israeli media, a drone, presumably launched from Iran, was shot down.

10:02 a.m. – Iran attacks Israel with drones

Iran is launching a new wave of drone attacks following its rocket attacks on Israel last night. The attacks with the so-called kamikaze drones should be intensified, said Kiumars Heydari, commander of the Iranian Ground Forces, according to the state news agency IRNA."The enemy should know that a new wave of massive attacks by the armed forces (...) with new and advanced weapons has begun and will intensify in the coming hours," the state agency quoted the commander as saying.

08:41 – Building hit near Tel Aviv

Photos from Israel show a fire in a building in the city of Herzliya, north of Tel Aviv.

Dicke Rauchwolken steigen auf
Thick clouds of smoke riseSource: AFP/JACK GUEZ

08:38 – Israel reports killing of “highest-ranking military commander”

Israel's military announced the death of a key commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. Major General Ali Shadmani was killed in an airstrike on Tuesday night, the military announced. There was no immediate confirmation from Iran. The Israeli army described him as the"highest-ranking military commander."

Ali Schadmani im Jahr 2024. Das Foto stammt von der russischen Staatsagentur TASS
Ali Shadmani in 2024. The photo is from the Russian state agency TASS. Source: picture alliance/dpa/TASS/Valery Sharifulin

Shadmani succeeded Gholam-Ali Rashid, who was killed in an Israeli attack on Friday at the start of the war. They were commanders of the central headquarters, Khatam al-Anbiyah. The headquarters belongs to the powerful Revolutionary Guard and is a subdivision of the General Staff, responsible for planning and coordinating operations of various military units.

08:15 – Five injured in Israel – Air raid warning ended

According to the Times of Israel, the Israeli Defense Forces reported that Iran fired around 20 ballistic missiles. People can now leave their shelters. According to the Magen David Adom ambulance service, five people were slightly injured after a rocket hit a parking lot.

07:57 – Trump mocks Macron

US President Donald Trump says he is not leaving the G-7 summit in Washington early because of his role in brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. He refuted similar statements by French President Emmanuel Macron on his Truth Social platform. Macron"falsely stated that I left the G-7 summit in Canada to return to D.C. to work on a 'ceasefire' between Israel and Iran," Trump wrote. According to Macron, Trump put forward a ceasefire proposal."Whether intentional or not, Emmanuel always gets it wrong," Trump said.

07:57 – New wave of attacks in northwest Iran

Israel's air force is reportedly launching a new wave of attacks on northwestern Iran. Loud explosions were heard this morning in the city of Tabriz, which has a population of one million, according to Iranian media reports.

07:55 – Iran fires missiles at Israel again

Iran has again fired rockets at Israel. State radio spoke of a"rain of rockets" on targets in Israel. The Israeli army announced that its air defenses were deployed to counter the threat. The Israeli military has instructed the population to remain in their shelters until further notice. According to the Times of Israel, explosions were heard in the Jerusalem area.

07:31 – Israel’s army: Dozens of missile sites attacked in Iran

The Israeli Air Force said it launched"comprehensive" attacks on military targets in western Iran overnight. Dozens of storage facilities and launch sites for surface-to-surface missiles were hit, the army said. Surface-to-air missile launchers and drone storage facilities in the west of the Islamic Republic were also targeted. The attacks have ended, it said. No further details were provided in the Telegram message. There was no immediate comment from Iran regarding Israel's statements.

07:00 – USA rejects reports of war involvement

The US government has dismissed reports of alleged American attacks against Iran as"false." US troops in the Middle East remain committed to defending themselves if necessary, Defense Department spokesman Sean Parnell stated on Platform X."We will protect American troops and our interests," he wrote. Shortly before, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that he had ordered an increase in the military presence in the region over the weekend to protect his own troops in the Middle East. He did not provide details.

According to consistent media reports, the US military is sending a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East. The US also reportedly deployed dozens of tanker aircraft to Europe over the weekend so they can be quickly deployed to the Middle East if necessary. Protecting its own troops in the Middle East region is a priority, it is said.

06:00 – Report on possible meeting between the US and Iran

According to a media report, the US is currently discussing the possibility of a meeting with Iran this week. The US news outlet Axios, citing four people familiar with the matter, reported that the meeting is scheduled to take place between US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Witkoff and Araghchi are expected to discuss a ceasefire between Iran and Israel and the nuclear agreement.

05:50 – G-7 statement: Support for Israel – Iran is a source of instability

The group of seven most powerful industrialized nations expressed its support for Israel in a published statement and described Iran as a source of instability in the Middle East.

05:28 – Unrest in the Middle East makes Asian stock markets nervous

US President Trump's call for the evacuation of Tehran also unsettled investors on Asian stock markets in early trading on Tuesday. Markets were nervous after Trump prematurely cut short his visit to Canada for the G-7 summit to attend to important matters in Washington, according to the White House.

The Japanese stock market trended stronger on Tuesday. In Tokyo, the 225-stock Nikkei index gained 0.5 percent to 38,501.08 points, and the broader Topix traded 0.2 percent higher at 2,781.50 points. The Shanghai Stock Exchange lost 0.2 percent to 3,381.24 points. The index of major companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen fell 0.2 percent to 3,864.24 points.

05:00 – Maritime security company reports incident near the Strait of Hormuz

British maritime security company Ambrey reported an incident early Tuesday morning 22 nautical miles east of Khor Fakkan in the United Arab Emirates, near the Strait of Hormuz. A Reuters inquiry to the Emirati Foreign Ministry and the Khor Fakkan container terminal did not immediately respond to a comment in the early hours of Tuesday. The strait lies between Oman and Iran, connecting the Gulf to the north with the Gulf of Oman to the south and the Arabian Sea beyond. About one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas traffic passes through the strait.

04:45 a.m. – Insider: Iran asked Arab countries for help – Trump should persuade Israel to agree to a ceasefire

According to several insiders, Iran has apparently asked Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia for their influence on US President Donald Trump to persuade Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to an immediate ceasefire. In return, Iran would show flexibility in the nuclear negotiations, according to two Iranian and three other insiders.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi demanded on X that Israel end its aggression."If President Trump is truly interested in diplomacy and ending this war, the next steps are crucial," Araqchi wrote.

04:07 – Grossi: Uranium enrichment plant in Natanz is heavily damaged

According to Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the uranium enrichment facility in Natanz, central Iran, has been severely damaged by Israeli shelling. Grossi told the BBC. He estimates that 15,000 centrifuges were probably destroyed. The Iranian facility in Fordow, however, remained largely undamaged.

04:04 – EU foreign ministers discuss escalation between Israel and Iran

EU foreign ministers will hold an emergency meeting on Tuesday to discuss the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. The meeting, convened at short notice by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, will take place via video conference. A press conference by the foreign policy chief is planned for around 12:15 p.m. CEST.

The aim of the virtual meeting is not only to exchange views but also to coordinate diplomatic initiatives and"the possible next steps," Kallas' office said.

3:44 a.m. – Hegseth and Trump meet in the White House Situation Room

Following Trump's early departure from the G7 summit in Canada, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth went to the Situation Room of the White House. He planned to meet with Trump and his security team there. Hegseth told Fox News that the current procedure was to"make sure our people are safe." He initially declined to provide further details about the meeting.

03:20 – Hegseth: Trump still seeks nuclear agreement

According to US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, US President Donald Trump is still pursuing a nuclear deal with Iran."Of course," Hegseth said on Fox News' "Jesse Watters Primetime" when asked about the issue."We are positioned defensively in the region to be strong and to pursue a peace agreement. And we certainly hope that happens," Hegseth said. A White House adviser stated in a separate message on X that the US does not intend to attack Iran but will continue to maintain a defensive posture.

02:54 – Israel’s army: Further rocket fire from Iran

According to the Israeli military, Iran continued its rocket attacks on Israel overnight. Air defenses were again deployed to intercept missiles, the Israeli military announced overnight. The population has been instructed to remain in shelters until further notice. Just a short time earlier, Iran had already fired rockets at Israel, although there were no reports of impacts in urban areas. A spokesman for the powerful Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps had previously announced, according to the Iranian state news agency IRNA, that the new wave of attacks on arch-enemy Israel would"continue uninterrupted" until morning.

00:55 – Iranian media report several explosions in Tehran

Iranian state media reported several explosions and the deployment of the air defense system in the capital, Tehran. Almost simultaneously, US President Trump, speaking from the G7 summit, called on all Tehran residents to leave the city and left the summit early."Iran cannot have nuclear weapons. I have said it time and time again. Everyone should leave Tehran immediately," he wrote in a post on his own social media platform, Truth Social. Trump also reiterated that Iran should have signed a nuclear agreement with the US.

01:05 – Trump calls on residents of the Iranian capital Tehran to flee

In light of the conflict between Israel and Iran, US President Donald Trump has called on residents of the Iranian capital Tehran to flee."Everyone should leave Tehran immediately," Trump declared on Monday on his online service Truth Social, without providing further details.

Monday, June 16

11:14 PM – Trump: Iran wants and should sign agreement

According to US President Donald Trump, Iran should sign an agreement on its nuclear program."Iran wants to sign," Trump said after a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The US president reiterated that Iran will not tolerate nuclear weapons. Iran had 60 days to negotiate."Look what happened on the 61st day," he said, referring to the Israeli attacks.

11:12 PM – Reports: Israel's largest refinery shut down after attack

Following an Iranian missile attack on a key refinery in Haifa, the operator has reportedly shut down all of its facilities. Israeli oil and petrochemical company Bazan reported extensive damage to the power plant, according to Israeli media. It was not immediately reported how long the country's largest refinery will remain out of operation. According to Israeli media, three employees were also killed in the attack on Sunday. The Bazan refinery produces a large portion of Israel's civilian and military oil products. It also produces kerosene for combat aircraft.

10:34 PM – Revolutionary Guards: Attacks on Israel continue until morning

According to a Revolutionary Guard spokesman, the new Iranian attacks on Israel are expected to continue until the morning. State television previously reported that drones and missiles were being used, targeting Tel Aviv and Haifa.

10:03 PM – Iran calls on two Israeli broadcasters to evacuate

Following the attack on an Iranian state broadcaster, Iran has issued an evacuation warning to two Israeli broadcasters. This applies to the pro-government channel Channel 14 and the popular Israeli channel Channel 12, reported the Tasnim news agency, which is considered the mouthpiece of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.

In the afternoon, Israel initially called for the evacuation of a Tehran district with approximately 300,000 residents. Shortly thereafter, the broadcaster's headquarters in the area was hit. According to the broadcaster, people were killed and injured. IRIB, the Iranian-controlled broadcaster, did not initially provide further details. The Israeli army stated that the airstrike targeted an"Iranian regime communications center."

9:58 PM – Iranian state broadcaster: New wave of attacks on Israel has begun

Iranian state television has announced the start of a new wave of rocket attacks against Israel. Iranian state media had previously reported that the military was preparing the"largest and most intense rocket attack" against Israel to date.

9:51 PM – Wadephul: Conflict between Iran and Israel is “deeply burdening the entire region”

Following his trip to the Middle East, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) highlighted the impact of Iran's and Israel's mutual attacks on the region."The message everywhere" was that the conflict between the two states was "already placing a profound strain on the entire region," Wadephul explained on X."Each new exchange of blows brings more human suffering, deepens the divide, and reduces the scope for a diplomatic solution," the minister continued.

Wadephul had visited Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman in recent days, where he discussed the situation in their region with his counterparts, he added."I spoke by phone with the foreign ministers of Iraq, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates," he added.

8:28 PM – Netanyahu: Attacks have set back Iran’s nuclear program

According to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli attacks on Iranian facilities have set the Islamic Republic's nuclear program back by a"very, very long time." Israel is not trying to overthrow the Iranian government, Netanyahu assured. However, if this were to happen as a result of the attacks, it would come as no surprise to his country."The regime is very weak," Netanyahu said. He is in daily contact with US President Donald Trump.

8:11 p.m. – Iran at the UN: Attacks on Israel are self-defense

Iran is presenting its attacks on Israel to the UN Security Council as self-defense. Iranian UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Irawani told the council that these were"proportionate defensive operations directed exclusively at military targets and associated infrastructure." In a letter, he warned that any cooperation by third countries with Israeli attacks makes these countries"complicit in the legal responsibility and consequences of this crisis." Article 51 of the UN Charter obligates states to immediately inform the Security Council of any measures taken in self-defense against an armed attack.

20:08 – Iranian agency: Air base near Haifa on target list

According to a media report, the list of targets for Iranian airstrikes against targets in Israel includes important Israeli military and intelligence centers. Among them is the Ramat David air base near Haifa, reports the semi-official Iranian Student News Agency (ISNA)."A devastating and appropriate response within the framework of legitimate defense will be launched in the coming hours," it added regarding the attacks. Iranian state media previously reported that the country was preparing the"largest and most intense rocket attack" against Israel to date.

8:02 PM – Iran’s army will “beat up” Israel until the end, announces Foreign Minister

According to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi, the Iranian army will continue to"beat" Israel until Israeli attacks on Iran cease."Our mighty armed forces are making it clear to the world that the war criminals hiding in their safe houses in Tel Aviv will not go unpunished," Aragchi said on Monday on the online service X."We will beat the cowards as long as necessary to ensure that they stop shooting at our people," the foreign minister added.

7:59 PM – Killing Ayatollah Khamenei would “end” conflict with Iran, says Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he believes the killing of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, would end the conflict between Israel and Iran."It won't escalate the conflict; it will end it," Netanyahu told US television network ABC News on Monday.

In the interview, Netanyahu was asked about media reports of an Israeli plan to kill Ayatollah Khamenei. However, according to government sources in Washington, US President Donald Trump is said to have objected to this plan."President Trump was against it and we told the Israelis not to do it," a US government official said on Sunday."Iran wants a perpetual war and they are bringing us to the brink of nuclear war," Netanyahu told ABC News. Israel's aim with its attacks on Iran is"to end this aggression." "And we can only achieve that by standing up to the forces of evil," Netanyahu said.

19:39 – European E3 foreign ministers plan to hold a telephone conversation with Iran today, according to insiders

According to European diplomatic sources, the foreign ministers of Germany, France, and Great Britain will speak by phone with their Iranian counterparts today. The three European states, known as the E3, are signatories to the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran, which was unilaterally terminated by US President Donald Trump during his first term in office. Last week, they pushed through a resolution in the Board of Governors of the United Nations Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stating that Iran has violated its nuclear non-proliferation commitments.

19:35 – Iranian state broadcaster reports dead and injured after attack

According to the broadcaster, people were killed and injured in an attack on Iranian state broadcaster Tehran. IRIB, the Iranian government-controlled broadcaster, did not provide further details.

Rauchschwaden nach der Explosion im Gebäude des staatlichen Fernseh- und Radiosender IRIB in Teheran
Smoke after the explosion in the building of the state television and radio station IRIB in Tehran. Source: AFP/-

7:24 PM – New missile attack from Iran

According to the army, Iran has once again attacked Israel with rockets."Defense systems are deployed to intercept the threat," the Israeli military said in a statement. Sirens sounded in large parts of northern Israel, including the coastal city of Haifa.

People in the affected areas were allowed to leave the shelters shortly afterwards. There were initially no reports of casualties. According to unconfirmed reports, a rocket hit occurred.

6:58 PM – Israel confirms attack on state broadcaster in Tehran

Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz has confirmed an attack on the Iranian state broadcaster IRIB. The Israeli army attacked"the Iranian regime's propaganda and incitement broadcasting company" following a large-scale evacuation, Katz announced on Platform X. The Israeli army said the airstrike targeted an"Iranian regime communications center." "The building was being used by the Iranian armed forces under the guise of civilian activities," the military statement added.

The station itself and other state media outlets had previously reported on the attack during a live broadcast. A video clip from the station showed how loud explosions suddenly interrupted a live broadcast. The station resumed broadcasting after a brief interruption. There were initially no official reports of casualties or damage. According to informed sources, dozens of technicians were killed in the attack. These reports could not be independently verified.

6:23 PM – Insider: USA to relocate tanker aircraft to Europe

According to insiders, the US has deployed a large number of its Air Force tanker aircraft to Europe. This was intended to give President Donald Trump options, two US officials told the Reuters news agency. The insiders declined to specify the number of tanker aircraft. According to the flight tracking website AirNav Systems, more than 31 such aircraft left the US for the east on Sunday evening alone. These were primarily KC-135 and KC-45 jets.

dpa/AFP/AP/Reuters/ll/jml/lay

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