Friday, June 20 news on the conflict between Israel and Iran, live. Idf: We are hitting military infrastructure in Iran

• On the night of Thursday, June 13, Israel launched a powerful attack on Iran, after the two countries had been engaged in a low-intensity conflict for some time. Tel Aviv attacked Iranian nuclear facilities, beheaded its military leaders, killed top scientists, and destroyed radar and missile sites, using warplanes and drones smuggled into the country earlier. Iran responded with several missile attacks on Israel. The bombing between the two sides is ongoing. 

20:18 | June 20

US orders release of pro-Gaza student

He is the only pro-pal protester still in prison in the US three months after the university protests: now a federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to release Mahmoud Khalil, an activist and student at Columbia University. Khalil is married to a US citizen and has never been charged with any crime

8:15 PM|June 20

UNICEF Report: Gaza in Severe Drought Caused by War

Water system collapses and war damage hits water supplies: UNICEF denounces the grave situation in Gaza. Children will start dying of thirst. Only 40% of

drinking water facilities remain in

function, UNICEF spokesman James Elder said in Geneva. UNICEF reported yesterday that more than 5,000 children

in the Strip suffered severe malnutrition in May. This is a 50% increase from April and a 150% increase from

February, when a ceasefire was in place and aid was entering Gaza.

19:49|June 20

Berlin: Protecting Israel's Security is a Priority

We view the Iranian nuclear program with great concern. For Germany, it is of fundamental importance that Israel's security interests are protected. We will give this priority in all future discussions, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said at the end of the Geneva summit. The entire region is in an extremely critical situation and our common goal is to avoid further escalation and to make progress in the negotiations, he stressed, indicating that US involvement in the negotiations is of fundamental importance.

19:48|June 20

Lammy: Iran cannot have nuclear weapons, talks with US

We have been clear: Iran cannot have nuclear weapons. This was reiterated by British Foreign Secretary David Lammy at the end of today's meeting in Geneva with his colleagues from Germany and France (the so-called E3 group) with the head of Iranian diplomacy against the backdrop of the war with Israel. Lammy spoke of ongoing discussions, destined to continue, saying that it is enormously important to avoid further escalation between Israel and Iran; but he also urged Tehran to continue talks with the US on the nuclear dossier.

19:45|June 20

Paris: Iran willing to continue nuclear talks

The Iranian Foreign Minister has expressed his willingness to continue negotiations on the nuclear program and the subjects that we have put on the table, including support for terrorist groups in the Middle East and Russia. This was stated by Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot at the end of the talks of France, Germany, Great Britain, with the EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, with Abbas Araghchi. We expect Iran to be open to this discussion also with the US, he added.

19:41|June 20

Iran, London after Geneva meeting: Dangerous moment

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy warned after Europeans met with Iran's foreign minister in Tehran that this was a dangerous moment and it was extremely important that there was no regional escalation of this conflict. Speaking alongside his counterparts from France, Germany and the EU's foreign minister, Lammy said that we had been clear in the talks that Iran could not possess a nuclear weapon, and the E3 and Europe have been for many years. We are keen to continue the ongoing discussions and negotiations with Iran and we urge Tehran to continue the talks with the United States, Lammy said. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot concluded the briefing by insisting that the diplomatic initiative should pave the way for negotiations. He added that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had said he was ready to continue the talks. The discussions we have had with Iran show that regional escalation benefits no one, the EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said. That is why we must keep discussions open with the United Nations, she added, as reported by Sky News.

19:38 | June 20

Iran: New Series of Explosions Heard in Tehran

Several explosions of unknown origin were heard in Tehran by an AFP journalist in the evening, on the eighth day of the war between Iran and Israel. The Fars news agency reported a few minutes before the activation of air defense systems in the center of the Iranian capital.

19:25|June 20

Iraq, 50 Israeli jets violated our airspace

Iraq's UN representative has denounced that 50 Israeli warplanes violated Iraqi airspace shortly before a Security Council meeting on the Israel-Iran conflict. Abbas Kadhom Obaid Al-Fatlawi, charge d'affaires of the Iraqi mission to the UN, told the Security Council that the planes came from the border areas of Syria and Jordan. Twenty planes took off, followed by 30 planes headed toward southern Iraq, flying over the cities of Basra, Najaf and Karbala, the diplomat said, as reported by the Times of Israel. These are violations of international law and the UN Charter, the Iraqi representative said, adding: They also constitute a threat to the holy sites and regions, which could cause strong popular reactions, given the importance of these holy sites for our peoples.

19:24|June 20

Sources: EU says Israel violates human rights agreements

There are indications that Israel is in breach of its human rights obligations under Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. This is according to a report requested from the External Action Service as part of the review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, according to several European sources. The report was presented to the Permanent Representatives of the 27 this afternoon. The report refers to the war in Gaza.

19:11|June 20

Putin Denies Seeking Mediator Role

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday he was not trying to mediate between Iran and Israel, but was only suggesting ideas for how the two countries could resolve the ongoing conflict. The Kremlin spent much of the week touting Moscow as a potential peace broker after Israel launched strikes against Iran, which responded with missiles and drones. But Western leaders have rejected the idea of a role for Putin, and earlier this week Moscow said Israel had shown little interest in its overtures. “We are not trying to mediate at all, we are simply suggesting ideas,” Putin told the St. Petersburg Economic Forum. “If they turn out to be interesting for both sides, we can only be happy,” he said. While Moscow has condemned Israel’s strikes, Russia has not offered military support to its ally Iran and has downplayed its obligations under a broad strategic partnership agreement signed a few months ago. The Foreign Ministry warned the United States yesterday against military intervention in the conflict, as Donald Trump considers joining Israel’s strikes on Tehran. Asked several times to comment on Israel’s apparent threats to kill Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Putin has urged that such comments remain rhetorical. Putin spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian after Israel’s strikes on Friday, but the Kremlin said earlier this week that it had seen a reluctance, at least on Israel’s part, to use any mediation services or take a peaceful path to a solution. Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron have publicly rejected the idea of a mediating role for Putin.

19:11|June 20

About 70 German Citizens Removed from Israel on Luftwaffe Flights

After intensive negotiations with Israel, the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) has picked up around 60 to 70 German citizens from Israel. Two A400Ms took off from Wunstorf near Hanover in the morning and were allowed to land in Tel Aviv in the late afternoon with special permission, despite the airspace being closed. Shortly thereafter, the two military aircraft took off again and are now on their way back to Germany. The recovery operation was kept secret due to the tense security situation. According to information obtained by Der Spiegel from Israel, the passengers were taken to a shelter shortly before departure due to Iranian air strikes. The German Foreign Office has called on all Germans to register online on an emergency list. Currently, around 4,000 people are registered. In Iran, the number is around 1,000. However, leaving the country via neighboring countries is very difficult. The A400Ms are ideally equipped for evacuation missions, as they have their own missile defense system. They can normally carry up to 120 people in the cargo hold. mlc 201802 Jun 2025 Frankfurt (Germany), 20 June (LaPresse) - The German government has confirmed that 64 German citizens have been evacuated from Israel. The Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that the German citizens were transported aboard two Airbus A400Ms of the German Air Force as part of a diplomatic retreat. The passengers on board were mainly families with children and other vulnerable people.

18:53|June 20

Putin worried about World War III: Peaceful solutions needed

It is disturbing. I say this without irony, without joking. With these words, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his concern about the escalation of international conflicts, warning of the risk of a new world war. Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin cited in particular the war in Ukraine and the growing tensions between Israel and Iran, which also involve nuclear facilities built with Russia's participation. The potential for conflict is growing, it is right before our eyes and concerns us directly, the Kremlin leader warned, stressing the urgency of paying close attention to the ongoing events and finding solutions, preferably peaceful, in all directions.

18:52 | June 20

IDF: Hezbollah military sites hit in southern Lebanon

The Israeli military reported hitting Hezbollah military sites containing rocket launchers and missiles, as well as weapons depots in southern Lebanon. In a statement, the IDF accused the pro-Iranian Shiite movement of attempting to re-establish its activities at these sites, stressing that this constitutes a clear violation of agreements between Israel and Lebanon. Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Mayadeen broadcaster reported a series of attacks in southern Lebanon, in the area of al-Rihan, Tumat Niha and Wadi Bargaz.

18:35|June 20

Tehran: Trump can end the war with a phone call

President Trump can easily stop the war with a single phone call to the Israelis. Iranian presidential spokesman Majid Farahani said this, reiterating Tehran's position to CNN that negotiating is impossible while Israel continues to bomb. Iran believes in civil dialogue. Directly or indirectly, it doesn't matter, the spokesman added.

18:34 | June 20

Israel to UN: Our Attacks Will Not Stop

Israel's UN ambassador, Danny Danon, said Israel will not stop attacking Iran until Iran's nuclear threat is dismantled, until its war machine is disarmed. This, he added, is not just Israel's battle, it is the world's battle, and if no one will fight it, we will.

18:33|June 20

Israel to Tehran's UN Ambassador: Enough with the charade

The Israeli ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, brutally attacked his Iranian colleague during the Security Council meeting. You have no shame, you, your supreme leader, for having publicly and repeatedly called for the destruction of Israel and the United States for years. Ask this Council for protection while you try to exterminate our people. Enough with the plays and the theater, he said: You are not a victim, you are not even a diplomat. You are a wolf, pretending to be something else.

18:18 | June 20

IAEA: We can ensure Iran is nuke-free with rigorous inspections. All that is needed is diplomatic and political will

A diplomatic solution is within reach if there is the necessary political will. The elements for an agreement have been discussed. The IAEA can ensure, through an impeccable inspection system, that nuclear weapons will not be developed in Iran. This was stated by the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council. These elements can form the basis of a lasting agreement that brings peace and avoids a nuclear crisis in the Middle East. This opportunity must not be missed, Grossi added, the alternative would be a prolonged conflict and a looming threat of nuclear proliferation that, although emanating from the Middle East, would effectively erode the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the non-proliferation regime as a whole.

18:16|June 20

Iran at the UN: Israel is the only country with undeclared nuclear weapons. And shows photos of children killed in bombings

The Iranian ambassador to the UN, in his speech to the Security Council, accused Israel of being the only possessor of undeclared nuclear weapons in the region and of having refused to adhere to the non-proliferation plan and to block disarmament. The representative of Tehran accused Israel of war crimes, crimes against humanity and state terrorism. During his speech he then showed photos of Iranian children killed by Israeli attacks and accused the Israelis of having targeted soldiers, officials, scientists, professors, students, doctors, artists, athletes and ordinary civilians, including women, children and newborns. Many - he added - died in their sleep.

17:56|June 20

Netanyahu: Our goal is to destroy Tehran's nuclear program. And we can do it

Our goal is to destroy Iran's nuclear program and we have the capacity to do so. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this during a visit to the Weizmann Institute, which was hit in recent days in a raid by Tehran forces. We will not allow the Iranian regime to acquire a nuclear weapon, Netanyahu continued, accusing Iran of targeting civilians, while we avoid it. The prime minister finally thanked American President Donald Trump for his support in defending Israel.

17:47|June 20

IDF Chief: Iran Prepares for Protracted Campaign

Israel’s Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir warned his countrymen to prepare for a prolonged campaign against Iran in order to eliminate a threat of this magnitude. The Islamic Republic has been building a clear plan to destroy the State of Israel for years, and in recent months the plan has reached the point of no return, where capabilities have reached operational capacity, Zamir explained in a video message. Tehran’s efforts in the field of ballistic missiles, its allies in the Middle East and nuclear advances have forced us to strike and deliver a preemptive strike, the IDF chief added, calling for a proactive and proactive approach to prevent an existential threat and address any challenge.

17:28|June 20

Trump Reposts Fox News Anchor, Fordow to Disappear

Using his Truth platform, Donald Trump continues to send messages about Iran. In his latest message, he posted a link to a speech last night by Fox News anchor Sean Hannity, who said Iran cannot be trusted: The Fordow nuclear facility will disappear one way or another. One thing seems fairly certain tonight: The `Republic´ of Iran will not have a nuclear program by the end of this conflict, Hannity said. The host said the best way to destroy the remaining nuclear facility is with bunker busters. It would be by far the most efficient way to use bunker busters

to destroy this remaining nuclear site at Fordow. But, ultimately, I suspect it will disappear one way or another. And tonight, President Trump is working on a more peaceful solution, Hannity said, adding that Iran has lost control of the conflict.

17:08|June 20

Iran, European citizen arrested for espionage

The Revolutionary Guards' intelligence forces have arrested a European citizen in northwest Iran on espionage charges, Tasnim news agency reported, saying the detainee had taken photos of sensitive locations.

16:44|June 20

IAEA: There is no evidence that Iran is working on a nuclear weapon. We can guarantee irrefutable inspections and verifications

The director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, reiterated that there is no evidence that Iran is seeking to acquire nuclear warheads. We have confirmed that Iran has, even now, enough material for several nuclear warheads. But this cannot be equated with a nuclear weapon, Grossi explained in an interview with Fox News. Grossi then added that the UN nuclear agency can guarantee, through a system of irrefutable inspections, that Iran will not develop nuclear weapons. In my opinion, at this time we do not have any tangible evidence of the existence of a program or a plan to manufacture or produce a nuclear weapon, he clarified.

4:30 PM|June 20

IAEA: Attack on Bushehr facilities would have very serious consequences, could cause nuclear catastrophe

The consequences of an attack on Bushehr, Iran, would be very serious, a direct attack on the plant would cause a high release of reactivity in the environment. This was stated by the head of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, speaking at the UN: It could cause a nuclear catastrophe. Attacks on nuclear plants should never happen, Grossi added, urging maximum restraint. Grossi then reported that in Iran no radiation leak has been detected so far, after the Israeli raids, but that the danger exists.

16:28|June 20

Unicef: Gaza lacks drinking water, children will start dying of thirst. Over half already hospitalized for malnutrition

Children will start dying of thirst. Only 40 percent of drinking water production facilities are still functioning, said UNICEF spokesman James Elder. We are well below emergency standards in terms of drinking water, he said in Geneva, regarding the drought conditions developing in Gaza. The UN children's agency also reported a 50 percent increase in children between the ages of six months and five years hospitalized for malnutrition from April to May in Gaza and half a million people suffering from hunger.

16:12|June 20

Tehran, Israel hits ambulance, kills 3 civilians

Israel attacked an ambulance in Tehran, killing three rescue workers. This was reported by Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei on X, condemning this manslaughter. According to the Geneva Conventions, targeting medical personnel and humanitarian vehicles during rescue operations is strictly prohibited and considered a war crime, he added, denouncing the impunity granted to Israel through the indifference and inaction of those legally mandated and morally obliged to speak and act.

16:09|June 20

Iran and European representatives meet in Geneva

Talks on Iran's nuclear program have begun in Geneva between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his counterparts from France, Britain and Germany, and the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Kaja Kallas. The Europeans want to use the opportunity to restart discussions on Iran's nuclear program and give diplomacy a chance on the eighth day of the war between Israel and Iran. We have been attacked in the middle of a diplomatic process. We were supposed to meet the Americans on June 15 to work out a very

promising agreement, Araghchi said, calling it a betrayal of the diplomatic process with the United States.

15:31|June 20

Gaza: At least 60 dead in Israeli raids, 26 in aid centers

The number of Palestinian deaths in the Gaza Strip in the past 24 hours has risen to at least 60, the coastal territory's Health Ministry said, adding that 26 people were killed by Israeli fire near a food aid distribution center.

2.57pm|June 20

Media, Explosions in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Beersheba

Loud explosions were heard in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Beersheba after the start of Iran's new attack on Israel, Israeli media reported. According to some sources, at least 25 missiles were launched by Iran. Medical workers are responding to reports of ballistic missile impacts across the country following Iran's latest attack on Israel.

In a rare incident, the Home Front Command has issued a national alert. Three people were seriously injured in Haifa, including a 16-year-old and a 54-year-old man, and at least 17 others were injured but in less critical condition.

2.48pm|June 20

IDF: Ballistic missile launch detected

The Israeli military says it has detected ballistic missile launches from Iran, The Times of Israel reports. Sirens are expected to sound in Israel in the next few minutes as air defenses work to neutralize the threats. Civilians in areas where sirens are sounding are being ordered to enter bomb shelters and remain there until further notice.

2.46pm|June 20

IDF: Hezbollah Commander Killed in Lebanon Attack

A Hezbollah commander, Mohammed Khader al Husseini, whom the IDF believes is responsible for several rocket attacks in northern Israel, was killed in a drone strike in Lebanon today, the IDF said, adding that the strike occurred in Shabriha, near Tyre. The army said that during the war, Mohammed Khader al Husseini, commander of Hezbollah’s fire unit in the Litani River area, conducted several rocket attacks on Nahariya, Haifa and other cities in northern Israel. He had recently been involved in attempts to restore Hezbollah’s rocket artillery capability, which the IDF called a “blatant violation” of Lebanon’s ceasefire.

2.23pm|June 20

Madrid, evacuation of 200 Spaniards from Israel underway

The evacuation of around 200 Spanish citizens from Israel, via Jordan, is currently underway, according to a statement to the media by Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares. These are people who have voluntarily accepted the offer to be repatriated, he added. We are expecting them to be able to board a flight back to Spain in the next few hours, Albares also said. A similar operation has also been prepared for around 40 Spaniards and some citizens of other nationalities who were in Iran.

2.19pm|June 20

Iran: Source, Tehran Open to Limits But Not Zero Enrichment

Tehran is ready to discuss limitations on its uranium enrichment program, but rules out the possibility of accepting zero enrichment, a senior official of the Islamic Republic told Reuters, stressing that the"zero" option would undoubtedly be rejected, especially now, under attack from Israel. In the current regional climate, Iran is not willing to interact with the United States and sees the role of European powers, especially the E3 countries (Britain, France and Germany), as increasingly important. We must listen to their initiative on the nuclear issue, he argued.

2.14pm|June 20

Iran, 11 Pasdaran killed in Israeli raid in northwest

Some 11 members of the Revolutionary Guards were killed this morning in Israeli attacks on a military base in Bostanabad, in the northwestern province of East Azerbaijan. Local media reported that a funeral ceremony was held in their honor.

2.13pm|June 20

Nobel Prize Exile Ebadi Accuses: Iran Has Not Enough Shelters

Iranian opposition figure Shirin Ebadi, a former human rights lawyer and Nobel Peace Prize winner in exile in London, has accused the Tehran government in recent hours of failing to provide enough shelter for the civilian population in Iran - against the backdrop of the conflict with Israel - despite the war rhetoric and militarization fueled for 43 years after the Islamic Revolution. This was reported by Iran International, a news channel linked to dissent abroad based in the British capital. How is it possible that after decades of beating the drums of war, the government has not built a single effective shelter or warning system for ordinary people?, Ebadi polemically asked, accusing the top brass of prioritizing the protection of the leadership and forcing many Iranians to seek shelter in mosques or subway stations. This government feeds on the blood of the people and uses their suffering as a propaganda weapon, it must be overthrown, insisted the opponent, also targeting the precautionary restrictions imposed on the internet and online information. Restrictions instead claimed today by a spokeswoman for the executive, who from Tehran returned to define them as necessary to counter the infiltration attempts attributed to Israel as forms of cyber threat and psychological warfare.

14:11|June 20

Pro-Pal activists storm UK base, planes vandalized

Pro-Palestinian activists have stormed Britain's largest air base in south-east England and vandalised two planes, prompting condemnation from Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The vandalism at RAF Brize Norton is outrageous, the Downing Street chief said on X after the group Palestine Action posted a video claiming they had stormed the Royal Air Force base in Oxfordshire. In the video posted on X, activists appear to spray red paint on a plane as they ride around the base on scooters. Palestine Action storms RAF Brize Norton and damages two military aircraft, the group, which has been behind several protests against the UK's role in Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza, said. The government said it was carrying out a full review of security at the air base. One of the vandalised planes was an Airbus Voyager, an air-to-air refuelling tanker, according to British media. Despite public condemnation from the Israeli government, Britain continues to send military cargo, fly spy planes over Gaza and refuel US and Israeli fighter jets, Palestine Action said in a statement. Britain is not just complicit, but actively participating in the genocide in Gaza and war crimes across the Middle East.

14:04|June 20

Media, IDF drone strike against nuclear scientist in Tehran

An Israeli drone strike has targeted an Iranian nuclear scientist in Tehran, the Times of Israel reported, citing unconfirmed sources in the Islamic Republic, about a raid on an apartment in the Iranian capital. The strike was successful, according to Israeli media. The Iranian scientist targeted by Israel is at least the tenth expert linked to the nuclear program eliminated since the outbreak of the war. According to an Israeli source, cited by the Wall Street Journal, he is a weapons expert who had been moved to a hideout far from home.

13:52|June 20

Gaza, at least 43 Palestinians killed in IDF raids in the last hours

At least 43 Palestinians have been killed in recent hours in the Gaza Strip following Israeli bombardment, local authorities said. Among the victims were 26 people who were near a humanitarian aid distribution center. The toll was given by Mohammad al-Mughayyir, director of the medical supplies sector of the Hamas-run civil defense, who spoke to AFP: 43 martyrs have fallen due to the Israeli bombardment underway on the Gaza Strip since dawn today, 26 of whom were waiting for humanitarian aid.

13:50|June 20

Iran accuses: Three hospitals hit by Israel so far

An Israeli rocket damaged a hospital in Tehran this morning, according to a spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Health quoted by official media and reported by Iran International, a portal for opposition circles abroad published in London. The spokesman did not provide further details, while accusing Israel of having hit a total of three hospitals, six ambulances and a clinic in Iran in a week of attacks. Yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the damage to the Soroka hospital by an Iranian missile as a war crime.

13:43|June 20

Why Trump is no longer the leader to study to understand what will happen in the war between Israel and Iran

(Giuseppe Sarcina) How much are two weeks worth to Donald Trump? In reality, the key question is: how far will Benjamin Netanyahu go in the next 15 days?

The American president has taken his time, after numerous oscillations that, once again, have sent the international community into a tailspin. In European diplomatic circles, interpretations of his words and predictions about his next moves are multiplying. The starting point is the sentence: I could bomb Iran and I might not do it . Trump adds that there is still the possibility of a nuclear negotiation with Tehran. 

​

​But, at this point - this is the widely shared opinion among allied governments - it is no longer sufficient to study the internal balances of power within the Washington Administration. Actually, probably, is of little use. 

​

​We know that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has always been a supporter of a hard line against the ayatollahs. The Maga movement, on the other hand, is pushing to avoid any armed intervention by the US in the Middle East, as elsewhere. How much will these dynamics weigh? Rubio has always adapted to Trump's moods, even if they blatantly contradicted his personal beliefs. The most blatant case: the overtures to Vladimir Putin, whom Rubio, when he was still a Senator, considered a gangster, a scoundrel, a war criminal. As for the leaders of the Maga movement, none of them, starting with Steve Bannon, are part of the Administration. They are people in constant search of visibility, but whose influence on the Oval Office is practically zero. Trump is not a president running for re-election and, in any case, he has shown that he can drag even the hard core of his base wherever he wants.

​

​Continue reading the article here.

13:28|June 20

Iran: Friday Prayer Lead in Ahvaz in Military Uniform and with Machine Gun

The imam who led Friday prayers in Ahvaz, a city in western Iran, was wearing a military uniform and had a machine gun slung over his shoulder. Local media reported, highlighting how the gesture of the cleric - not new on the part of the authorities of the Islamic Republic - is a sign of defiance towards Israel. In the same mosque in Ahvaz, many of the faithful wore funeral shrouds to indicate their willingness to make the greatest sacrifice. Last October 4, a week after the killing of Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah in Beirut, the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, also led prayers in Tehran with a rifle at his side.

13:13|June 20

Hamas, Israeli attacks in Gaza, 43 dead

The Hamas-run Gaza Civil Defense said 43 people were killed in Israeli army (IDF) attacks in the Strip.

13:08|June 20

Iran, thousands of people demonstrate against Israel

Iranian state TV reported that thousands of citizens today took part in state-organized anti-Israel demonstrations in several cities across the country after Friday prayers.

12:50 PM|June 20

US Intelligence Insists: Tehran Has Not Yet Decided Whether to Build a Nuclear Weapon

US intelligence insists: Iran has not yet decided whether or not to build a nuclear weapon, even though it has developed a large quantity of enriched uranium necessary to do so. This is what the New York Times writes, citing sources in the American services, whose assessment therefore does not seem to have substantially changed - after Israel launched the attack against Iran justifying it with the need to defend itself from a concrete Iranian nuclear threat - from the one presented in March. Now, however, the heads of US intelligence, in particular the head of the CIA, John Ratcliffe, who yesterday held a briefing at the White House, emphasize the fact that Iran is really close to building the bomb, a couple of weeks, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt then told reporters, after reading the statement in which Trump announced that he would wait two weeks to decide whether or not to attack Iran, referring to the possibility that there could be negotiations. Let's be clear, Iran has everything it needs to build an atomic bomb, the spokeswoman said. The assessment mirrors that provided to American spies by their colleagues in the Mossad, an estimate considered credible by some, while others instead believe Iran is months, perhaps a whole year, away from the ability to build a bomb. And within the intelligence community there are those who believe an American attack on the underground uranium enrichment facilities at Fordow or the targeted assassination by Israel of the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, could push Tehran to decide to build the nuclear device.

12:15 PM|June 20

Netanyahu: We'll Stop Iran's Nuclear With or Without Trump

We will stop Iran's nuclear program with or without Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview with the Israeli broadcaster Kan. Our main goal is to stop the nuclear program, eliminate the threat, while the second goal is to stop Iran's ballistic capabilities. Whether Trump wants to participate or not, Netanyahu said, is his decision, he will do what is best for the United States. I will do what is best for Israel.

12:14 PM|June 20

Macron to Israel: Stop Raids on Iranian Civilian Infrastructure

French President Emmanuel Macron urged Israel to end its airstrikes on Iranian civilian infrastructure. Nothing justifies bombings

on energy and civilian infrastructure, he said at the Le Bourget Air Show. I think we need to be able to resume political and diplomatic work - he continued - we absolutely need to give priority to returning to negotiations.

12:10|June 20

Macron, in Geneva a complete negotiation offer to Iran

Paris, Berlin and London will present Iran today in Geneva with a comprehensive diplomatic and technical negotiating offer, including nuclear activities, ballistic missiles and the financing of terrorist groups in the region, French President Emmanuel Macron announced from Le Bourget.

12:09|June 20

Shipping giant Maersk suspends calls in Haifa

Danish shipping giant Maersk has announced the temporary suspension of vessel calls at the Israeli port of Haifa due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. Maersk said in a statement that it made the decision after carefully reviewing threat risk reports related to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, particularly the potential risks of calls at Israeli ports and the implications for the safety of our crews.

11:55 AM|June 20

Katz: Order given to intensify raids to weaken regime

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has ordered the IDF to step up attacks on regime targets in Iran in order to weaken the regime and increase deterrence against missile fire on the Israeli home front, while continuing to target facilities and scientists to counter Iran's nuclear program, Ynet reports. After assessing the situation with security officials, Katz said that we must target all symbols of the regime and the power base such as the Revolutionary Guards

11:50 AM|June 20

Tajani meeting with Italian ambassadors in the conflict area

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani held a meeting this morning with the ambassadors of the area to verify the situation of the Italians and the staff of the embassies present in the region of the Israel-Iran conflict. This was announced by the Farnesina. Convoys by land will be facilitated in Tehran to countries bordering Iran. For compatriots in Iran, the suggestion is to send messages to the e-mail address assistenza.iran@esteri.it. On Sunday, a charter flight requested by citizens present in Israel will depart from Sharm el Sheikh, in Egypt. Compatriots in Israel can refer to the website www.viaggiaresicuri.it

11:28 AM|June 20

Lammy: Two-week window for diplomatic solution

President Donald Trump's statements yesterday leave a two-week window open to obtain a diplomatic solution to the conflict between Israel and Iran. This was said by British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who arrived in Geneva for a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi alongside the heads of diplomacy of Germany, France and the EU, after consulting yesterday in the US with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Washington's negotiator, Steve Witkoff. Lammy reiterated, however, that we are determined to ensure that Iran never has a nuclear weapon.

10:56 AM|June 20

Unicef: Over 16,000 malnourished children in Gaza

The number of malnourished children in the Gaza Strip is increasing at an alarming rate, with 5,119 children aged between 6 months and 5 years accessing treatment for acute malnutrition in May alone. According to data received from UNICEF-supported feeding centres across the Gaza Strip, this represents an increase of almost 50 per cent compared to the 3,444 children who accessed treatment in April 2025, and a 150 per cent increase compared to February, when a ceasefire was in place and aid was entering the Gaza Strip in significant quantities. Of the 5,119 children who accessed treatment in May, 636 were suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM), the deadliest form of malnutrition. 

The number of children affected by SAM has increased by 146 per cent since February. In just 150 days, from the start of the year to the end of May, 16,736 children – an average of 112 per day – have accessed malnutrition treatment in the Gaza Strip, said Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa. The food, water and nutritional treatment they desperately need is being blocked. Human decisions are costing lives. Israel must urgently allow the large-scale delivery of life-saving aid through all border crossings.

10:41 AM|June 20

IDF, 60 fighters in action. Military research headquarters hit

Over 60 Israeli fighter jets took to the skies overnight to bomb military targets in Iran with over 120 bombs, the IDF reported on Telegram. Overnight, several industrial sites used for the production of missiles were hit in the Tehran area. These sites were developed over many years and served as a key industrial hub for the Iranian Defense Ministry, the IDF reported. Sites for the production of raw materials and components for missiles were also targeted. The IDF also struck the headquarters of the SPND (Iranian Defense Research and Innovation Organization), which is used for research and development of advanced technologies and weapons to support the Iranian regime's military capabilities. It was created in 2011 by Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, the founder of the Iranian nuclear program. In addition, a site that produces a key component of the Iranian regime's nuclear program was targeted.

10:40 AM|June 20

Israel: Iran is deceiving the world, it will not give up nuclear power

Nothing has changed. Iran is deceiving the world and is simply playing for time. It has no intention of giving up its nuclear program, which poses an existential threat to Israel and endangers the entire world. This was written on X by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, posting the statement of his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi according to which Tehran will not negotiate with the United States as long as Israel continues its attacks on Iran.

10:12 AM|June 20

New death toll from Israeli raid in Iran: at least 657 dead

The estimated death toll from Israeli airstrikes against Iran has risen to at least 657 and more than 2,000 wounded, according to Human Rights Activists News Agency (Hrana), an independent Iranian human rights organization, exactly one week after the attack began. The NGO - cited by Iran International, a London-based portal linked to the opposition abroad - indicates no more than 164 of those killed as military or security personnel, with 263 confirmed civilian deaths and another 230 to be identified.

10:10 AM|June 20

Iran: Media, Israel could attack Fordow in 72 hours

Israel could attack the Fordow nuclear facility within the next 72 hours, two Israeli security sources told the news website Iran International, stressing that the attack could come regardless of US support.

10:08 AM|June 20

Iran: Iraq calls for urgent meeting of Arab foreign ministers

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein has called for an urgent meeting of Arab foreign ministers to be held in conjunction with the upcoming summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul. The proposed meeting, the website Iraqi News explains, aims to address escalating conflicts in the Middle East, particularly the ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran. The 51st session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday in Istanbul, Turkey. According to an Iraqi Foreign Ministry statement, Hussein discussed the proposal during a phone call with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty. The two ministers exchanged views on recent developments and stressed the urgent need for regional coordination to safeguard security and stability in light of the growing crisis.

10:07 AM|June 20

Iran: No Negotiations with the US as Long as Israel Attacks Us

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said there will be no negotiations with the United States as long as Israeli attacks continue. As long as Israeli aggression continues, there will be no room for dialogue, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said. We will not have talks with the United States, as it is an accomplice to Israeli crime, Araghchi added, who was in Geneva for talks with his European counterparts.

10:04 AM|June 20

Khamenei, we are punishing the Zionist enemy

The Zionist enemy is being punished. He is being punished right now. This is what we read in a message released early today on the X profile of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, at the beginning of the day marked by the traditional Islamic Friday prayer. The message was also relaunched by sources in the Iranian opposition.

10:03 AM|June 20

Iran: Araghchi, UN must react to use of force against nuclear sites, NPT at risk

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has called on the UN Security Council to act to implement its resolution 487, adopted unanimously in response to the Israeli regime's attack on Iraq's nuclear facility in 1981. The language used in the resolution is unequivocal, he added, that any military attack against nuclear facilities constitutes an aggression against the entire IAEA safeguards regime and ultimately the NPT. It applies not only to past actions but also to future conduct, he said, establishing a clear legal standard against the use or threat of force against safeguarded nuclear facilities. If the Council does not act now, it will have to explain to the international community why its legal principles apply only selectively on such a crucial issue. It will also bear the ultimate responsibility, together with the Israeli regime, if one day the global non-proliferation regime were to collapse, the Iranian diplomat concluded.

9:26 AM|June 20

Ali Shamkhani is in stable condition

Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Khamenei, is now in stable condition after being seriously injured in an Israeli attack a week ago, Haaretz reported, citing Iranian media. I am alive and ready to sacrifice myself, he is said to have said in a message to the supreme leader and the nation.

9:21 AM|June 20

Barrot Hears Rubio: US Ready to Talk to Iranians

According to the Guardian, French Foreign Minister Barrot spoke to his American counterpart Rubio ahead of a meeting in Geneva with Iranian, British and German ministers. Rubio reiterated the US's willingness to contact the Iranians at any time. 

8:54 AM|June 20

Katz: Hebollah Be Careful, Israel Has Lost Patience

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem to tread carefully, after he said on Tuesday that the Lebanese group would act as it sees fit in the war between Israel and Iran. The Hezbollah leader has not learned from his predecessors and is threatening to act against Israel, Katz said, referring to former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed by Israel in September. They advise the Lebanese to be careful and understand that Israel has lost patience with terrorists who threaten it, Katz added, stressing that if there is terrorism, there will be no Hezbollah.

60% Enriched Uranium and the Mystery of the IAEA Alarm: How Close Is Iran to Building the Atomic Bomb?

(Andrea Nicastro, correspondent in Beirut) We should be vaccinated against war propaganda by now. The case of the weapons of mass destruction that Iraqi Saddam Hussein supposedly had ready to destroy the rest of the world (from Israel to London) is in the mass media books. They justified the invasion of Baghdad in 2003, but they never existed and, what is worse for democracy, those who spoke to us about them knew they were lying (Chilcot Report, 6 July 2016). Now who knows, the Ayatollahs' Bomb could become another textbook case.

​

​It is well known that Iranian nuclear power is a nightmare for Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu. They could get to the Atom in a year or a few months, he said to justify the open war against the Islamic Republic. Ten years ago, however, he had said: Iran is a few weeks away from an entire arsenal of Atomic Bombs. Thirteen years ago: It is 6 months away from the Atomic. Nineteen years ago: Iran is accelerating to produce 25 Atomic Bombs a year. And thirty years ago: Iran will be able to produce Atomic in 3-5 years.​

​In 2015, Tehran signed a Pact (JCPOA) with the major world powers in which it guaranteed full access to the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) inspectors and limited the enrichment of uranium to 3.67% (under civil use, therefore). In 2018, US President Donald Trump branded that agreement as the worst Washington had ever signed and unilaterally left it. Iran begged Europe to stay, but to no avail. In 2024, the US and Iran resumed talks. Under bombing, Tehran interrupted them.

​

​Tehran is impeccable from a formal point of view. Until the US about-face, it never violated the Pact and, subsequently, it has not failed to fulfill any obligation with the Atomic Agency. Furthermore, it has an easy time denouncing the double standards to which it is subjected, given that Israel does not allow itself to be controlled, has not joined the IAEA, and yet it appears to possess a hundred Atomic Bombs. There is also a fatwa (religious decree) by the Supreme Leader Khamenei that prohibits the Bomb. In March 2025, the American intelligence certification arrives: Iran is not building the Atom. It is three years away (Tulsi Gabbard, director of the Dni). Respecting the rules, however, Iran has enriched uranium (400 kilos at 60% according to the IAEA). Why if it does not want the Bomb?

​

​Continue reading the article here.

8:46 AM|June 20

Drones, Hackers, and Explosive Vans: The Tehran Regime's Paranoia Over Mossad Spies

(Guido Olimpio) It is the second front of the war, the one within the two countries. Intense, full of twists and turns but also propaganda.

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​The Iranian security services have invited the population to report strange behavior, people receiving packages at night, suspicious movements of vans. Some local media, zealous, have gone further by including people walking around masked or with visors. It is the reflection of what happened at the beginning of Operation Rising Lion when the Mossad nuclei — probably made up of local elements and some outsiders — acted behind the lines destroying launchers and assassinating personalities. In Tehran they believe they are still active, ready to respond. And they see them everywhere.

​

​The Israelis allegedly hired themselves out to transport companies — the Iranians denounce — to be able to travel around without problems with vehicles transformed into platforms for drones. And photos of pick-ups have emerged, similar to the one used to eliminate the head of the nuclear program Mohsen Fakrizadeh: in the trunk he hid a remote-controlled machine gun.​

​This time, however, they allegedly used the same system for Spike 2 anti-tank missiles: here are other images of the firing positions with the abandoned components. An antenna, a tripod. It is possible that they were used to shoot at the homes of some scientist. The sources' version, also relaunched anonymously by the Israeli ones, tells of a mission that began in October, with the mobilization of the first teams to manage the arrival of the material: the bombs, the small aircraft, communications equipment. And later to extend the support network while waiting for an order. 

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​Continue reading the article here.

8:29 AM|June 20

Katz: Hezbollah should stay out of the war

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem to proceed with caution after he said yesterday that his terror group will act as it sees fit in response to the ongoing war between Israel and Iran. The Hezbollah leader has not learned from his predecessors and is threatening to act against Israel, Katz said, referring to former Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, who was assassinated by Israel last September. I suggest to the Lebanese representative to be careful and understand that Israel has lost patience with the terrorists who threaten it," the defense minister added, warning: If there is terror, there will be no Hezbollah.

7:27 AM|June 20

IDF: Overnight raids on dozens of targets in Tehran

Overnight, more than 60 Israeli Air Force planes attacked dozens of targets in Tehran, including military missile manufacturing facilities and the Spand nuclear weapons research and development headquarters, the IDF spokesman said.

7:04 AM|June 20

Saar Hears Norwegian Ambassador After Residence Attack

I spoke earlier with the Norwegian Ambassador to Israel, Per Egil Selvaag, in whose courtyard a grenade was thrown this evening, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar wrote in X. I strongly condemn this serious and dangerous crime, Saar added. There was an explosion outside the Norwegian residence in Tel Aviv on Thursday evening, Tuva Bogsnes, communications officer at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in a statement to AFP. Bogsnes added that no embassy staff were physically injured in the incident and that Israeli police were on site.

6:55 AM|June 20

Iranian attack in Beersheba: 7 injured, some buildings damaged

A single ballistic missile launched by Iran has caused widespread

devastation in Beersheba, southern Israel. The device fell this morning in a parking lot near residential buildings, destroying several apartments, leaving a crater on the ground, burning vehicles, and collapsed building facades and balconies. The MDA reported seven injuries. Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed that the Microsoft site in Beersheba was attacked because it collaborates with the Israeli army.

6:35 am|June 20

Israel: Military targets hit in Tehran overnight

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the Jewish state's Air Force carried out a wave of strikes on Tehran overnight, targeting dozens of Iranian military facilities and nuclear research sites, Israeli media reported. More than 60 fighter jets were involved in the strikes, dropping 120 munitions, the IDF said. The targets included several missile production sites in Tehran that were once the industrial heart of Iran's Defense Ministry; military sites that

produced missile components and facilities for the production of raw materials used to smelt missile engines. The attacks also targeted the headquarters of the Spdn nuclear project, the IDF said.

6:05 AM|June 20

Iranian Missile Hits Beersheba, Microsoft Offices Damaged

An Iranian missile a few minutes ago hit a technology park in Beersheba, Israel. The facility also houses Microsoft offices. The park is currently damaged, but no injuries have been reported.

Israel, Iranian missile damages Microsoft office building

4:54 AM|June 20

New Iranian missile attack against Israel

A new missile attack has been launched by Iran against Israel, Israeli military sources reported, citing media.

4:53 AM|June 20

Trump Reconvenes National Security Council

US President Donald Trump will chair another meeting of the National Security Council today at 11 am (5 pm

pm in Italy), in the

Oval Office, against the backdrop of tensions with Iran. The White House announced.

4:48 AM|June 20

European diplomacy: Starmer, Merz and the missions. Leaders play the last card of the negotiations

by Francesca Basso and Luigi Ippolito

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​After the phone call last Monday, the meeting in person. On Friday 20 June in Geneva, the Foreign Ministers of Germany, France, Great Britain (the E3 format) and the EU High Representative will meet the Iranian Foreign Minister in an attempt to stop the escalation underway between Tel Aviv and Tehran and avoid the involvement of the United States.

Yesterday, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, in an attempt to act as a bridge to today's meeting. In a tripartite statement with EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, the Europeans reiterated on Wednesday their belief that all parties must show restraint, refrain from taking measures that could lead to further escalation in the region and return to diplomacy, and underlined their commitment to contribute to and reach a negotiated solution to Iran's nuclear programme. 

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​Read the full article here

4:46 am|June 20

US attack on Iran, the plans and the doubts: the super bombs on Fordow and the nightmare of having to send special forces to finish the mission

 by Guido Olimpio

​

Trump's pendulum on the attack against Iran does not stop. He is driven by political but also military considerations.

The latest from Washington on the second aspect.

THE DOUBTS

The president – ​​writes the Guardian – wants to be sure that the GBU 57 super bomb is effective in a possible operation against Fordow. The answer, as with any military action, cannot be clear-cut.

The weapon might not be enough, even with a series of repeated hits carried out by the B-2 bombers on the bunker inside the mountain.

​​Read the full article here

4:45 am|June 20

In Iran to meet grandparents to introduce grandchildren: the escapes of two mothers

by Alessandra Muglia 

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It's seven in the evening but Mashid is still asleep, her long black hair scattered across the pillow. A deep sleep after an odyssey that kept her awake almost continuously for three days : she left Tehran last Tuesday with her one-year-old child, fleeing Israeli bombs and missiles, and only yesterday did she manage to return to her home just outside Milan. She had gone with her husband, my son Luca, to Iran at the end of April to introduce her grandson to the other grandparents, then my son returned because of work. She was supposed to stay a few more days but with the start of the war she remained stuck there, the woman's father-in-law, a 40-year-old English teacher, told Corriere. 

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​Read the full article here

4:44 am|June 20

A sleepless night then a 5 hour journey to leave Tehran. I saw a lot of patriotism: the attack unites them

by Viviana Mazza, our correspondent from New York 

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While Israel was attacking Iran, Giacomo Longhi was in an apartment in East Tehran where a writer friend had allowed him to stay for a few days. And he thought of the first novel he translated from Farsi: Non ti preoccupare by Mahsa Mohebali (Ponte33), which imagines an apocalyptic situation in Tehran: in that case, the arrival of an earthquake. An Iranian, 36 years old, Longhi has been visiting the country since 2010 and translates for Bompiani. He worked with the commercial office of the Italian embassy in Tehran in the years when Italy with Federica Mogherini as High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs was at the forefront of the diplomatic effort and industrial delegations arrived in view of the 2015 nuclear agreement. In 2017 at the Tehran Book Fair, Italy was the guest of honor, Michela Murgia, Michele Serra, Valerio Massimo Manfredi, Alessandro Barbero came.

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​Read the full article here

4:42 am|June 20

Iran, missile duel and threats. And Trump takes his time

by Davide Frattini, our correspondent in Tel Aviv

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​TEL AVIV In the two weeks (at most) that Donald Trump is taking to decide whether to go to war against Iran, there are also the couple of days (at most) imagined by Benjamin Netanyahu. However, there are another thirteen of possible uncertainty that coincide with the times indicated by the general staff to complete the emerging Operation Leone.

So — through the words of spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt — the president is choosing for now not to choose or perhaps to bluff to surprise the Islamic regime: according to the agency Bloomberg, the Pentagon could give the order as early as this weekend, everything would be ready. The White House's emphasis remains on the concrete possibilities for negotiation: Steve Witkoff, the Middle East envoy, has remained in direct contact with Abbas Araghchi, Iran's foreign minister, who is meeting today in Geneva with the ministers of France, Germany and Great Britain with Kaja Kallas, head of European diplomacy.

​

​Read the full article here

4:28 AM|June 20

IDF Intercepts Iranian Drone in Haifa Area

The Israeli Air Force intercepted an Iranian drone in the Haifa area, the IDF said, explaining that sirens were not activated as there was no threat to civilians, local media reported.

4:28 AM|June 20

Explosion at Norwegian Ambassador's Residence in Tel Aviv

An explosion occurred yesterday evening at the residence of the Norwegian ambassador to Israel in Herzliya, the Norwegian Foreign Ministry said, according to Israeli media reports. We have been in contact with the embassy this evening. No embassy staff members were injured in the incident, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The cause of the explosion was not specified. According to local media reports, a grenade

was thrown at the residence, causing damage to the building.

4:27 AM|June 20

UK Foreign Minister: There's still time for diplomatic solution

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said after talks at the White House with Secretary of State Marco Rubio that there was still time to reach a diplomatic solution with Iran over its nuclear program to avoid a wider conflict. The situation in the Middle East remains dangerous. We are determined that Iran should never have a nuclear weapon, Lammy told the British embassy in Washington. We discussed how Iran should find a solution to avoid the escalation of the conflict. There is a window in the next two weeks to reach a diplomatic solution, Lammy said of his talks with Rubio and US special envoy Steve Witkoff.

4:26 am|June 20

US Military Planes Withdrawn From Base Runway in Qatar

Dozens of US military aircraft have been pulled from the runway at one of the largest US bases in the Middle East, satellite images show, protecting the equipment from possible attacks by Tehran at a time when Washington is considering military intervention in the war between Israel and Iran. Between June 5 and June 19, 2025, the US base at Al Udeid in Qatar was almost entirely emptied of visible aircraft, according to satellite images from Planet Labs PBC analyzed by AFP. Nearly 40 military aircraft were parked on the base's runway on June 5: wide-body aircraft and troop carriers, reconnaissance aircraft and special operations aircraft of the C-130 Hercules type. Only three transport aircraft were visible in the June 19 image. Additionally, as a precaution and in light of ongoing regional hostilities, the United States has advised personnel to be especially vigilant and has temporarily restricted access to the Al Udeid base, according to a statement posted on the Qatari embassy website.

4:25 am|June 20

Israeli Forces Attack Iranian Village 20km From Caspian Sea

The Israel Defense Forces have begun attacking the area of the village

of Kolesh Taleshan in northern Iran, about 20 km from the Caspian Sea, the Iranian news agency Fars reported, citing Ynet.

4:25 am|June 20

New York Times: According to US intelligence, Iran has not yet decided to build the atom bomb

U.S. intelligence agencies continue to believe that Iran has not yet decided whether to build a nuclear bomb, despite having developed a large stockpile of the enriched uranium needed to do so. The New York Times reported, citing intelligence officials and other U.S. officials, who said that assessment has not changed since intelligence agencies last addressed the question of Iranian intentions in March, despite Israel attacking Iranian nuclear facilities. Senior U.S. intelligence officials have said that Iranian leaders might decide to move forward with building a bomb if the U.S. military attacks the Fordow uranium enrichment site or if Israel kills Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei. The question of whether Iran has decided to complete building a bomb, the Times noted, is irrelevant to many anti-Iran hawks in the United States and Israel, who argue that Tehran is still close enough to pose an existential threat to Israel. However, this issue has long been a sticking point in the debate over Iran policy and has returned to the forefront as President Trump weighs whether to bomb Fordow.

4:24 am|June 20

Iran War Costs Israel $735 Million a Day

Over $67 billion for the war in Gaza and $735 million a day for the conflict in Iran: Israel is facing the most expensive military period in its history, spending on its two war offensives at a rate that risks rewriting its economic future. Not to mention the raids in Lebanon. This is what The Economic Times, an Indian English-language newspaper of the Times group, writes, asking in the title Can Israel continue to pay for its war with Iran?. According to the Israeli economic site Calcalist, cited by the newspaper, the cost of the war in Gaza had already exceeded 250 billion shekels (over $67.5 billion) by the end of 2024. A figure also indicated by Reuters and the Guardian. Now, with the opening of a new front against Iran, defense spending is accelerating. In the first hours of the Israeli military campaign against Tehran, costs increased vertiginously. A Ynet News report, The Economic Times writes, quoted Brigadier General (ret.) Re'em Aminach, a former financial advisor to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) chief of staff, as saying that the first 48 hours of operations alone cost NIS 5.5 billion ($1.45 billion). The pace has not slowed. Israel now spends about NIS 2.75 billion, or $725 million, a day on direct military operations in the Iran conflict. In addition to combat, the massive drafting of reservists is reducing civilian productivity. The Indian newspaper also notes that the Defense Ministry's budget has nearly doubled in just two years and now absorbs nearly 7 percent of Israel's GDP, second only to Ukraine globally. Experts warn that even a quick end to hostilities will not erase the fiscal damage already caused. Public services, especially health and education, are at risk of being sidelined. Finally, with a deficit cap of 4.9% of GDP, equivalent to $27.6 billion, Israel's budget is already under immense pressure, while the Finance Ministry has revised its GDP growth forecast for 2025 from 4.3% to 3.6%.

4:22 am|June 19

Iran: Majid Khadami is the new intelligence chief

Iran has appointed a new intelligence chief for the

Revolutionary Guards after his predecessor was killed in an Israeli attack last week. Major General Mohammad Pakpour, commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, has appointed Brigadier General Majid Khadami as the new head of the intelligence division, IRNA reported. He replaces Mohammed Kazemi, who was killed on Sunday along with two other Revolutionary Guards officers, Hassan Mohaghegh and Mohsen Bagheri, in an Israeli attack. Pakpour was recently appointed after Israel killed his predecessor Hossein Salami in an attack on June 13. During the years that our martyred commanders Kazemi and Mohaqeq led the intelligence of the Revolutionary Guards, we have witnessed significant growth in all aspects of intelligence within the Guards, Pakpour said.

Jun 20, 04:22 - Updated Jun 20, 20:18