11:02 PM Today
The IAEA confirmed damage to the Arak heavy water reactor after Israeli attacks.
The International Atomic Energy Agency warned that"no radiological consequences are expected" because the plant was not in operation and did not contain nuclear material.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed on Thursday damage to the Arak heavy water reactor, located in western Iran, following a wave of Israeli bombing that began on June 13. This military escalation has intensified the conflict in the Middle East and has led to the partial destruction of nuclear and civilian infrastructure in the Central Asian country, according to a statement released by the United Nations nuclear watchdog.
10:44 PM Today
The UK Foreign Secretary said there was"a window for a diplomatic solution" to the war between Israel and Iran.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said Thursday after meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the White House that there is 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 will never have a nuclear weapon,” Lammy said in a statement released by the British embassy in Washington.
"We've discussed how Iran must reach an agreement to prevent the conflict from escalating. A window for a diplomatic solution opens in the next two weeks," Lammy said of his talks with Rubio and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff.
10:42 PM Today
Israel accused Iran of launching missiles with cluster munitions to increase the damage of its attacks.
Military spokesperson General Effie Defrin did not specify exactly where these projectiles were used, the prohibition of which is established in more than one hundred countries due to the risk they pose to civilians.
The Israeli military accused Iran on Thursday of using cluster munitions in its latest offensive against Israeli territory, further escalating the week-long conflict between the two countries.
10:29 PM Today
Israel has issued an evacuation notice for part of a village in northern Iran.
The Israeli army has issued an evacuation warning for residents of the Kalash village of Taleshan, an industrial zone in northern Iran.
10:25 PM Today
Israeli bombing of Iran is fraught with uncertainty
Much depends on the stubborn supreme leader and the fickle president of the United States.
By The Economist
More than a month ago, Donald Trump was in Saudi Arabia denouncing the “interventionists” trying to reshape the Middle East. The president chose not to stop in Israel on his return, indicating his strained relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was also facing a series of political crises at home. Instead, Trump was eager to negotiate with Iran, which he hoped would become a “real success.” He shared a video of a senior adviser to Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, proposing a deal on its nuclear weapons program.
9:54 PM Today
A grenade was thrown at the Norwegian ambassador's residence in Tel Aviv.
A grenade was thrown at the Norwegian ambassador's residence in Tel Aviv on Thursday evening, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said, adding that there were no injuries.
“I just spoke with the Norwegian ambassador to Israel, Per Egil Selvaag, in whose courtyard a grenade was thrown this afternoon,” Saar told X.
"I strongly condemn this grave and dangerous crime," he added. The Israeli Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In Oslo, the Norwegian Foreign Ministry said there was an explosion at the residence."No embassy staff members were injured during the incident," it said in an emailed statement, which did not provide an explanation for the source of the explosion.
Israeli police said in a statement that"there was minor material damage" and that they had opened an investigation.
9:51 PM Today
The Israeli army intercepted an Iranian drone over the Haifa area.
The Israeli Air Force has just intercepted a UAV launched from Iran over the Haifa area, the military reports.
No siren was activated, as it posed no threat to civilians, the IDF added.
9:38 PM Today
Iran appoints new intelligence chief for the Revolutionary Guard
Iran on Thursday appointed a new intelligence chief for its Revolutionary Guards, the official IRNA news agency reported, after his predecessor was killed in an Israeli attack last week.
Major General Mohammad Pakpour, commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has appointed Brigadier General Majid Khadami as the new head of its intelligence division, IRNA reported.
He replaces Mohammed Kazemi, who was killed on Sunday along with two other Revolutionary Guard 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.
9:13 PM Today
The leader of the terrorist group Hezbollah stated that his militia"will act as it sees fit" in the war between Iran and Israel.
Naim Qasem said that the “free peoples of the world” have the right to support Tehran.
Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qasem said Thursday that the Lebanese terrorist group will not adopt a neutral stance in the ongoing regional conflict between Iran and Israel.
9:06 PM Today
Australia closes its embassy in Iran, citing a deteriorating security environment.
Australia has suspended operations at its embassy in Tehran due to the deteriorating security environment in Iran and ordered the departure of all Australian officials, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Friday.
Australia's ambassador to Iran will remain in the region to support the government's response to the crisis, Wong said.
