Wednesday, June 18 news on the conflict between Israel and Iran, live. Israel raids Tehran, which responds with missile launches. Nyt: Iran prepares for possible attacks on US bases and considers planting mines in the Strait of Hormuz.

• 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. 

20:10 | June 18

Netanyahu: Thanks Trump for Support

On the sixth day of military escalation between Israel and Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanks Donald Trump for standing by us. We are in constant contact, even last night, we had a very cordial conversation, the prime minister said in statements reported by the Times of Israel.

20:08|June 18

Macron, initiative for negotiated solution in Iran soon

During the Defense and Security Council, French President Emmanuel Macron instructed the Foreign Minister to take an initiative in the coming days, with the closest European partners, to propose a demanding negotiated solution, capable of putting an end to the conflict between Israel and Iran. This was reported by sources at the Elysée. Macron then stressed that a lasting solution on the nuclear and ballistic missile program can only be achieved through negotiation and recalled France's willingness to start a dialogue without concessions with Iran on its regional destabilization activities.

19:50|June 18

Iran TV: Hypersonic missiles launched against Israel

Iranian state TV announced that Tehran has launched hypersonic missiles against Israel. The Fattah missiles have successfully penetrated the Israeli regime's defenses, the TV said on the sixth day of the war.

19:43|June 18

IDF hits anti-tank missile production site near Tehran

The Israeli Air Force has bombed an Iranian anti-tank missile production site near Tehran that Iran is using to supply Hezbollah, IDF spokeswoman Effie Defrin said at a news conference, reported by the Times of Israel. Defrin said hundreds of Iranian-made anti-tank missiles have been transferred to Hezbollah in Lebanon in recent years.

19:41|June 18

Macron: Let's help our fellow citizens leave Iran and Israel

Macron asked his Foreign Minister to take all necessary measures to rescue all those French citizens who want to leave Iran and Israel.

19:31|June 18

IDF: Rocket on Israel from Gaza. No injuries

The alarm in Nirim was triggered by a projectile coming from the Gaza Strip and headed toward Israel, the IDF reported on Telegram. The rocket fell in an open area. No injuries were reported, it said.

19:21|June 18

IDF Official to CNN: 400 Missiles and 1,000 Drones Launched Against Israel

About 400 ballistic missiles and a thousand drones against Israel since June 13. This is how Iran responded to the Israeli military operation launched last Friday with the declared aim of hitting military and nuclear sites in the Islamic Republic. The data were confirmed to CNN by an Israeli official, according to whom about twenty missiles hit areas inhabited by civilians in Israel. Since June 13, Israel has confirmed a death toll of at least 24.

19:16|June 18

Peskov, Trump did not have a conversation with Putin yesterday, he was speaking figuratively

US President Donald Trump was speaking figuratively when he said he had a conversation with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin yesterday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, explaining that there was no phone call between the two yesterday. Trump was speaking figuratively: Today life is so full of events that a few days back is like yesterday, Peskov was quoted as saying by the Ria Novosti news agency.

18:53|June 18

IDF, Sirens in Tel Aviv, Few Missiles Launched Against Israel

Air raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and other areas of central Israel. According to an initial IDF assessment, Iran fired a small number of missiles, and the Magen David Adom rescue service has so far reported no impacts in urban areas or injuries.

18:39|June 18

Tehran, we did not send negotiating team to Muscat

Iran has not sent a negotiating team to Muscat, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Al Jazeera, denying reports that planes carrying Iranian negotiators were heading to Oman for ceasefire talks.

18:37|June 18

IDF, new missile launch from Iran towards Israel

The IDF Home Front Command said that alerts are expected to go off in the next few minutes in Tel Aviv, the Dan bloc, the Shephelah, the West Bank and Lachish, for the first time since yesterday evening. According to an IDF spokesperson, these are missiles fired from Iran toward Israeli territory. Defense systems are working to intercept the launches.

17:57|June 18

US Working on Evacuation Flights for Americans to Israel

The U.S. Embassy in Israel is working on evacuation flights and boat departures for American citizens who want to leave Israel, U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee said.

17:35|June 18

Trump: A lot can happen, next week will be big

Nothing is over until it is over. You know war is very complex, a lot of bad things can happen, there can be a lot of twists and turns, so I don't know. That's what Donald Trump said about Iran, adding in a sibylline way that next week will be very big, maybe less than a week, maybe less. Then he explained what he means by unconditional surrender by Tehran: It means enough, we don't do it anymore and we don't blow up all the nuclear stuff that is everywhere.

17:19|June 18

The Pentagon is ready to execute any decision Trump makes

The U.S. military is prepared to execute any decision Donald Trump might make on Iran, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said. If and when such decisions are made, the Department of Defense is prepared to execute them, Hegseth noted at a Senate hearing.

17:01|June 18

Iran Responds to Trump: Never Asked for Meeting, Warmonger

Iran's UN mission has responded to Trump's claims that Tehran has contacted Washington asking for a meeting at the White House. No Iranian official has ever asked to crawl to the

White House gates, he was quoted as saying by Sky News. The only thing more despicable than his lies is his cowardly threat to `eliminate´ Iran's Supreme Leader. Iran will NOT negotiate under duress, will NOT accept peace under duress, and certainly NOT with a warmonger. Iran will respond to any threat with a counter-threat and to any action with reciprocal measures.

16:57|June 18

Trump: Khamenei Won't Give Up? I Wish Him Good Luck

I tell him, good luck. This is how Donald Trump commented to CNN at the White House on the words of the Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who said that Iran would never surrender, as the American president had instead suggested. Asked when his patience with Iran will end, the president of the United States responded to reporters: It's already over, that's why we're doing what we're doing.

16:44|June 18

Trump, I told Netanyahu to keep going

Asked what he told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during yesterday's phone call, US President Donald Trump responds: Keep it up. Trump tells reporters outside the White House that Netanyahu is a good man who has done a good job but has been treated very unfairly by his country.

16:04|June 18

Trump: Attack Iran? I can do it or I can't do it. Iran would have liked to negotiate, but maybe it's too late. They have serious problems

Attack Iran's nuclear sites? I could do it or not do it. But I won't say it in public, Donald Trump said in response to reporters at the White House, reiterating that Tehran is in deep trouble and wants to negotiate. They would have liked to negotiate, but maybe it's too late. They have serious problems now. They have contacted us. They have considered coming to the White House. But it seems late to me ... even if it's never too late. I just say two simple words: unconditional surrender, I said it.

16:02|June 18

Katz: Tehran regime's Internal Security headquarters destroyed

The tornado continues to hit Tehran. The jets of the Air Force have now destroyed the Headquarters of Internal Security of the Iranian regime, the main repressive arm of the Iranian dictator. This is what the Israeli Minister of Defense Israel Katz states in a post on the social X, commenting on the recent raids of the IDF on Tehran, the capital of Iran. As promised, we will continue to damage the symbols of power and hit the regime of the ayatollahs everywhere, adds Katz

16:00|June 18

America-Israel: A 58-Year Axis Helps Understand Trump

Donald Trump's latest words on Iran have raised questions, alarm, dismay or indignation : the ultimatum to Khamenei , the request for an unconditional capitulation or surrender, the use of the pronoun we which alludes to American involvement in the war. It is not clear whether the president simply wants to appropriate a success that seems probable to him, and therefore opportunistically jump on the winner's bandwagon; whether he takes credit for what is already known, namely the important military support provided by the United States to Israel; or whether he is about to decide on a more direct involvement. Here is an analysis that can help us better understand the long relationship between the US and Israel, and some of Trump's recent choices, towards Tel Aviv. And not only that . Read the full article by Federico Rampini here

15:19|June 18

IDF's Persian message: Worried Iranians, Contact Mossad

In an unusual statement in Persian, the IDF advised Iranians concerned about the situation in the country to consider contacting the Mossad. Dear Iranian citizens, the IDF wrote, We understand your difficult situation, given the harsh conditions created by the regime. In recent days, we have received many messages from people concerned about the current uncertain future. Even those who identify themselves as members of the regime's security institutions have expressed to us their fear, despair and anger over what is happening in Iran and have asked us to contact the Israeli authorities, so that Iran does not suffer the same fate as Lebanon and Gaza.

At this point, it is necessary to clarify that we are not the competent authority for such requests. But the least we can do is direct you via this link to the Mossad website, the IDF continued, including in the message a link to the spy agency's contact page.

2.58pm|June 18

Israel Defense Forces Confirm New Attacks on Tehran

The Israeli Air Force is currently striking military targets belonging to the Iranian regime in Tehran, according to a statement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), which confirms the resumption of attacks on Iran. Some Iranian media had reported strong explosions in eastern Tehran. A security source quoted by the Israeli daily Ynet said that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)"are striking nuclear targets in Tehran."

2.46pm|June 18

Tehran: Israeli F-35 shot down near Varamin

Iranian anti-aircraft guns shot down an Israeli F-35 near the town of Varamin, 35 kilometers southeast of Tehran, Varamin Governor Hossein Abassi told IRNA. This is the fifth Israeli fighter plane that Iranian forces say they have neutralized.

2.42pm|June 18

New series of powerful explosions in eastern Tehran

A new series of powerful explosions are hitting eastern Tehran.

2.38pm|June 18

Tajani, Flights from Amman for those who want to leave Israel

We are organizing commercial flights from Amman for the next few days to allow our fellow citizens who want to leave Israel to return to Italy. This was stated by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani in a message on X, posting the contact details of the Crisis Unit (06-36225) and the embassy in Tel Aviv (+972-54-8803940).

2.28pm|June 18

Kallas: I am for sanctions on Israel, but unanimity is needed

Sanctions against Israel require unanimity. I have listened and I feel that it has been spoken as if I were the only one responsible for what is happening in Palestine. But I do not represent myself here, I represent 27 Member States. If it were up to me, up to me personally, I would take these decisions. But it is not like that. I represent 27 Member States. And that is precisely the frustration I feel. This was stated by the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Policy, Kaja Kallas, in her response to the plenary debate at the European Parliament on stopping the genocide in Gaza.

14:09|June 18

UK government evacuates diplomats' families from Israel

The government in London has ordered the evacuation of the families of British diplomats from Israel as a precaution, against the backdrop of the military escalation with Iran. This was announced by the Foreign Office. Already in recent days, the Starmer government had advised all citizens of the United Kingdom against travelling to Israel (while travel to Iran has long been discouraged). As well as British citizens present in the country to register online at a

ad hoc portal, in view of any emergency protective measures.

13:59|June 18

Putin, intensify diplomatic efforts to resolve conflict

Russian President Vladimir Putin and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan stressed the need for a speedy end to hostilities and intensifying political and diplomatic efforts in the interests of resolving controversial issues related to Iran's nuclear program, the Kremlin said in a statement. Both sides expressed deep concern over the continued escalation of the Iranian-Israeli conflict, which is fraught with the most negative consequences for the entire region, the statement continued.

13:55|June 18

Russia: The world is millimetres away from nuclear disaster

The world is millimeters away from disaster in terms of the threat of nuclear escalation in the Middle East, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said today. Every day, missiles are launched multiple times at peaceful civilian infrastructure and Iranian nuclear facilities, which are monitored by IAEA observers on the ground... it is necessary to understand that we are millimeters away from disaster, Zakharova said on the sidelines of the 2025 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

13:46|June 18

Khamenei: Trump's ultimatum is unacceptable

The ultimatum for an unconditional surrender launched by US President Donald Trump is unacceptable. This was stated by Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the day after the ultimatum of the White House chief who ordered Tehran to accept total surrender on the nuclear program or expect the US to enter the war alongside Israel. In an unacceptable statement, the US president explicitly urged the Iranians to surrender, Khamenei said, stressing that the threats will not influence the behavior of the Iranian nation.

Moscow: US should not even consider the idea of military assistance to Israel

Russia has warned the United States against providing military assistance to Israel, or even considering it. This was reported by Interfax, citing Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, who said that direct US military assistance to Israel could radically destabilize the situation in the Middle East.

Ryabkov said that the United States is constantly at the forefront of all processes and to say that it did not intervene before, but now it is, I think, would be wrong. It is another matter how they see the situation regarding the provision of direct military aid to Israel. We warn Washington against even speculative and theoretical options. This would be a step that would radically destabilize the entire situation.

13:02|June 18

Kallas: Israel wants to annex Gaza, it is a violation of law

Israel's stated aim is to take control of the entire Gaza Strip. Changing, reducing or annexing the territory is a direct violation of international law. This was stated by the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Kaja Kallas, speaking in the plenary session of the European Parliament in the debate on stopping the genocide in Gaza. If the entire civilian population of Gaza, or parts of it, were to be permanently forced to flee their homes, this would also constitute a violation of international law. We must call a spade a spade, she added.

12:59 PM|June 18

Obama: Our Government Is Dangerously Close to Autocratic Behavior

Barack Obama is sounding the alarm that with Donald Trump in the White House, the United States is dangerously close to allowing government officials to act in a manner consistent with autocracies. Speaking to a civic group in Hartford, at a time of complex and sensitive domestic and foreign policy, the former Democratic president made a precise examination of the dangers that American democracy faces, according to the New York Times.

If you regularly follow the statements of those who now lead the federal government, you see a weak commitment to respecting what has been understood, not just by my generation but at least since World War II, to be the functioning of a liberal democracy, Obama said in a discussion with Cox Richardson, a historian known for his anti-Trump positions. The former president recalled that democracy requires that officials of the executive branch, particularly those of the Justice Department and judges, are committed to upholding the laws and the Constitution.

It requires them to take their oath seriously, and when that doesn't happen we start to slide into something that is not consistent with American democracy, but with autocracies, with Hungary under Orban. We're not quite there yet, but we're dangerously close to normalizing this kind of behavior,' he warned. 'We need people inside and outside the government to say, 'let's not fall into that ravine that's hard to recover from.'

12:39 PM|June 18

Khamenei: If the US attacks us, it will be repaid with irreparable damage. Israel has made a grave mistake and will be punished

If the US attacks Iran, it will repay with irreparable harm, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a televised speech, the official IRNA news agency reported.

Anyone who knows Iran, its people and its history would never address this nation in threatening tones, because Iran will not surrender, Khamenei said. The Americans should know that any military intervention on their part will undoubtedly be repaid with irreparable harm, the head of the Iranian regime continued. Khamenei praised the behavior of the Iranian people in the face of aggression: The Iranian people firmly oppose the imposed war, just as they will equally firmly oppose the imposed peace; this nation will never submit to anyone's impositions.

12:35 PM|June 18

Khamenei on national TV: Israel will be punished

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reiterated his promise that Israel will be punished for the grave mistake it has made. The people will not forget the blood of the martyrs and the attack on their territory, Khamenei stressed in a televised address to the nation, Iranian agencies reported. Iran will not accept an imposed peace or war. Those who know the history of Iran know that we do not accept threats.

12:19 PM|June 18

EU: Regime change in Iran is not our position

Let us be clear: regime change is not part of the agreed EU position. We are committed to pursuing a comprehensive political approach towards Iran to address all issues of concern, taking into account all options available to us, including sanctions. And that is why our approach is crucial when needed and ready to intervene where interests coincide. This was stated by the spokesperson of the External Action Service, Anouar El Anouni, at the European Commission's daily press briefing.

12:04|June 18

IAEA: Two centrifuge production plants destroyed

Two centrifuge production facilities in Iran, a workshop in Karaj and the Tehran Nuclear Research Center, have been hit by Israeli strikes. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) wrote in X, specifying that at the Tehran site a building was hit where advanced centrifuge rotors were produced and tested, while in Karaj two buildings where centrifuge components were produced were destroyed.

11:52 AM|June 18

Media: Khamenei's televised address to the nation soon

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will address the nation in a televised address, which will be broadcast in the next few minutes, according to Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency. Khamenei's last appearance was on Friday, shortly after the start of Israel's attack on Iran.

11:39 AM|June 18

Iranian Ambassador to Rome: Israel's Paradox, It Is Ambiguous About Possession of Nuclear Weapons and Accuses Us

The Zionist regime seeks to justify its military aggression as “preemptive defense,” aiming to avert an alleged imminent threat from Iran. First, such a concept is in no way accepted in international law or the UN Charter. The Israeli regime’s action is undoubtedly a clear violation of the principle prohibiting the use of force, as set out in Article 2, paragraph 4 of the Charter. Iran, therefore, has the natural right to self-defense, by virtue of Article 51 of the same Charter. Second, Iran has been a member of the NPT (Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty) since its inception and has conducted all its activities in accordance with the regulations of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). So far, it has applied the highest level of inspections and transparency to address concerns and questions. It is a bitter paradox of history that a regime that clearly pursues a strategy of nuclear ambiguity and which, on the other hand, is not even a member of the NPT, expresses concern about the peaceful nuclear activities of Iran, a member of the NPT, and accuses Iran of wanting to build nuclear weapons.

11:11 AM|June 18

Iran: We will not accept the unconditional surrender requested by Trump

Iran will not accept the unconditional surrender demanded by US President Donald Trump in the context of the conflict with Israel, Iranian Ambassador to France Mohammad Amin-Nejad said today. Yesterday, Trump called for Iran's unconditional surrender, saying that the US' patience is running out. The US president added that the US knows the position of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, but has no intention of eliminating him, at least for now. This is the same wish expressed by Benjamin Netanyahu...

It is not being implemented at all. The Iranian people are united in the face of aggression, Amin-Nejad told BFMTV.

10:30 am|June 18

Tehran: US intervention would trigger total war in the region

Esmail Baghaei, a spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, told Al Jazeera English that American intervention in support of ongoing Israeli attacks on the Islamic Republic would be a recipe for all-out war in the region. Asked if he thought the United States could control Israel, Baghaei grimaced and said, Not really.

10:12 AM|June 18

Katz: This is how dictatorships fall

As the IDF continues its operations in Iran, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz states in a post on X: A tornado hits Tehran. Symbols of power are bombed and collapse - from the

radio and television authority and soon other targets, while masses of residents flee. This is how dictatorships fall.

10:10 AM|June 18

Media, Tehran University Also Hit by Israeli Raid

Not only nuclear sites, but also a university in Tehran has been targeted by the attacks on Iran this evening. The British media reported,

specifying that it is the Imam Hossein, a university believed to be financed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (the so-called Pasdaran) on the eastern outskirts of the Iranian capital. The possible damage is currently unknown.

10:09 AM|June 18

Iran Ambassador to UN: We Will Respond to Israel Without Responsibility

Iran will respond to the Israeli attacks with force and without restraint, Tehran's ambassador to the United Nations said today in Geneva.

We will not show any reluctance in defending our people, our security and our territory. We will respond with seriousness and force, without restraint, Ali Bahreini, the ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations in Geneva, told reporters.

10:05 AM|June 18

Cyberattack on Iran's largest cryptocurrency exchange

Pro-Israeli hacker group The Predatory Sparrow has announced a new cyber attack against Iran's largest cryptocurrency exchange, following yesterday's cyberattack on the Islamic Republic's main bank. The Nobitex exchange was attacked, the group reports. The Predatory Sparrow threatened to disclose all internal information of the exchange within 24 hours, accusing Novitec of financing Iranian terrorism and thus circumventing international sanctions.

10:02 AM|June 18

Khamenei: We will have no mercy for Israeli leaders

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a post on X that his country will show no mercy to Israel's leaders, hours after US President Donald Trump called for Tehran to surrender unconditionally. We must give a strong response to the Zionist terrorist regime. We will show no mercy to the Zionists, he wrote. Yesterday, Trump called for the Islamic Republic's unconditional surrender, suggesting that the US could easily assassinate Khamenei.

10:01 AM|June 18

Israel launches new wave of air strikes on Tehran

The Israeli Air Force has launched a new wave of air strikes on several targets in and around the Iranian capital, Tehran, The Times of Israel reports.

9:59 AM|June 18

Tehran: Nuclear plants operating normally

Iran's nuclear facilities are operating normally, said Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), the government agency responsible for the nuclear energy sector. The conditions in the nuclear facilities are good. The morale of our colleagues is excellent and they are working hard, the official was quoted by Fars news agency as saying.

9:50 AM|June 18

Saudi Arabia: Israel's continued violations in Gaza

Saudi Arabia condemned Israel’s continued violations including forced displacement, illegal annexation, settlement expansion and repeated attacks on defenseless civilians, which constitute a flagrant violation of all principles of international law. In a statement issued today by the Kingdom’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Abdulmohsen bin Khathila, before the Human Rights Council on the situation of human rights in Palestine and the other occupied Arab territories, he affirmed the Kingdom’s position. Specifically, the Representative said that a solution to the Palestinian question cannot be achieved without ending Israel’s occupation of all Palestinian territories and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the principles of international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative.

9:29 AM|June 18

NYT: Israel Was Planning Attacks as Early as December

Israel began planning strikes against Iran in December, after the decimation of the terrorist group Hezbollah and the fall of the Assad regime in Syria opened an air corridor, the New York Times reports. According to the newspaper, when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the White House in February, he explained Iran's nuclear program to U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. Trump then opted for non-intervention, although he decided to give Israel undisclosed support from U.S. intelligence to carry out the attack, the NYT writes.

9:15 am|June 18

ActionAid: Gaza's Drinking Water Is Almost Out

The skyrocketing price of drinking water and the fuel blockade are leading to the complete collapse of Gaza's water system, at a time when the heat is becoming extreme. This is what ActionAid reports from the Gaza Strip, where water is now almost exhausted. The price of drinking water is 400% higher than pre-war levels, reaching up to 38 dollars per thousand litres of clean water. ActionAid's emergency response manager in Gaza, Alaa, said: With rising temperatures, the risk of dehydration, epidemics and child malnutrition also increases. Contaminated water sources and faulty sewage systems further increase the threats to health and survival. ActionAid, together with its local partners, is providing shelters and the most vulnerable displaced people with drinking water by truck, distributing water tanks and basic purification systems.

9:03 AM|June 18

China Offers Mediator Between Israel and Iran

China is offering itself as a possible mediator for a de-escalation of the conflict between Israel and Iran, even if at the moment there does not seem to be any interest, at least on the Israeli side, in stopping Operation Rising Lion. China, which has begun evacuating its citizens from the two countries, has launched several calls for a ceasefire. But it has done more. President Xi Jinping intervened directly yesterday, during his visit to Kazakhstan where he attended the China-Central Asia summit. China is ready to work with everyone to play a constructive role in restoring peace and stability in the Middle East, Beijing's number one said.

Over the weekend, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke by telephone with his Iranian and Israeli counterparts, Abbas Araghchi and Gideon Sa'ar. China's top diplomat condemned the Israeli attack as an unacceptable violation of international law, but also said Beijing was ready to play a constructive role in helping the two sides resolve their differences.

8:40 am|June 18

Iran: 5 Arrests, They Tarnished Country's Image Online

Iran has announced the arrest of five individuals described as Mossad agents, accused of tarnishing the image of the Islamic Republic online, local media reported. These mercenaries, through their deliberate activities in cyberspace, attempted to raise public concern and tarnish the image of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Isna and Tasnim news agencies reported, citing a statement from the Revolutionary Guards. The arrests took place in western Iran.

8:38 AM|June 18

Katz: A tornado is passing over Tehran

A tornado is passing over Tehran. Government symbols are being bombed and destroyed, starting with the Broadcasting Authority, and soon other targets. Masses of residents are fleeing. This is how dictatorships collapse. Defense Minister Israel Katz wrote in X.

8:35 AM|June 18

Gaza: 34 Palestinians killed, dozens injured in Israeli raids

At least 34 Palestinians were killed and dozens more injured on Wednesday morning as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) fired and shelled several areas of the Gaza Strip. According to Wafa, 11 citizens were killed and dozens of people seeking aid were injured by Israeli fire and shelling near Wadi Gaza in the center of the Strip. The IDF also shelled a house in the Maghazi refugee camp in the center of the Gaza Strip, killing 10 people, Wafa reported. Eight citizens were killed and several injured in a raid on a house near the Ali Mosque in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City.

8:28 AM|June 18

Meloni: Forward with de-escalation, but the scenario may change

We are all moving in the direction of de-escalation. We know that there is a threat today and that we need to work to defuse that threat. After that, obviously we are all convinced that that threat must be defused with negotiations. An attempt was made and unfortunately no result was achieved, so is it possible that the scenario will change today? I think so. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said this in a press briefing at the end of the G7 in Canada.

8:23 AM|June 18

WSJ: Trump hasn't decided yet whether to attack Iran

President Donald Trump has not yet decided whether the United States will join Israel in attacking Iran's nuclear and military programs, White House officials told the Wall

Street Journal. The sources said the attack was one of several

options discussed during a meeting between Trump and his national security team. The report said President Trump is still hoping the threat of U.S. military action will lead Iran to

agree to U.S. demands in nuclear talks.

8:15 am|June 18

Media: Tehran: Street protests against Donald Trump

In Tehran, in Palestine Square, a protest was held against the latest statements of the American president, Donald Trump, and in support of the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Press TV reports this in a post on its X profile where some images of the demonstration are also attached.

7:53 AM|June 18

Pasdaran declares domination over Israel's airspace

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they have achieved total control over the skies of the occupied territories (Israel), rendering Israeli defenses helpless in the face of Iran's latest missile attacks. The Revolutionary Guards' close-knit news agency Tasnim reported that a new round of missile attacks by Iran targeted positions in the occupied territories on Wednesday morning, marking the eleventh wave of Tehran's response to the Israeli aggression.

7:37 AM|June 18

China: First evacuation of compatriots from Tehran

The Chinese embassy in Iran has organized the first evacuation of its citizens from Tehran, in the face of a worsening crisis in the Middle East, Beijing state media reported, saying that the option chosen for the moment is land transport to reach the border with Turkmenistan.

7:33 AM|June 18

Iran claims to have shot down Israeli F-35

Iran said on Tuesday that it had shot down another Israeli F-35 fighter, the official IRNA news agency reported. The army defense aviation struck and destroyed a hostile F-35 fighter of the Zionist regime forces in the Javadabad area of the Varamin district, the special governor of Varamin said, according to IRNA. The security teams and the military - the Iranian agency wrote - are examining the details and more information will be provided soon.

7:32 AM|June 18

Israel: 90 people injured in Iranian missile attack

The Israeli Health Ministry said more than 90 people injured in the Iranian missile attack overnight have been hospitalized.

Israel said Iran fired two volleys of about 15 missiles overnight. The Israel Defense Forces also claimed responsibility for shooting down three Iranian drones.

6:43 AM|June 18

Ben Gurion Airport: First Flight Bringing Israeli Citizens Back Home Lands

The first flight bringing Israeli citizens home after the shutdown of international flights due to the conflict with Iran has landed at Ben Gurion Airport outside Tel Aviv, The Times of Israel reports. The flight was coming from Larnaca Airport in Cyprus. Tens of thousands of Israelis have been stranded due to the conflict between Israel and Iran.

6:41 AM|June 18

Israel claims new air strikes against nuclear and missile facilities

The Israel Defense Forces announced that it conducted a large-scale air strike against military targets in Iran, using more than 50 fighter jets to strike suspected centrifuge and weapons production facilities. According to a statement on Telegram, the operation was based on precise intelligence and is part of an effort to neutralize Iran's nuclear program. Israel also reportedly struck factories that produce components and raw materials for ballistic missiles, the Islamic Republic's main offensive weapon in the ongoing conflict with Israel.

5:52 AM|June 18

United Arab Emirates ask UN for urgent intervention

UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdulla bin Zayed al Nahyan has urged the United Nations Security Council to take urgent and necessary measures to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. The minister stressed that diplomacy is essential to prevent the situation from escalating into serious and far-reaching consequences. The minister also warned that reckless and ill-calculated actions could spread the conflict beyond Israel and Iran’s borders, calling for immediate action to end the hostilities before the situation gets out of hand.

5:29 AM|June 18

US: The hypothesis of intervention against Iran ignites controversy among Republican lawmakers

The possibility of a direct military intervention by the United States against Iran, which appears increasingly likely also in light of the public statements of President Donald Trump, is fueling tensions within the Republican Party, and in particular between the interventionist and neoconservative wing, represented by Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, an exponent of the populist wing of the party, opposed to the participation of the United States in new wars abroad. 

Anyone pushing the United States to intervene fully in the Israel-Iran war is not America First/Maga. Wishing the death of innocents is disgusting. We are tired of wars abroad. All, the congresswoman wrote yesterday on X. Graham, known for his staunchly interventionist stance, not only in the Middle East but also toward Russia, commented on Greene's stance by arguing that she does not understand that Iran, a religious theocracy, would use a nuclear weapon to kill all Jews. They are a threat to us and to the State of Israel. It is not in the world's interest to provide a nuclear weapon to these religious fanatics.

5:27 AM|June 18

Human Rights Activists: Israeli Strikes Kill Nearly 600 in Iran

The Washington-based group Human Rights Activists says Israeli strikes have killed at least 585 people across Iran and injured 1,326 others. The activists say they have identified 239 victims as civilians and 126 as security personnel. Human Rights Activists, which has previously provided detailed casualty figures during the 2022 protests over the death of Mahsa Amini, compares local reports in the Islamic Republic with a network of sources it has developed in the country.

5:04 AM|June 18

Wp: Israel can maintain missile defense for 10-12 days

Without American supplies or greater U.S. involvement, Israel can maintain its missile defense for another 10 to 12 days if Iran maintains its constant attacks, the Washington Post reported, citing informed sources, who said that by the end of the week, the Jewish state could be able to intercept only a small portion of the missiles to ration its defensive munitions.

4:39 AM|June 18

Iran: Suspected Israeli Agents Arrested in Several Cities of the Country

Iranian media are reporting the arrest of several people, accused of spying for the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad and planning attacks on Iranian soil. According to the news agency Tasnim, a foreign citizen was stopped in the port city of Bushehr while filming a sensitive nuclear area, and was accused of collaborating with Israeli intelligence. Also Tasnim reports the discovery, in the county of Baharestan (on the outskirts of Tehran), of a terrorist team affiliated with the Mossad: inside a vehicle were found micro-drones, explosives and communication and targeting systems. According to Morad Moradi, interim governor of the area, the group's intent was to carry out widespread suicide operations in densely populated areas to sow panic and destabilize internal security. Finally, the news site Eghtesadonline reports the arrest of 4 people in Isfahan suspected of working as mercenaries for Israel. In a workshop in the city, located near nuclear facilities, materials for the production of drones and miniaturized aircraft were allegedly found.

4:19 am|June 18

Revolutionary Guards: Fattah-1 hypersonic missiles successfully used

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced early today that it had successfully used Fattah-1 hypersonic missiles in its latest missile attack on Israel, claiming that the missiles had successfully penetrated Israeli air defenses, including Iron Dome batteries. This is the beginning of the end for the Iron Dome system, the IRGC said in a statement. 

The Fattah is the first hypersonic missile developed by Iran, which was unveiled in 2023. At the time, the head of the IRGC's aerospace program, Amir Ali Hajizadeh, called it a generational leap for Iranian missile technology, capable of maneuvering both inside and outside the Earth's atmosphere and evading any defense system. The Fattah cannot be destroyed by any other missile, thanks to its ability to change direction and altitude, the official said.

4:11 am|June 18

Khamenei's post after Trump's words: The battle begins

The battle begins. This is the first reaction, on X, of the Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, after Donald Trump said he has no intention of killing the Iranian leader for now. Ali Khamenei writes on the social network: In the name of the noble Haidar, the battle begins, Al Jazeera reports the post and explains that Haidar is another name for Ali, the fourth Muslim caliph. The Guardian reports another post by the Iranian Supreme Leader on X, explaining that, quoting a verse from the Koran, the ayatollah writes: Help from Allah and imminent conquest. The Islamic Republic will triumph over the Zionist regime by the will of God. Khamenei then adds that Iran will never compromise with the Zionists. We will show them no mercy. 

The posts, published on Khamenei's different accounts in different languages, are his first public comments since US President Donald Trump called for unconditional surrender.

2:54 AM|June 18

Hegseth: Pentagon on alert, ready to protect US bases

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth assured that the United States is on alert and ready to protect its bases and interests in the Middle East, even if it still hopes for a nuclear deal with Tehran. For now, however, according to NBC, citing US officials, there are no indications of an imminent Iranian attack against US bases in the region. According to indiscretions by the New York Times, Tehran would be ready to attack American bases if the United States were to join Israel in bombing Iran.

2:52 AM|June 18

Iran used hypersonic missiles to hit Israel

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said hypersonic missiles were also used in the latest attack on Israel.

2:51 AM|June 18

IDF, One Israeli Soldier Killed, Four Wounded in Gaza

A 20-year-old Israeli soldier was killed in fighting in the southern Gaza Strip and an officer and three other soldiers were seriously injured, the IDF said. The dead soldier, from the Golani Brigade, like his wounded comrades, was from the West Bank settlement of Nokdim. The news came after Palestinian sources blamed the Israeli military for the deaths of 59 people near a food distribution center in Khan Younis. The army confirmed it opened fire in the area and said it was investigating the incident.

2:50 am|June 18

Trump and Carlson clash over Iran

First the clash with Elon Musk, now with Tucker Carlson over the war in Iran. American President Donald Trump is once again publicly attacking one of his most loyal supporters, and Fox unwittingly finds itself in the middle of the dispute. Carlson has made no secret of his opposition to a possible US intervention in Iran and has criticized the president and his former colleagues at Fox, calling them warmongers. The theme that dominates Fox's story is the promotion of wars that do not help the United States, Carlson said, saying he is worried that the US would be weakened if it joined the bombing of Israel. Trump downplayed the comments and teased Carlson for his exit from Fox: I don't know what he's saying. He should get a TV network and say it in a way that people will listen to him.

2:20 am|June 18

New Israeli raids on Tehran after warning to residents

The IDF conducted new airstrikes on Tehran overnight after the Israeli military urged residents of the Iranian capital's District 18 to leave. The strikes targeted military infrastructure in the area, Israeli media reported.

2:18 | June 18

NYT: US 007s Concluded Netanyahu Wanted to Attack Iran in Any Case

By late last month, American intelligence agencies monitoring Israel's military activities and discussions among the country's top politicians had reached a startling conclusion: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was planning an imminent attack on Iran's nuclear program, with or without U.S. participation, the New York Times reports, tracing Donald Trump's swings in recent months on tensions between Israel and Iran.

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​Netanyahu has spent more than a decade warning that a full-scale military assault is needed before Iran reaches the point where it can rapidly build a nuclear weapon. However, he has repeatedly backtracked after several American presidents, fearful of the consequences of a new Middle East conflict, told him that the United States would not participate in an attack. This time, according to US intelligence assessments, Netanyahu was preparing not just for a limited attack on nuclear facilities, but for a much larger operation, which could have endangered the entire Iranian regime; and he was willing to act alone. This information has presented President Trump with difficult choices, which have changed over the past few months, from a diplomatic attempt to the now threatened with a possible US intervention.

2:02 AM|June 18

1:34 | June 18

Israel: New wave of attacks begins in Tehran area

The Israel Defense Forces said it has launched a wave of attacks in the Tehran area of Iran. Israeli forces will attack District 18, located near Mehrabad International Airport, in the coming hours.

1:32 | June 18

Meloni from G7: Iran is a real threat, it cannot have nuclear weapons

There is a convergence of views in the G7. We are all obviously committed to peace and stability in the Middle East. We are aware of the fact that the main source of instability in the region has been Iran. We all agree that there cannot be an Iran that equips itself with nuclear weapons, said Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, speaking to journalists at the end of the G7 in Canada: Clearly faced with a threat that is real, you have also seen the latest reports from the IAEA, we agree that Israel has the right to defend itself, but the objective we are all working towards is to reach negotiations that truly allow us to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power - added the Prime Minister -. We agree that negotiations are needed to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power.

1:28 | June 18

Israel, Army Calls on Residents of Tehran's Area 18 to Evacuate

The Israel Defense Forces issued a warning, via a post on X, urging Tehran residents to evacuate an entire area of the capital ahead of planned military strikes. Urgent warning to employees and all individuals in Area 18 in Tehran -  it reads -. In the coming hours, the Israeli military will intervene in this area, as it has done in recent days in the Tehran region, to target the Iranian regime's military infrastructure. Dear citizens, for your safety and well-being, we urgently ask you to immediately evacuate the designated area in Area 18 in Tehran. Your presence in this area puts your life at risk.

1:26 | June 18

US Embassy in Jerusalem to Remain Closed Until Saturday

The US Embassy in Jerusalem will remain closed for security reasons through Friday, the US State Department announced. In light of the security situation and in compliance with the guidelines of the Israeli command, according to a post on X, the US Embassy in Jerusalem will remain closed from Wednesday through Friday, June 20.

1:24 | June 18

Iran: Airspace closed until 2pm today, local time

Iran has extended the closure of its airspace until 2 p.m. local time (12:30 p.m. EDT) today, the country's Civil Aviation Organization confirmed. The country's airspace is declared closed until 2 p.m. Wednesday, a representative of Iran's civil aviation authority was quoted by the Iranian news agency Mehr. Israel's airspace, on the other hand, remains completely closed to civil aviation until security agencies decide to reopen it, according to a joint statement by Israel's Foreign Ministry and Transport Ministry.

0:46 | June 18

IDF: Iran Launches 10 Missiles in Second Wave in One Hour

Ten missiles were fired from Iran toward Israel in the second wave in less than an hour, the Israeli military said, saying some were intercepted.

0:45|June 18

NYT: Russia Stands Aside as Israel Attacks Iran

Russia condemns Israel's attack on Iran but has disappeared beyond words despite close ties with Tehran. Moscow, the New York Times reports, is focused on its war in Ukraine but also on maintaining its relations with Middle Eastern partners, which have helped it survive Western sanctions. Observers say President Vladimir Putin does not want Iran to have nuclear weapons and wants to continue improving its relations with Donald Trump. Russia is also benefiting from rising oil prices.

Analysts are convinced that Putin is unlikely to get militarily involved in the conflict or arm Iran aggressively, partly for fear of alienating the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. That is why Putin is positioning himself to be relevant in the negotiations to end the conflict. This is different from the attitude he had a decade ago in Syria when he mounted a military intervention to strengthen the regime of Bashar al-Assad.

0:42 | June 18

Egypt: Sisi and Putin committed to ceasefire

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Russian President Vladimir Putin are maintaining contacts with other countries to reach a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, a spokesperson for the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said. The ministers also reviewed presidential-level contacts between His Excellency President Abdel Fattah Sisi and Russian President Vladimir Putin with several leaders and heads of state to curb the escalation, reach a ceasefire and resume negotiations, as this is the only way to prevent the current conflict from spreading to neighboring countries and the entire region, the spokesperson said, following a telephone conversation between the foreign ministers of the two countries today, during which, among other things, the conflict between Iran and Israel was discussed.

0:41|June 18

New explosions in Tel Aviv, missiles heard passing by

New explosions were heard in Tel Aviv, where in addition to the roars, the passage of missiles can be clearly heard. Alarms have been sounded throughout central Israel.

0:40 | June 18

IDF Raises New Alert: More Missiles From Iran

Minutes after the IDF gave the green light for the population in Israel to leave their shelters, a new alarm went off on cell phones. The IDF reported that a new barrage of missiles had been launched from Iran. Alarm sirens went off again in Tel Aviv, for the second time in an hour.

0:31|June 18

IDF: Iran attack over, safe to leave shelters

The Israel Defense Forces said that the latest Iranian missile strike on Israel has ended and residents can leave their bomb shelters.

0:29 | June 18

29 Italian citizens leave Iran and are now in Azerbaijan

A group of 29 Italian citizens left Iran through a border crossing with Azerbaijan. The Italians left Tehran early this morning and will reach Baku where they will wait for the opportunity to return to Italy by plane. They were assisted by the Italian Embassy in Tehran in choosing the route and in establishing contacts with the Iranian and Azerbaijani authorities. At the border between the two states they were assisted by staff from the Italian Embassy in Azerbaijan.

0:27 | June 18

Tajani: Israel acted because Iran wants to erase it

Israel reacted and attacked Iran because Iran wants to wipe it off the map and because, according to the IAEA, it has crossed the red line towards building the atomic bomb and has hostile forces operating against it from Syria to Gaza to Lebanon: this was stated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, interviewed by Bianca Berlinguer on Cartabianca, on Rete 4. Asked whether the countries participating in the G7 summit had been informed of Donald Trump's desire to actively participate in the conflict between Iran and Israel, Tajani said: The president distanced himself from the G7 saying that he would have to make important decisions. The team from the United States Security Council then made their decision. Pressed by Berlinguer whether Israel, which has a nuclear deterrent, has the right to bomb another country on the assumption that it is acquiring one, Tajani replied: It's a little different, because Israel has never said it wants to wipe Iran off the map. Are you worried? We have been working towards a de-escalation since day one, he said. I called the Foreign Minister and the President of Israel and I called the Foreign Minister of Iran twice. Then the choices are not made based on requests. Iran, according to Tajani, is the country that the whole world says is preparing the atomic bomb. The right to self-defense is a right enshrined in all international rules. In an increasingly harsh exchange with the journalist on the unilateral nature of the attack on Iran, Tajani said: What were they supposed to do, wait for them to launch the atomic bomb against them?

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​Pressed also on Gaza and on what Italy is doing in concrete terms for peace, Tajani said: We are the country that has saved the most people from the Gaza Strip. Getting people out of Gaza is the most complicated operation there is. Every person who leaves must be checked by Mossad, Shin Bet, Defense, the Israeli government and the Palestinian authority. Only Egypt and Qatar have welcomed 10-15 people more than we Italians have. Belringuer contested that as far as public acts are concerned, Italy has done little, making a comparison with France, Spain and the United Kingdom, which have taken initiatives such as recognizing Palestine or sanctioning extremist Israeli ministers. Tajani responded: Is it better to save human lives or to chat?

0:17 | June 18

IDF, Iran's ninth attack today concluded

The IDF reported that Iran's ninth attack of the day against Israel has ended. Fifteen ballistic missiles hit the country, some of which were intercepted by defense systems. The Magen David Adom rescue service reports that there are no injuries so far.

0:16 | June 18

Israel, Explosions Heard Over Tel Aviv

Explosions were heard over Tel Aviv after Israel warned it had detected missiles fired by Iran. Reuters footage showed Israeli air defenses attempting to intercept the missiles in the sky shortly after 1 a.m. local time. Israeli firefighters and rescue workers also reported that several fires had broken out in open areas along Israel's coastal, southern and central regions following Iranian missile fires. Firefighting teams were en route to the affected areas.

0:14 | June 18

Netanyahu spoke with Trump

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump this evening from the bunker where he was assessing the situation. The summit has just concluded, Israeli media reported.

0:11 | June 18

Israel at UN, Attacks Response to Existential Threat

Israel has stated in a letter to the UN Secretary-General, the Security Council and the General Assembly that the attacks launched against Iran over the past five days are justified because Israel, as the homeland of the Jews, cannot and will not accept the existential threat of extermination that Iran poses. This is not just rhetoric: Iran has a plan to eliminate Israel, which includes concrete plans and actions to achieve its goal, according to the letter signed by Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, to which EFE has had access. Saar says that Iran plans to produce 10,000 ballistic missiles in three years and given the size of Israel, this is an intolerable threat. No country in the world would tolerate such a threat. For this reason, Israel has launched a series of attacks in which it scrupulously respects the laws of armed conflict, having prepared precise attacks against military targets and taking all measures at its disposal to minimize harm to civilians.

00:06 | June 18

Sirens sound alarm in Tel Aviv, loud booms heard

Loud booms are heard in Tel Aviv after the sirens went off for the launch of missiles from Iran. Alarms also went off in Jerusalem, in the Golan Heights, in central Israel.

00:05|June 18

Israel, IDF: New Ballistic Missile Launch from Iran

The Israel Defense Forces said it detected a new ballistic missile launch from Iran against Israel. The army ordered the population to take cover. Alarm sirens are sounding in central and northern Israel after the launch. The defense shield, the Iron Dome, has gone into operation.

00:04 | June 18

Iran: Media: Terrorist team linked to Israel arrested

Iranian security services have arrested a group of people - described as a terrorist team - allegedly working for the Israeli secret intelligence service, the Mossad, in a suburb of Tehran, the Iranian state news agency Tasnim reported, citing local authorities. A significant quantity of explosives, mini combat drones equipped with guidance systems, advanced communications equipment and remote control systems were found in a car in which the arrested people were traveling, the Iranian agency reported. The suspects intended to carry out large-scale sabotage and subversive activities in densely populated areas, Tasnim said.

00:03 | June 18

Nbc, Trump weighs options for Iran, including US attack

Donald Trump is weighing a range of options for Iran, including a possible attack, NBC reported, citing sources after the Security Council meeting at the White House. Trump's mediator Steve Witkoff, Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Caine and other military leaders left the White House after the meeting.

00:01|June 17

NYT: Iran prepares for possible attacks on US bases and considers planting mines in the Strait of Hormuz

Iran is preparing missiles and other military equipment to attack American bases in the Middle East if the United States joins Israel's war, the New York Times reported, citing American sources, also writing that Tehran could plant mines in the Strait of Hormuz if the United States joins Israel's war: the mines would aim to block American warships in the Persian Gulf.

June 18, 00:01 - Updated June 18, 20:10