Israel-Iran LIVE: Trump says US struck 3 Iranian nuclear sites - 'A full payload of BOMBS'

A senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader has called for missile strikes on US Navy vessels and the closure of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil shipping route, reports CNN.

“Following America’s attack on the Fordow nuclear installation, it is now our turn,” warned Hossein Shariatmadari, the outspoken editor-in-chief of the hardline Kayhan newspaper, who has previously described himself as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s “representative.”

A Telegram post from Kayhan quoted Shariatmadari declaring: “Without hesitation or delay, as a first step we must launch missile strikes on the American naval fleet based in Bahrain and simultaneously close the Strait of Hormuz to American, British, German, and French shipping.”

The message concluded with a quote from the Quran, which read: “Kill them wherever you shall overtake (find) them.”

So far, there has been no official comment from Supreme Leader Khamenei on the US strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities.

The three main nuclear facilities suspected to have part crucial for Iranian development of nuclear weapons have been struck, as confirmed by both US and Iranian sources.

However, as this map shows, there are many known sites across the country that use nuclear technology. Some of these sites could potentially host the type of enriched uranium storage facilities used for the development of an atom bomb, with Iran already having stated that uranium was removed from the three sites of Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan before they were hit by US bombs.

Trump has taken to his social media platform Truth Social since his news conference to issue another threat against Iran.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said he was “gravely alarmed” by the US strike on Iran early on Sunday, urging calm and warning against further escalation in the volatile region.

“I am gravely alarmed by the use of force by the United States against Iran today. This is a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge – and a direct threat to international peace and security,” Guterres wrote on X.

Here's what Trump said in his address as broadcasted live by Fox News and transcribed by Sky News:

"A short time ago, the U.S. military carried out massive precision strikes on the three key nuclear facilities in the Iranian regime: Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan.

"Everybody heard those names for years as they built this horribly destructive enterprise.

"Our objective was the destruction of Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world's number one state sponsor of terror.

"Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success.

"Iran's nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated.

"Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks would be far greater and a lot easier.

"For 40 years Iran has been saying death to America, death to Israel. They have been killing our people, blowing off their arms, blowing off their legs with roadside bombs. That was their speciality.

"We lost over a thousand people and hundreds of thousands throughout the Middle East and around the world have died as a direct result of their hate.

"In particular, so many were killed by their general, Qassem Soleimani.

"I decided a long time ago that I would not let this happen.

"It will not continue.

"I want to thank and congratulate Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu. We worked as a team like perhaps no team has ever worked before, and we've gone a long way to erasing this horrible threat to Israel.

"I want to thank the Israeli military for the wonderful job they've done. And most importantly, I want to congratulate the great American patriots who flew those magnificent machines tonight and all of the United States military on an operation the likes of which the world has not seen in many, many decades.

"Hopefully, we will no longer need their services in this capacity. I hope that so.

"I also want to congratulate the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Rosen Kane, spectacular general and all of the brilliant military minds involved in this attack.

"With all of that being said, this cannot continue.

"There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran, far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days.

"Remember, there are many targets left.

"Tonight's was the most difficult of them all by far, and perhaps the most lethal.

"But if peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill. Most of them can be taken out in a matter of minutes.

"There's no military in the world that could have done what we did tonight. Not even close. There's never been a military that could do what took place just a little while ago.

"Tomorrow, General Kaine, Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth will have a press conference at 8am at the Pentagon.

"I want to just thank everybody and in particular, God, I want to just say, we love you, God, and we love our great military. Protect them. God bless the Middle East. God bless Israel, and God bless America.

"Thank you very much. Thank you."

Trump has warned Iran that the US could target additional sites if Tehran fails to pursue peace, following his decision to launch strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities on Saturday.

“Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier,” Trump declared in a nationwide address.

He added, “This cannot continue. There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran, far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days. Remember, there are many targets left.”

Trump cautioned that the US could “go after those other targets with precision, speed, and skill,” emphasising such strikes could take place “in a matter of minutes.”

President Donald Trump has described the US military strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities as a “spectacular military success” in a statement delivered from the White House Cross Hall.

“Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success. Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated,” Trump said in his first public remarks since the operation.

Standing alongside Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the President delivered the confident update on the mission’s outcome.

He said, "There has never been a military that could do what we have done."

Stay online for the latest updates on Trump's address live.

It has been confirmed that six bunker buster bombs were used to destroy the Fordow nuclear facility which has been "destroyed."

The UK currently operates three permanent military sites in the Middle East, alongside a key Royal Air Force base situated in Cyprus in the Mediterranean.

Last March, Britain officially opened a permanent military centre at the Al Minhad Air Base in the United Arab Emirates. Named after World War II pilot William Donnelly, the facility is relatively modest in size but includes a headquarters, welfare centre and accommodation for personnel.

In addition, the UK maintains a continuous military presence in Bahrain and Oman, both of which serve as operational hubs for the British Navy. The primary base in the region remains RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, which hosts several fighter jets.

Moreover, the UK has access to the US-operated Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has addressed the world by a one minute long video posted on his X account.

On the post he said: "President Trump and I often say: ‘Peace through strength.’ First comes strength, then comes peace. And tonight, @realDonaldTrump and the United States acted with a lot of strength."

The following interactive map produced by the American Security Project shows US bases in the Middle East, including air bases, land posts and naval facilities.

Mahdi Mohammadi, a prominent Iranian commentator, has claimed that “several strange events did not happen” during a recent strike on the Fordow nuclear site.

Writing on Telegram in Farsi, Mohammadi insisted Tehran had been braced for an attack for several nights and that Fordow had been evacuated well in advance. According to the translation into English, he said “no irreversible damage” was inflicted on the facility.

He warned that damaging Iran’s key assets was “not that simple” and declared that “the gambler will lose this round.”

Yoav Gallant, Israel’s former defense minister, said in a social media post that President Trump had made a “bold decision for the United States, for Israel, for all of humanity.”

Gallant, who was fired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in November after the two clashed on Israel’s war against Hamas, has notably expressed continuing support of Netanyahu’s efforts against Iran. Gallant has repeatedly called for the United States to be more directly involved in the war.

The New York Times has reports a U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential intelligence, said that multiple 30,000-pound bunker bombs were dropped on Fordow and that initial damage assessments indicated that the facility had been “taken off the table.”

President Trump has reportedly said in a telephone call with news outlet Axios, in reference to the US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites:

"We had a great success tonight. Your Israel is much safer now."

Pro-IRGC media is reporting via Telegram: "America officially entered the war. The US reportedly informed Israel in advance, and both countries coordinated together on the attack.

"Three Iranian senior officials have reportedly said that they believe US forces bombed Fordow and Natanz nuclear sites at around 02:30.

"Iran has reportedly transferred its enriched uranium reserves from nuclear centers prior to the US attack. The Houthis have said 'Washington must bear the consequences.'"

Axios’s Barak Ravid has reported that an Israeli official told him that Israel was notified by the Trump administration in advance of the strike.

According to Israeli reports, Israel has known for several days that Trump is “on board”, however both Israel and the US decided to create a feeling as if there are disagreements “in order to lull the enemy.”

The New York Times has published the following map showing the nuclear facilities in Iran that have been targeted successfully, according to President Trump.

Trump has announced via his truth Social platform that he will hold a news conference to address the world media at 10pm EST.

New York Times correspondent David E. Sanger has provided the following analysis:

"While the attacks on Fordo and Natanz were expected, Isfahan was actually the more complex, and less discussed, target.

"Laboratories there did work on how to convert uranium into the form that would be needed to actually produce a weapon. And most of the near-bomb-grade fuel, enriched to 60 percent, was in specialty casks, deep inside one of the many laboratories and storage sites.

"Their locations were known by international inspectors, at least until a few weeks ago. It was unclear whether Iran had moved those supplies, as some Iranian officials suggested, in recent days."

Reuters News agency has reported that US military sources have stated that B2 bombers were used to attack the three Iranian nuclear sites President Trump confirmed have been bombed.

B2 stealth bombers are the only warplanes capable of launching the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator missiles that are capable of totally destroying the heavily fortified underground facilities Iran has used to develop its nuclear programme.

The United States has completed its successful attack on three nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan, Trump revealed in a social media post.

Earlier in the day he was expected to address reporters while entering the White House, however he declined to speak, giving his simple raised fist salute instead.

This gesture is now being read as a signal that Trump knew in that moment that US warplanes were in the midst of their mission.

He said:

"We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter."

Traffic in the Downtown area of Los Angeles has reportedly been brought to a standstill by protestors, according to local reports.

Multiple X posts have been published showing demonstrators waving placards and flags in support of the Iranian regime and condemning Israeli strikes against the country.

President Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social ahead of arriving at the White House to drop an enigmatic message about his intentions for US military intervention in Iran.

He said: "Only time will tell."

@ynetnews Journalist Emily Schrader has reported via her X account that Irianian military sources are stating they are being attacked by hostile ground forces at Iran's Fordow nuclear site.

She points out there is no evidence at the time that if such an attack is occurring then Israel is responsible.

Israeli officials have told Donald Trump’s administration they will not wait two weeks for Iran to reach a deal to dismantle key parts of its nuclear programme – and could act alone before the deadline passes, according to two sources.

Amid ongoing debate inside Mr Trump’s team over whether the United States should become involved, the sources said Israel had raised its concerns directly with US officials on Thursday in what they described as a tense phone call.

The IDF has released footage of its earlier attack on Iranian fighter jets in Central Iran today.

The IDF has released a breakdown of numbers related to the impact of its ongoing war with Iran.

It includes 24 civilians killed and more than 8,000 people evacuated from their homes.

Israel has launched a fresh attack against military sites in the south of Iran, the military has confirmed.

The IDF said that it had targeted a "weapons depot" and sites for "unmanned aerial vehicles."

Earlier this evening, the force confirmed that they had targeted "fighter jets belonging to the Iranian Armed Forces" and "military infrastructure" in the centre of the country.

A man arrested by Iran on suspicion of assisting Israel is a German national according to state TV Channel Two.

The person is believed to be accused of “spying in sensitive military and nuclear areas” and is described as a "Jewish German dual national and a spy".

Reports indicate that he had entered Iran “under the disguise of a tourist” but alleged that he “had been filming sensitive areas across the country".

Masoud Pezeshkian, the Iranian president, has said that his country will not halt nuclear activity “under any circumstances” amid ongoing fighting with Israel, according to AFP citing the IRNA news agency.

He said: “We are ready to discuss and cooperate to build confidence in the field of peaceful nuclear activities, however we do not agree to reduce nuclear activities to zero under any circumstances,” Pezeshkian is reported to have said during a phone call with Emmanuel Macron.

Iran security forces have arrested 22 people in the city of Qom on suspicion of supporting Israel, according to state media.

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has blamed Benjamin Netenyahu for not wanting to “resolve issues through diplomatic means.”

Speaking at a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation foreign ministers in Istanbul, the Turkish leader said that he was “optimistic that victory will be Iran’s.

The Turkish President called on the UN and Israel's allies to do more pressure Tel Aviv into bringing the violence to and end.

Erdoğan is expected to be in attendance at the NATO summit next week where he will come face to face with Trump and other leaders of the alliance.

The Houthis have released a statement saying that they will target US ships if the country follows through with threats to strike Iran.

In a statement, the group blamed Israel for seeking to eliminate Iran in a bid to further their aim of achieving dominance in the Middle East.

They said: "Based on this, should the Americans become involved in attacking or aggressing against Iran alongside the Israeli enemy, the Yemeni Armed Forces will target their ships and warships in the Red Sea."

The group vowed to continue supporting Arab and Muslim countries subjected to Israeli attacks.

They added: "We will not abandon our brothers in the Gaza Strip, nor will we allow this criminal entity, backed by America, to execute its plans in the region."

A Pentagon official has urged President Trump to use a tactical nuclear warhead.

One official told the Daily Mail: “The nuclear warhead has to happen, whether it's the first strike, second strike or 17th strike... given the location, from what I've read and for what I've seen, it's a difficult spot.

“In order to be successful with the least amount of casualties, and to be able to get that target and do what we want to do, which is destroy them, it would have to involve a nuclear warhead.'

“Our bombers are the only ones that could get in there.”

Full story here.

A former director of the CIA believes there is “no question” that the US would be dragged into a regional war if they launch a military strike against Iran.

Leon Panetta, who served as Director of the CIA between 2009 and 2011, has warned his government that military action by Trump would put the two countries at war.

Full story here.

Warning that the US made a “terrible mistake” by invading Iraq two decades ago, he said: “It’s a lesson that the president needs to learn, because if he goes in and attacks Iran, then there’s no question that the United States would be in a regional war at that point."

The former Secretary of Defence also believes that Iran would be sure to retaliate if it was attacked by the US.

He added to CNN: “So make no mistake about it. It may be an airstrike, but it would definitely involve the United States in a war with [Iran].”

Israel has claimed that it killed a senior military commander in an operation in the city of Qom.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said today: "Saeed Izadi led the Palestine Corps of the Quds Forces, who financed and armed Hamas in preparation for the October 7 massacre, was eliminated in an apartment in the heart of Qom."

In a statement, the IDF said: Izadi was one of the key orchestrators of the brutal October 7th terror attack and among the few who knew about it before it was executed.

"In his role, he coordinated military efforts between the Iranian regime and Hamas in Lebanon and Gaza.

"He facilitated terrorist activity and managed budgets transferred directly from Iran to Hamas in Gaza.

"In practice, Izadi was the main link between the Iranian regime and Hamas. The blood of many Israelis are on his hands.

"We will continue to pursue the orchestrators of October 7th—every last one of them."

Iran has yet to confirm the death.

Iranian state media has confirmed that 400 people have died in the country since the two nations began exchanging missile attacks.

Citing the head of Iran’s Ministry of Health Information Centre, they said: "400 dead, 3,056 injured by Israel’s missiles and drones.

“Of the dead, 54 were women & children. 5 were health workers. The majority of the casualties were civilians.”

State media also confirmed that a sixth nuclear scientist had been killed by Israel.

Isar Tabatabai-Qamsheh was killed at home alongside his wife Mansoureh Haji Salem according to reports.

Nournews said on Teelgram: "He was a graduate in mechanical engineering with a focus on nuclear engineer and had dedicated year’s of his life to Iran’s nuclear industry."

Israel has launched fresh airstrikes targeting "military infrastructure" in southwestern Iran, according to IDF spokesperson Avichay Adraee.

He wrote on X that Israeli warplanes were "currently launching raids" in the region, though gave no further details.

Iranian media reported explosions in Ahvaz and Bandar-e Mahshahr, both located in Khuzestan Province.

There has been no official response from Tehran at this stage.

Iran on Saturday acknowledged for the first time it detained a German cyclist on spying allegations, likely an effort by Tehran to pressure Germany amid its war with Israel.

The semiofficial Mehr news agency published footage of the unnamed man’s arrest. It did not say when the arrest occurred, however it described the cyclist as being detained in Markazi province, home to Iran’s Arak heavy water reactor.

The German news agency dpa reported the arrest took place last year and that the man is being held in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison, home to Westerners and political prisoners.

The German Foreign Ministry declined to comment Saturday.

Thousands of pro-Palestine protesters are marching towards Whitehall from Russell Square in central London.

Protesters waved Palestinian flags and chanted "free, free Palestine", "occupation no more, Israel is a terrorist state" and "stop bombing Iran".

Many chanted "shame on you" as they walked past dozens of counter-protesters, organised by pro-Israeli group Stop The Hate, near Waterloo Bridge.

Six B-2 stealth bombers from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri were tracked heading toward a US base in Guam, according to flight data and air traffic control communications.

The B-2’s unique two-ton bunker buster bomb could be crucial in targeting Iran’s most secure nuclear facility, reported Fox News.

President Donald Trump, who has yet to decide on US involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict, is expected to return to the White House Saturday afternoon.

Emmanuel Macron said he told Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezashkian his country could in no circumstances have a nuclear weapon during a tense phone call.

Referring to an ongoing hostage situation, the French President, posting on X, added: "I reiterated my firm demand: Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris must be released. Their inhumane detention is unjust. I expect them to return to France.

"I also expressed my deep concern about Iran’s nuclear program. Here again, my position is clear: Iran must never acquire nuclear weapons, and it is up to Iran to provide full guarantees that its intentions are peaceful.

"I am convinced that a path exists to end war and avoid even greater dangers.

"To achieve this, we will accelerate the negotiations led by France and its European partners with Iran."

A watchdog organisation has shared a graph illustrating the internet outages which are currently plaguing Iran.

NetBlocks commented: "Internet connectivity has again collapsed in #Iran following a brief period when residents could exchange messages with the outside world; Iran's nation-scale internet shutdown remains in effect, limiting access to information as the conflict with Israel continues."

Tulsi Gabbard, US Director of National Intelligence, has publicly backed President Trump’s claim that Iran could obtain a nuclear weapon “within a matter of weeks”—a dramatic reversal from her earlier testimony.

Writing on X, she said the media had “taken my testimony out of context” and accused them of spreading “fake news” to create division.

Just two months ago, she told Congress: “The US intelligence Community continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme Leader Khamenei has not authorised the nuclear weapons program that he suspended in 2003.”

Her U-turn follows two public rebukes from Mr Trump, who dismissed her assessment and pointed instead to Tehran’s growing enriched uranium stockpile.

Ms Gabbard did not make clear precisely how her previous remarks had been taken out of context.

An Iranian nuclear scientist and his wife were reportedly assassinated in a targeted attack in Tehran, according to local and regional media.

Sharif newspaper identified the victim as Dr Seyed Esar Tabatabaei Qomsheh, a professor at Sharif University of Technology, describing him as a previously little-known figure within Iran’s nuclear industry.

The semi-official Maher news agency said both Dr Tabatabaei Qomsheh and his wife, Mansoureh Haji Salem, were killed late last week in what it described as a strike by the “Zionist regime".

Israeli media outlet Ynet also reported the killing, though Israel has not issued any official comment.

The incident follows a string of reported Israeli operations aimed at degrading Iran’s nuclear programme by targeting scientists and critical infrastructure.

Police in Cyprus have arrested an individual on suspicion of terror-related offences and spying on an RAF air base.

The individual appeared before a district court on the island today, and was made the subject of an eight-day detention pending inquiries. No further details will be released at this time, police said, citing national security.

Several Cypriot news outlets reported the suspect was a man of Azeri ethnic descent and had been arrested in the Zakaki suburb of the coastal city of Limassol.

The suspect was thought to have had a British RAF military base in nearby Akrotiri under surveillance, as well as Cyprus's own Andreas Papandreou Air Base in the western region of Paphos since mid-April, Cyprus's ANT1 news portal reported.

At least 430 people have been killed and 3,500 injured in Iran since fighting began on 13 June, according to the country’s health ministry.

The figures, reported by the state-aligned Nour news agency, mark the first official update in several days.

A previous statement on Sunday had put the death toll at 224, while the Human Rights Activists News Agency estimated 657 deaths as of Friday.

The sharp rise highlights the escalating human cost of the ongoing conflict.

The Isfahan nuclear site, located in central Iran, is a key facility in the country’s nuclear programme, responsible for converting uranium ore into gas for enrichment.

It houses several installations, including a uranium conversion facility and a fuel fabrication plant.

The site plays a critical role in producing material that can be further enriched for use in civilian reactors—or potentially for nuclear weapons.

It has been repeatedly highlighted by Western and Israeli officials as a strategic target due to its role in Iran’s suspected weapons ambitions.

UK and Israeli authorities are working to provide charter flights out of Tel Aviv and British nationals in the country should register their presence with the Foreign Office, Downing Street said.

David Lammy arrived in Geneva earlier today for talks with the Iranian foreign minister and European allies as the UK presses for a diplomatic solution to the Israel-Iran conflict.

The Foreign Secretary is meeting Abbas Araghchi alongside his counterparts from France, Germany and the EU as he seeks to negotiate a settlement before US President Donald Trump decides on whether to take military action against Tehran.

In a statement read by his press secretary on Thursday, Mr Trump said there was still "a substantial chance of negotiations" and said he would make a decision on deploying US forces "within the next two weeks".

Israeli Air Force fighter jets struck key nuclear sites in Isfahan, focusing on uranium conversion and centrifuge production facilities critical to Iran’s weapons program.

The IDF said about 50 aircraft launched 150 precision-guided munitions across multiple military targets in Iran, guided by Army Intelligence Unit data.

Alongside Isfahan, missile infrastructure, drone launchers, and air defense systems were also hit in coordinated attacks.

The operation killed Aminpour Jodaki, commander of the IRGC’s second drone unit, as israel continues efforts to degrade iran’s military capabilities.

Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has said it would be "very dangerous for everyone" if US gets involved in the war alongside Israel.

Iran experienced significant internet disruptions over the past few days, with connectivity dropping to approximately 82% of normal levels.

These outages coincide with a mysterious tremor in Khorramabad, western Iran, which authorities have not fully explained.

The Supreme National Security Council reportedly ordered the shutdown to protect against cyberattacks amid ongoing conflict with Israel.

The Iranian government has also urged citizens to delete WhatsApp, alleging it shares information with Israel, a claim WhatsApp denies.

Iran has denied claims that it is running low on missiles, insisting it has deliberately shifted to using fewer, more advanced weapons in recent strikes.

A senior Iranian official said the country now prioritises precision over volume, targeting sensitive Israeli military and security sites.

They claimed a recent missile “easily” bypassed Israel’s multi-layered air defences, including systems supplied by the US.

Speaking to CNN, the official warned: “Israel should not be happy about the decrease in the number of missiles fired.”

In a separate but simultaneous strike, Israel also killed Behanam Shahriari, the commander of Unit 190 of the Quds Force, responsible for weapons transfers across the region.

Shahriari was killed in western Iran while travelling by vehicle more than 1,000km from Israel, in an operation described as surgically precise.

He oversaw arms shipments and financial flows to Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis, including rockets and missiles fired at Israel during the war.

Israeli officials said he also ran a vast smuggling and finance network through Turkey and Lebanon, and his death deals a severe blow to Iran’s terror infrastructure.

In a rare operation deep inside Iranian territory, Israeli fighter jets killed Saeed Izadi, the commander of the Quds Force’s Palestine Corps and a key liaison between Tehran and Hamas.

Izadi was struck overnight in a safe house in Qom following a long-running intelligence operation conducted jointly by Israel’s Air Force and Intelligence Branch.

He played a central role in coordinating military support and financial backing for Hamas and other Palestinian terror groups, including advance knowledge of the October 7 massacre.

Israeli officials said he was also responsible for activating Hamas’s capabilities in Lebanon and helping maintain the group’s grip on Gaza.

The UK has pulled its Embassy staff out of Iran as fears over a war with Israel and military intervention from the US mount.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is advising against all travel to Iran due to the ongoing situation.

In an update on Friday, the FCDO said that all UK staff in Iran have been withdrawn and the embassy is working remotely. They have urged British nationals to "consider your presence" in Iran due to the risk of arrest or questioning.

The FCDO said: "Due to the ongoing security situation, we have taken the precautionary measure to temporarily withdraw UK staff from Iran. Our embassy continues to operate remotely."

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has earned a fearsome reputation over his long reign for political caution, strict conservatism and absolute ruthlessness. But most of all, he is known for one thing — stubbornness.

And even as his top generals are killed, Iran’s prized nuclear sites are bombed and enemy jets circle his capital, Khamenei this week rebuffed US President Donald Trump’s demand to stand down, vowing: “The Iranian nation will stand firmly against any imposed war, just as it always has,” reports The Telegraph.

READ FULL STORY HERE

At a UN Security Council emergency session, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi warned that a strike on Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant could release severe radioactivity, stressing it must be off-limits.

Israel says it has avoided reactor attacks so far, instead targeting enrichment facilities in Natanz, centrifuge workshops near Tehran, Isfahan labs, and the Arak heavy-water reactor.

While the reactor was not operational, IAEA later confirmed damage to key infrastructure, yet without contamination risks.

Global anxieties are mounting that any strike on major nuclear sites could trigger an environmental and geopolitical catastrophe.

Since Israeli strikes began on June 13, at least 657 people in Iran have been killed—including about 263 civilians—with more than 2,000 wounded, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).

Iran has responded with over 450 missiles and 1,000 drones, most shot down by Israel’s layered air defences, but not before inflicting casualties on Israeli soil—roughly two dozen Israelis killed and hundreds injured.

In a significant escalation, Israel’s defense minister announced the killing of IRGC Quds Force commander Saeed Izadi in Qom; Izadi was allegedly involved in arming Hamas for the October 7.

The hostilities have wreaked havoc across both countries, with civilians bearing the brunt.

Prime Minister Netanyahu declared Israel’s air operations over Iran will persist “for as long as it takes” to eliminate what it deems an existential nuclear and missile threat

Israel’s military brass echoed this, preparing for a drawn-out effort even as core targets like the underground Fordo enrichment site are reportedly beyond Israel’s current strike capabilities without US “bunker-busters”

Trump has given Israel up to two weeks before announcing whether the US will join the aerial offensive.

Netanyahu faces the prospect that his campaign might stall without direct US military intervention.

European foreign ministers and Iran’s top diplomat Abbas Araghchi met for four hours in Geneva on Friday, but ended without a breakthrough as fighting between Israel and Iran entered its second week.

Araghchi reaffirmed that Iran will not negotiate with the US while Israeli strikes continue, though he left the door open to dialogue with Europe if aggression stops.

President Trump is holding off a decision on US military involvement for up to two weeks, awaiting signs of successful diplomacy.

No date was set for the next round of talks, reflecting deep skepticism on both sides.

Israel’s military confirmed last night’s strike on the Isfahan nuclear complex—the ninth straight night of targeted attacks on Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure—as Tehran flatly rejected any prospect of nuclear diplomacy amid the bombardment.

The wave of assaults follows a massive aerial campaign launched on June 13 involving over 200 Israeli jets hitting Natanz, Fordow, Arak and Isfahan, in what Israeli officials describe as a mission to delay Iran’s nuclear programme by up to three years.

Last night’s raid on Isfahan again reportedly focused on reconversion and uranium‑production facilities, though international monitors say the radiological risk remains low for now.

In response, Iran unleashed a missile barrage at Israeli cities—sirens wailed across Tel Aviv, Holon and southern communities—but avert rated no deaths, raising fears of broader escalation As global leaders from the UN, EU, Russia and China urge de‑escalation, U.S. President Trump has confirmed he’ll decide within two weeks whether America will enter the fray