Israel has said it is ‘on the verge’ of destroying ‘more than 10 nuclear targets’ in Iran’ – amid fears that strikes on the sites could trigger a radiation incident.
The World Health Organisation has expressed fears that strikes near Tehran’s atomic bases could impact the environment and people’s health ‘in Iran and across the region’.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a post on X that the ‘escalation of violence’ and rising casualties ‘is extremely concerning’ and ‘distressing’, adding that he was ‘particularly concerned’ about reports of strikes near nuclear facilities.
His comments come after the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog said there was a possibility of both radiological and chemical contamination from the damaged Natanz installation, Iran’s main nuclear hub, which was the first to be hit.
Now Israel’s defence minister Israel Katz has warned that his country’s Air Force will strike ‘very significant targets, strategic targets, targets of the regime and infrastructure’ in Tehran today.
President Donald Trump earlier declared he wants a ‘complete give-up’ by Iran and a ‘real end’ to its nuclear program, which he suggested would not be achieved through a ceasefire deal.
‘I’m not looking for a ceasefire, we’re looking at better than a ceasefire,’ Trump told reporters as he landed back in the US from a G7 summit in Canada. The president added he was looking for ‘an end, a real end, not a ceasefire.’
Trump last night refused to sign a joint statement with fellow G7 leaders calling for de-escalation in the conflict before storming out of the summit, saying he had to get back to Washington early ‘for obvious reasons’.
Speaking from Air Force One, he then furiously denied claims made by French President Emmanuel Macron that he was heading back to work on a ceasefire, calling his counterpart ‘publicity seeking’ and a ‘nice guy’ but one who ‘doesn’t get it right too often.’
He said that Israel had no intention of stopping their offensive, telling reporters: ‘The Israelis aren’t slowing up their barrage on Iran… You’re going to find out over the next two days. You’re going to find out. Nobody’s slowed up so far.’
He warned that the US will join Israel’s war and ‘come down hard’ on Tehran if provoked, adding that if Tehran ‘touches’ US troops, ‘the gloves are off’.
Live updates below
Donald Trump speaks from Air Force One after leaving G7 summit early
President Trump has returned early from the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Canada, with pictures showing him landing in Maryland.
Trump refused to sign a joint statement with fellow G7 leaders calling for de-escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict, an official confirmed last night.
He said he had to get back to Washington early ‘for obvious reasons’.
Trump later lambasted French President Emmanuel Macron for suggesting he had left in order to negotiate a ceasefire deal between Israel and Iran.
He furiously denied the claim and ominously said his exit was for a ‘much bigger’ reason.
‘I’m not looking for a ceasefire, we’re looking at better than a ceasefire,’ Trump told reporters as he touched down on US soil.
EU foreign affairs chief warns US intervention in conflict would ‘definitely drag’ region into war
EU High Representative Kaja Kallas has warned that potential US military involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict would ‘definitely drag’ the entire Middle East into a wider, more dangerous conflict.
Writing on X, she added: ‘We all agree that Iran must never have a nuclear weapon. It is urgent to de-escalate the situation. The EU will play its part in diplomatic efforts.’
Israeli airline expects to begin flights tomorrow for people stranded abroad
Israel’s El Al Airlines says it has received the government’s permission to start flights to bring back people stranded abroad during the conflict with Iran.
The Israeli flag carrier was referring to people who had flights to Israel cancelled when its air space was closed.
It said it expects to operate flights on Wednesday from Larnaca, Athens, Rome, Milan and Paris to bring people to Israel.
El Al said that no flights from Israel to foreign countries had yet taken place since flights were grounded.
Iranian state media tells citizens to delete WhatsApp ‘amid fears it is sharing information with Israel’
Iranian media has told citizens to delete WhatsApp from their phones ‘as soon as possible’.
Multiple outlets claimed informed sources had warned that the app was sharing users’ location and communications with Israel. No evidence was provided to support the claims.
It comes after Iran’s cyber command banned the use of all connected devices for officials and their security details, apparently fearing they were being tracked or hacked by Israel, according to the Fars news agency.
Israeli diplomat claims Netanyahu is ‘focused on dragging US into war’
A former diplomat has claimed Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (pictured) is ‘insistent and focused’ on dragging the US into his country’s war with Iran to help destroy nuclear sites.
Alon Pinkas said Israel’s determination to eliminate the Iranian threat of a nuclear attack will not succeed without American intervention.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Pinkas, a former consul general of Israel, said:
Israel cannot destroy Iran’s nuclear-military infrastructure alone. That requires munitions, bombers, and delivery systems that Israel does not have, which is why Mr Netanyahu is so insistent and focused on dragging the US into the war.
Pinkas added any de-escalation in the conflict will be as a result of the US with Donald Trump ‘issuing contradictory statements every day’.
Picture: Iranian TV presenter features on banner in Tehran square
An Iranian television presenter who was forced to leave a live broadcast after an Israeli attack on the state broadcaster features on a new banner in Tehran.
The image of Sahar Emami, with her finger raised in apparent defiance, has been projected on a huge hoarding in Veliasr Square.
According to AFP, Emami features on the banner paired with a verse from the Persian poet Ferdowsi, which celebrates the courage of women “on the battlefield”.
Iranian media has portrayed Emami as a hero following the attack on the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) headquarters on Monday.
Earlier we reported three people were killed when the state broadcaster was bombed which forced programming to be suspended temporarily.
Italian PM Meloni ‘urged Trump to reopen Iran negotiations’ and ‘discussed Gaza ceasefire’
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni held a bilateral meeting with Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada yesterday, according to a statement issued by her office.
‘The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the most recent developments in Iran, reaffirming that it would be opportune to reopen negotiations,’ it read
Meloni ‘also stressed the need at this time to work towards reaching a ceasefire in Gaza’ during the conversation, it added.
Meloni is pictured left at the summit with (left to right) France’s President Macron, Canadian PM Mark Carney and US President Trump.
Pictures: Iranian missiles cause destruction in Arab-Israeli city of Tamra
Breaking:Iranian underground nuclear site hit during Israel strikes, UN watchdog says
The International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN’s nuclear watchdog, has said it has seen ‘direct impacts’ on the underground section of Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility.
Israel has repeatedly targeted the uranium enrichment plant which it considers a key site in the production of nuclear weapons.
The IAEA said it has studied satellite imagery produced after Israel’s attacks on Friday.
Looking at other sites, the watchdog said it had not seen any changes at the Esfahan nuclear site or the underground Fordo enrichment plant.
World Health Organisation chief ‘concerned’ about Israel’s targeting of nuclear facilities
The head of the World Health Organisation Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has shared a statement expressing his concern about the escalating violence between Israel and Iran.
The WHO chief said his organisation’s ‘particular concern’ was the targeting of nuclear sites and the possible ‘long-term impacts’ this could have on the environment and people in Iran and beyond.
Israel ‘on verge of destroying 10 nuclear targets’
Israel’s Defence Minister has said it is ‘on the verge’ of destroying ‘more than 10 nuclear targets’ in Iran.
As we reported earlier, Israel Katz has said the Israeli Air Force will strike ‘very significant targets, strategic targets, targets of the regime and infrastructure’ in Tehran today.
Now, speaking to the Times of Israel regarding Iran’s nuclear sites, Katz has given more information on what targets Israel has in its sights.
He also said that the underground Fordo facility is ‘an issue that will certainly be addressed.’
Iranian military leadership is ‘on the run’, Israeli official says
Iran’s military leadership is ‘on the run’, Israel has reportedly claimed.
The Israeli army said it bombed a secret command centre before killing Iran’s new wartime chief of staff Ali Shadmani, the Times of Israel reports.
The IDF said it stands ready to pick off the remaining military top brass, according to reports.
More than 150 people taken to hospital after Iranian strikes
The Israeli health ministry has said 154 people have been taken to hospitals across the country following Iranian strikes last night.
Officials said four were in what they described as ‘moderate condition’, while 130 are in ‘mild condition’. Fifteen are undergoing evaluation and five are being treated for anxiety.
In its last update, Iranian authorities say at least 224 people have been killed and more than 1,200 by Israeli air strikes.
Israel said 24 people had been killed.
