After U.S. Airstrikes on Nuclear Sites, Iran and Israel Exchange New Blows as Diplomacy Stalls and Global Tensions Rise

Monday, June 23, 2025

Updated: 08:15 AM CEST

The eleventh day of the conflict between the Iranian regime and Israel follows the dramatic U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. While both sides continue exchanging missile and drone attacks, international focus has turned toward diplomatic fallout, economic shockwaves, and security responses. The United Nations held an emergency session with sharp divisions, while Iranian and Israeli military operations continue across multiple fronts.

ISRAEL

➤ Missile Strikes and Alerts

  • Israeli military announced that air raid sirens were activated across central Israel due to incoming missiles launched from Iran.

  • According to the army, the alerts were lifted after a short time, allowing civilians to exit shelters.

  • Iranian missile fire during the previous 24 hours included at least 27 ballistic missiles in two waves, targeting Tel Aviv, Haifa, Ness Ziona, and Rishon LeZion.

  • Several buildings in Tel Aviv were damaged. Reports indicate additional damage in the northern and central regions.

➤ Military Operations Inside Iran

  • Israeli forces confirmed the dispatch of 20 fighter jets conducting what it termed “intelligence-based operations” in the Tehran, Kermanshah, and Hamadan regions.

  • Targets reportedly included missile storage facilities, launch platforms, radar and satellite installations, and a surface-to-air missile system near Tehran.

  • Following these attacks, explosions and activation of air defense systems were reported in several cities, including Tehran, Tabriz, Yazd, and Hashtgerd.

➤ Confirmed Casualties

  • According to Iranian state-linked media (Tasnim), seven IRGC members and two conscripts were killed during Israeli strikes on two military sites in Yazd.

➤ Official Israeli Statements

  • The Israeli prime minister stated that the country is nearing completion of its objective to eliminate Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities.

  • He also said that Israel does not intend to enter a prolonged war but that the current military operation will not end prematurely.

IRAN

➤ Missile Launches Toward Israel

  • Iranian forces launched a new wave of 27 missiles toward Israel early Sunday, with reports confirming that some of these struck populated areas, including Tel Aviv, Haifa, Ness Ziona, and Rishon LeZion.

  • The strikes followed the previous day’s U.S. air assault on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

➤ Strikes Inside Iran

  • Israeli airstrikes targeted multiple regions, including:

    • Tehran Province: Air defenses activated in multiple sectors

    • Yazd: Two military facilities bombed, nine fatalities reported

    • Kermanshah and Hamadan: Radar and satellite systems attacked

    • Parchin: According to regime-affiliated media (Nour News), a military-industrial complex in southeast Tehran was bombed

  • Explosion reports and active air defense observed in Tehran, Tabriz, Yazd, Hashtgerd, and other cities.

  • A regime official claimed that over 200 locations in Tehran province have been targeted during the past ten days.

➤ Regime Response and Messaging

  • Senior regime officials stated that the presence of U.S. bases and forces in the region is no longer tolerable.

  • They warned that any country cooperating with U.S. strikes may be considered a legitimate military target.

  • Others emphasized that Iran retains its technical capability and enriched materials, and that despite attacks, the country’s nuclear ambitions remain operational.

➤ U.S. Satellite Damage Claims

  • U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated via Truth Social that “monumental damage” was inflicted on Iran’s nuclear sites.

  • He claimed that the deep underground structures were hit and referred to the operation as a “bullseye.”

  • Trump questioned why “regime change” would be inappropriate if the Iranian government could not “make Iran great again.”

Field Reports & Developments

➤ UN Security Council Emergency Meeting – No Resolution

  • The session was held Sunday evening at Iran’s request.

  • The UN Secretary-General warned that the region cannot withstand another cycle of destruction and called for de-escalation.

  • The Director General of the IAEA said that nuclear sites must not be targeted and confirmed that the agency is currently unable to assess the full extent of the damage at Fordow.

  • The Russian delegate condemned the U.S. strike as illegal and unilateral.

  • The U.S. representative stated that the operation was aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear enrichment capabilities, protecting Israel, and exercising the U.S. right to self-defense under the UN Charter.

  • The Iranian ambassador accused the U.S. of once again placing Israeli interests ahead of its own security and denounced the UN and IAEA for inaction.

  • The Israeli ambassador praised the U.S. attack and said Iran had never seriously pursued negotiations.

➤ Australia Supports U.S. Strike

  • The Australian Prime Minister publicly supported the U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites.

  • Speaking in Canberra alongside the foreign minister, he called for all parties to return to diplomacy, while warning Iran against further actions that would destabilize the region.

➤ Security Inside the U.S.

  • ABC News: Senior FBI and DHS officials briefed hundreds of U.S. state and local security leaders following the attack.

  • No direct threat to U.S. territory was identified at this time.

➤ Regional Positioning

  • A senior official from Yemen’s Houthi forces stated that their response would depend on the Islamic Republic of Iran’s next move.

  • Syrian media reported that the government expelled Talal Naji, a Palestinian militant leader allied with Iran, from Syrian territory.

  • The expulsion is seen as a distancing move by Syria after U.S. involvement in the conflict.

Updated: 10:45 AM CEST

➤ New Iranian Missile Attacks on Israel

  • The Israeli military reported multiple new projectile launches from Iran on Monday.

  • Air raid sirens were activated in northern and central Israel, including Tel Aviv.

  • Israeli media sources estimated around 15 missiles were launched, and some reports confirmed impacts.

  • The attacks occurred a few hours after a threatening post from Iran regime’s Supreme Leader’s official X account, which described Israel’s actions as a grave mistake requiring immediate punishment.

➤ Israeli Strikes on Iranian Airports and Missile Facilities

  • The Israeli army announced it had bombed six Iranian airports located in western, central, and eastern Iran.

  • According to IDF statements, the strikes damaged:

    • Runways, underground hangars

    • Refueling aircraft

    • Aircraft models including F-5, F-14, and AH-1 Cobra helicopters

  • Israel said these aircraft were intended to challenge Israeli air superiority in case of a wider Iranian response.

  • Shortly afterward, the IDF confirmed additional strikes on missile launch and storage sites, specifically targeting ground-to-ground systems aimed at Israel.

➤ Casualty Update – IRGC in Yazd

  • The IRGC Ghadir Command in Yazd reported that the death toll from Sunday’s Israeli airstrikes on two military sites in the province has risen to 10.

➤ Statements by Iranian Military Command

  • The Chief of Iran regime’s Armed Forces stated that the U.S. has now formally entered the war with Iran.

  • He emphasized that the recent U.S. strike has opened the door to direct military retaliation and that the Iranian Armed Forces are now authorized to respond to U.S. interests and assets.

  • The spokesperson for Iran regime’s Khatam-al-Anbiya Command Center echoed this position and said the range of military targets has expanded and future Iranian actions would be powerful, calculated, and unpredictable.

➤ Iran’s Parliament and Upcoming IAEA Decision

  • Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of Iran regime’s Parliament, said the legislature fully supports military retaliation against the U.S.

  • He described the American strike on Iran regime’s nuclear facilities as an attack on diplomacy and warned of the consequences of continued U.S. support for Israel.

  • He also said that Parliament is preparing legislation to suspend Iran’s cooperation with the IAEA until the agency provides guarantees of professionalism and neutrality.

  • An emergency session of the IAEA Board of Governors on the U.S. strike is scheduled for today.

➤ Tensions Over the Strait of Hormuz

  • Kaja Kallas, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, warned that any Iranian attempt to close the Strait of Hormuz would be highly dangerous and destabilizing for all.

  • She said concerns are rising over potential retaliation and escalation in the Gulf.

  • U.S. Secretary of State also issued a strong warning, stating that closing the strait would be a severe miscalculation and amount to “economic suicide” for Iran.

➤ China’s Reaction

  • China called on the international community to do more to de-escalate tensions between Iran and Israel.

  • A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry emphasized the strategic importance of the Persian Gulf for global trade and urged world powers to act to prevent the conflict from harming global economic stability.

Updated: 13:00 PM CEST

Israeli Strikes on Tehran Government and Security Infrastructure

  • The Israeli Ministry of Defense confirmed that Israeli forces conducted major airstrikes on government and security targets in Tehran.

  • Targets included:

    • Evin Prison

    • IRGC Internal Security Headquarters

    • Basij Headquarters

    • Ideological Command Center

    • Palestine Square countdown clock installation

    • Alborz IRGC base

    • Iran’s cyber-police command (NAJA)

  • Iranian Judiciary media outlet Mizan reported that projectiles hit Evin Prison, causing damage to parts of the prison, and referred to the strike as a “clear violation of international law.”

  • A black-and-white surveillance video was circulated allegedly showing the moment of the strike on Evin Prison.

  • The Israeli Ministry of Defense called the attacked entities “military-relevant centers of repression” and stated that the operation was conducted “under the direct instructions of Prime Minister Netanyahu.”

➤ Explosions and Airstrikes Across Tehran

  • Israeli Air Force confirmed ongoing aerial operations targeting military objectives in Tehran.

  • Reports by Iranian news agency Tasnim confirmed attacks on multiple areas of the capital.

  • One of the major power distribution feeders in northern Tehran (Evin area) was reportedly damaged, causing localized blackouts.

  • The 9th of Dey Building, part of the state broadcaster IRIB’s technical operations center for multiple TV and radio channels, was also targeted.

    • Live broadcast of IRIB News Channel was briefly interrupted.

  • Reports and video footage show explosions in Karaj and central Tehran, including areas near Vanak Square, Jahan-e-Koodak, and Jordan (Africa Boulevard).

➤ Second Reported Strike on Fordow Nuclear Facility

  • The Crisis Management Office in Qom Province confirmed a second Israeli airstrike targeting the Fordow nuclear site.

  • Officials claimed there was no risk to civilians and repeated earlier assurances made by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran.

➤ IAEA Emergency Meeting in Vienna

  • The IAEA Board of Governors convened a special session in Vienna to address the ongoing military conflict and recent attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

  • Director General Rafael Grossi called for a ceasefire to allow inspectors to access Iranian nuclear sites.

  • He stated that verification of conditions on the ground is a precondition for any diplomatic outcome, and only on-site inspections can determine the extent of the damage.

➤ Power Outages in Iran and Israel

  • Reports indicated power outages in parts of Tehran following airstrikes and infrastructure damage.

  • Simultaneously, around 8,000 Israeli residents were reported without electricity due to Iranian missile strikes.

  • According to the Israeli Ministry of Energy and Electric Company, a strategic power facility in the south was damaged, causing outages in several residential areas.

➤ Iranian Casualties – Women Affected

  • Iran’s Ministry of Health reported updated figures on civilian impact, stating that since the beginning of the war:

    • 163 women have been injured

    • 44 women have been killed

Updated: 22:45 CEST

➤ Iran Launches Missile Strikes on U.S. Bases in Iraq and Qatar

  • Al-Udeid Air Base (Qatar):
    Iran’s Armed Forces General Command issued a statement claiming responsibility for a missile attack on Al-Udeid Air Base, the largest U.S. military installation in the Middle East.
    The operation, codenamed “Besharat al-Fath” (Glad Tidings of Victory), was described as a retaliatory strike in response to the U.S. bombing of Iran’s nuclear sites.
    Iran claimed it had fired fourteen ballistic missiles, equal in number to the bombs used by the U.S. during the Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan strikes.
    U.S. and Qatari sources stated that all incoming missiles were intercepted and destroyed, and that no casualties occurred.

  • Qatar’s Reaction:
    The Qatari Ministry of Defense confirmed the missile attack and stated that the base had been evacuated in advance due to prior intelligence.
    Reports from last week suggested that some U.S. assets had already been relocated.
    Qatari officials assured that air and ground security was maintained, and that the country’s airspace had been closed temporarily as a precaution.
    The Pentagon also confirmed that the base had been struck by short- and medium-range ballistic missiles, but stated there were no injuries among American forces.

➤ Advance Warning and Deconfliction Channel Reports

  • A source told Reuters that Iran had pre-notified relevant parties about the attack on U.S. bases, which led to the temporary closure of Qatar’s airspace.

  • The New York Times reported that Iran’s goal was to minimize U.S. casualties and avoid an uncontrollable escalation.

  • Axios additionally stated that the Trump administration had been informed of the Iranian strike plan prior to execution.

➤ Trump’s New Reactions on Truth Social

  • U.S. President Donald Trump posted that the regime’s nuclear sites hit in Iran were “totally destroyed” and that “only the Fake News would say anything different.”

  • He specifically named CNN, NBC, ABC, and Comcast executives, accusing them of attempting to downplay the operation’s success.

  • In a follow-up post, in relation to the Iran regime’s retaliation missile attack on the Al-Udeid Air Base, Trump characterized Iran’s retaliation as weak, noting that 14 missiles were fired, 13 were intercepted, and one was ignored as “non-threatening.”

  • He confirmed that no Americans were harmed, minimal damage occurred, and thanked Iran for giving early notice, which allowed the U.S. to avoid casualties.

  • Trump concluded by stating that both sides should now “proceed to Peace and Harmony in the Region.”

Global Economic Impact

  • Following the U.S. strike, oil prices rose sharply in early Monday trading in Asian markets:

    • Brent crude surged to $81.40/barrel before stabilizing at $78.89

    • WTI crude hit $78.40, later settling at $75.71

  • Analysts note this is the highest price level since January 2025, and volatility is expected to continue as long as military actions affect Persian Gulf security.

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