Summary of developments so far
The US and Israel have launched a joint military operation against Iran, prompting Tehran to fire retaliatory strikes against Israel and US bases across the Middle East.
Explosions rocked the Iranian capital Tehran, with satellite imagery showing extensive damage at the secure compound of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, though his whereabouts remains unclear.
Israel said its strikes targeted the Iranian regime leadership and military commanders, including Khamenei and president Masoud Pezeshkian. Iranian state media, citing Iran’s senior officials, reported that Khamenei was not in Tehran and was taken to a secure location, while Pezeshkian is safe.
Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian foreign minister who has been leading the nuclear talks for the Iranian delegation, promised that Iran’s army “will teach aggressors the lesson they deserve”.
Further explosions were reported in Gulf nations, including the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait, all of which host US military bases. One person was killed from shrapnel from an Iranian missile in Abu Dhabi, UAE officials said.
US president Donald Trump described the US military campaign as “massive and ongoing” as he called on the people of Iran to “take over your government”. In a speech posted on Truth Social, he said the US would “raze their [Iran’s] missile industry to the ground” and claimed Tehran had refused to reach a deal with the US that would have averted war.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the American-Israeli attack could “create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands”.
World leaders have urged all sides to de-escalate and return to the negotiating table. The UK, France and Germany issued a joint statement condemning Iran’s retaliatory attacks on neighbouring countries but it stopped short of complete support for the US-Israeli attacks on Tehran.
UK prime minister Keir Starmer has said British planes “are in the sky today” in the Middle East “as part of co-ordinated regional defensive operations to protect our people, our interests and our allies”.
Vehicles burn in Tehran after US-Israeli strikes – videoShare
Updated at 10.26 EST
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Israel strikes Iran
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Pictures: Aftermath of US and Israeli strikes in Tehran
Flames rise in an area in Tehran, Iran, in this screengrab obtained from social media video. Photograph: Social Media/ReutersPeople gather near burnt vehicles in Tehran, Iran, in this screengrab obtained from social media video. Photograph: Social Media/ReutersSmoke rises in central Tehran after Israel attack. Photograph: Abedin Taherkenareh/EPAHeavy traffic jams in Tehran following an Israeli attack. Photograph: Abedin Taherkenareh/EPAShareUN Security Council to hold emergency meeting
The UN Security Council called an emergency meeting after the US and Israeli attacks on Iran and retaliatory strikes by Tehran.
The emergency session was requested by the permanent missions of France, Bahrain, China, Russia and Colombia, according to a statement by the permanent mission of Russia to the UN.
The session, due to start at 4pm local time (9pm GMT), will address “the situation in the Middle East”, the UN said.
ShareNetanyahu and Trump hold phone call
The office of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has posted a photo on social media showing him holding a phone call.
The post says he was having a conversation with US president Donald Trump. Netanyahu is pictured at a desk with the book Allies at War by Tim Bouverie.
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Donna Ferguson
Imagery captured by Airbus shows the compound associated with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran appears to have been heavily damaged or destroyed.
The site is widely understood to function as the official residence and administrative compound of Iran’s Supreme Leader.
Drone footage of the compound associated with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, georeferenced. Photograph: Airbus Defence and SpaceDrone footage of the compound associated with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, georeferenced. Photograph: Airbus Defence and SpaceShareIran supreme leader and president still alive, says foreign minister
Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian foreign minister, told NBC News that Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and president Masoud Pezeshkian were still alive “as far as I know”.
“All high ranking officials are alive,” he said. “So everybody is now in its position, and we are handling this situation, and everything is fine.”
Israel said earlier today that its strikes targeted the Iranian regime leadership and military commanders, including Khamenei and Pezeshkian. Their whereabouts is unknown but Iranian media reported that Khamenei is due to speak today.
ShareMaps: US-Israeli joint military operation in Iran, and Tehran’s retaliatory strikesMap of US-Israeli strike targets in Iran, including capital TehranLocations of US air bases in the Middle East targeted by Iranian strikes, including Jordan, Kueait, Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE.ShareRegime change in Iran is ‘mission impossible’, says Tehran foreign minister
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said Trump’s goal for regime change in Iran is “mission impossible”.
He said Iran is attacking US military facilities in the Middle East region and not “Americans in their land”, but he added that his country was interested in de-escalation and ready to talk once the US-Israeli strikes end.
“There is no communication right now,” he said in an interview with NBC News.
“But if Americans wants to talk to us. They know how they can contact me. We are certainly interested for de-escalation… This is a war of choice by the United States, and they have to pay for that.
“But as far as we are concerned, we don’t want war.”
He added that US forces were attacking Iranians “but this is not what we are going to do”.
He said: “We are attacking the Americans bases, military bases in the region, and military installations and facilities, and this is only as an act of self-defence.”
“We are not the one who starts this aggression,” he added. “It was the United States and Israel who started this aggression. So there is no limit for us to defend ourselves, but once the aggression is stopped, we would also stop our self-defense.”
When asked about Trump’s remarks in a recorded speech about regime change in Iran, Araghchi responded:
“This is mission impossible. You cannot do regime change while millions of people are supporting the so-called regime,” he said, adding that millions of people across Iran came out in support of the government to mark the recent anniversary of the 1979 revolution.
“Yes, there are also people who are complaining, but they are strong supporters of the regime,” he said.
UN secretary general António Guterres condemned the US-Israel military action and Iran’s response.
In a statement, he said:
double quotation markI call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and de-escalation. Failing to do so risks a wider regional conflict with grave consequences for civilians and regional stability. I strongly encourage all parties to return immediately to the negotiating table.
I reiterate that there is no viable alternative to the peaceful settlement of international disputes, in full accordance with international law, including the UN charter. The charter provides the foundation for the maintenance of international peace and security.
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is reportedly going to speak soon, according to Iranian media.
We will bring you more as we get it.
ShareSummary of developments so far
The US and Israel have launched a joint military operation against Iran, prompting Tehran to fire retaliatory strikes against Israel and US bases across the Middle East.
Explosions rocked the Iranian capital Tehran, with satellite imagery showing extensive damage at the secure compound of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, though his whereabouts remains unclear.
Israel said its strikes targeted the Iranian regime leadership and military commanders, including Khamenei and president Masoud Pezeshkian. Iranian state media, citing Iran’s senior officials, reported that Khamenei was not in Tehran and was taken to a secure location, while Pezeshkian is safe.
Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian foreign minister who has been leading the nuclear talks for the Iranian delegation, promised that Iran’s army “will teach aggressors the lesson they deserve”.
Further explosions were reported in Gulf nations, including the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait, all of which host US military bases. One person was killed from shrapnel from an Iranian missile in Abu Dhabi, UAE officials said.
US president Donald Trump described the US military campaign as “massive and ongoing” as he called on the people of Iran to “take over your government”. In a speech posted on Truth Social, he said the US would “raze their [Iran’s] missile industry to the ground” and claimed Tehran had refused to reach a deal with the US that would have averted war.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the American-Israeli attack could “create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands”.
World leaders have urged all sides to de-escalate and return to the negotiating table. The UK, France and Germany issued a joint statement condemning Iran’s retaliatory attacks on neighbouring countries but it stopped short of complete support for the US-Israeli attacks on Tehran.
UK prime minister Keir Starmer has said British planes “are in the sky today” in the Middle East “as part of co-ordinated regional defensive operations to protect our people, our interests and our allies”.
Vehicles burn in Tehran after US-Israeli strikes – videoShare
Updated at 10.26 EST
British planes ‘in the sky’ in Middle East protecting our people, interests and allies, says Starmer
Sir Keir Starmer has said British planes “are in the sky today” in the Middle East “as part of co-ordinated regional defensive operations to protect our people, our interests and our allies”.
He added:
double quotation markWe are also reaching out to UK nationals in the region and doing everything we can to support them.
Keir Starmer issues a statement at 10 Downing Street in central London. Photograph: Jonathan Brady/PAShare
Updated at 09.48 EST