Summary of developments so far
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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.
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Explosions rocked the Iranian capital Tehran, with satellite imagery showing extensive damage at the secure compound of the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, though his whereabouts remains unclear.
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Israel said its strikes targeted the Iranian regime leadership and military commanders, including Khamenei and the Iranian 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.
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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”.
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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.
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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 (Iran’s) missile industry to the ground” and claimed Tehran had refused to reach a deal with the US that would have averted war.
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The 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”.
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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.
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The UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, has said British planes “are in the sky today” in the Middle East “as part of coordinated regional defensive operations to protect our people, our interests and our allies”.
Key events
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UN Security Council to hold emergency meeting
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Netanyahu and Trump hold phone call
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Iran supreme leader and president still alive, says foreign minister
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Maps: US-Israeli joint military operation in Iran, and Tehran’s retaliatory strikes
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Regime change in Iran is ‘mission impossible’, says Tehran foreign minister
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Summary of developments so far
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British planes ‘in the sky’ in Middle East protecting our people, interests and allies, says Starmer
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Reactions from US lawmakers after Trump strikes Iran
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UK, Germany and France condemn Iranian attacks
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Pictured: Tehran compound of Iran’s supreme leader heavily damaged
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Analysis: Trump’s unprovoked attack on Iran has no mandate – or legal basis
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World leaders react to attacks
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Iran will ‘teach aggressors lesson they deserve’, says Tehran foreign minister
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Iran missile strikes Kuwait base hosting Italian troops, official says
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Oman foreign minister ‘dismayed’ by attacks, tells US ‘this is not your war’
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Saudi Arabia condemns Iran attacks against Gulf nations
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40 killed in girls’ school in Iran after US-Israel attack, state media says
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Bahrain authorities evacuate people from US base location
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Airlines that have cancelled flights to the region
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British Airways cancels flights to Tel Aviv and Bahrain
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What we know so far
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Iran’s supreme leader and president were targets of attack – reports
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Analysis: Yet another mid-talks attack jeopardises chances of Iran taking Trump seriously
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Foreign office issues warning to British nationals in region amid attacks
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One person killed in Abu Dhabi, says UAE defence ministry
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Iran targets US bases in Kuwait, UAE, Qatar and Bahrain
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US navy fleet ‘subject to missile attack’ in Bahrain
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Iran launch missiles at US base in Bahrain – report
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Gulf countries close airspace
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Iranian officials ‘main target’ of US-Israel strikes – reports
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‘No red lines’ in Iran’s response to attacks, says official
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Flights suspended and airspaces closed in region
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What we know so far
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Netanyahu: Attacks on Iran to remove ‘existential threat’
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Netanyahu: US-Israel attacks against Iran will allow Iranians to topple Ayatollah regime
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‘Take over your government’, Trump tells Iranian people
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Iran launched missiles at Israel, says IDF
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Schools and workplaces closed in Jerusalem until Monday
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‘We are going to raze their missile industry to the ground’ – Trump
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Lay down your arms or ‘face certain death’, Trump tells Revolutionary Guards
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US military has launched ‘major combat operations’ in Iran – Trump
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Mobile phone services cut in Iran
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Blasts heard in several cities – reports
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Images show smoke rising from Tehran
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Iran closes its airspace
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Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is not in Tehran
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Loud blasts and columns of smoke in Tehran, report AFP journalists
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Israel strikes Iran
The New York police department says it is strengthening security at sensitive locations around New York City in response to the conflict in Iran.
“The NYPD is closely monitoring events in Iran and the Middle East and coordinating with our federal and international partners,” the department wrote on social media. “As is our protocol and out of an abundance of caution, we will be enhancing patrols to sensitive locations throughout the city, including diplomatic, cultural, religious, and other relevant sites.”
In pictures: the aftermath of US and Israeli strikes in Tehran
UN 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.
Netanyahu 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.

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.
Iran 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.
Maps: US-Israeli joint military operation in Iran, and Tehran’s retaliatory strikes
Regime 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:
I 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.
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 the 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 the Iranian 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.
-
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 (Iran’s) missile industry to the ground” and claimed Tehran had refused to reach a deal with the US that would have averted war.
-
The 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.
-
The UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, has said British planes “are in the sky today” in the Middle East “as part of coordinated regional defensive operations to protect our people, our interests and our allies”.
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:
We are also reaching out to UK nationals in the region and doing everything we can to support them.
