Israel-Iran War Live: Yemen's Houthis threaten to attack US ships in Red Sea if it strikes Iran

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said Saturday his country will not halt nuclear activity "under any circumstances" amid ongoing fighting with Israel which hit nuclear sites.

"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," said Pezeshkian during a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, according to the official IRNA news agency.

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian warned Saturday that his country's response to continued Israeli "aggression" will be "more devastating", as fighting raged between the two foes for a ninth day.

"Our response to the continued aggression of the Zionist regime will be more devastating," said Pezeshkian during a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, according to the official IRNA news agency.

Yemen's Tehran-backed Huthi rebels threatened on Saturday to attack US vessels in the Red Sea in spite of a recent truce should Washington get involved in Israel's campaign against Iran.

"If the US gets involved in an attack and aggression against Iran with the Israeli enemy, the armed forces (Huthis) will target its ships and warships in the Red Sea," the group's military spokesman Yahya Saree said in a video statement.

The UN nuclear agency confirmed on Saturday that a centrifuge manufacturing workshop at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site had been hit, in the latest strike amid Israel's bombing campaign.

"A centrifuge manufacturing workshop has been hit in Esfahan, the third such facility that has been targeted in Israel's attacks on Iran's nuclear-related sites over the past week," the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a statement quoting its chief Rafael Grossi.

"We know this facility well. There was no nuclear material at this site and therefore the attack on it will have no radiological consequences," Grossi was quoted as saying

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.

Israeli strikes on Iran have killed more than 400 people since they began last week, Iran's health ministry said in an updated toll on Saturday, as fighting raged between the two foes.

"As of this morning, Israeli attacks have claimed the lives of over 400 defenseless Iranians and left 3,056 others wounded by missiles and drones," health ministry spokesman Hossein Kermanpour said in a post on X.

Several "powerful explosions" were heard Saturday afternoon in southwestern Iran's Ahvaz, the daily Shargh reported, on the ninth day of hostilities between the Islamic republic and Israel.

Ahvaz is the capital of Khuzestan province, which is situated on the Iraqi border and is Iran's main oil-producing region. The Israeli military had previously announced it was striking "military infrastructure" in the southwest.

Israel-Iran War Live: 827 Indians evacuated from Iran as another flight lands in Delhi

Another evacuation flight carrying 310 Indian nationals from Mashhad, Iran, landed in New Delhi at 16:30 hours on 21 June, according to MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. With this, the total number of Indians evacuated from Iran has reached 827, underscoring the government’s ongoing efforts to ensure the safe return of its citizens amid the evolving regional situation.

Israel's military said Saturday it was conducting strikes on "military infrastructure" in Iran's southwest, on the ninth day of the war sparked by Israel's attack on the Islamic republic.

"Fighter jets are currently striking military infrastructure in southwestern Iran," the military said in a statement.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday that France and its European partners would ramp up talks with Iran following more than a week of hostilities between the Islamic Republic and Israel.

"I am convinced that there is a way out of war and to avoid even greater dangers," Macron said on X after holding phone talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. "To achieve this, we will step up the negotiations initiated by France and its European partners with Iran."

Israel-Iran War Live: Israel's Air Force intercepts 40 Iranian UAVs overnight; over 470 neutralized since 'Operation Rising Lion'

In a continued show of aerial defense prowess, the Israel Air Force intercepted 40 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) launched from Iran overnight. This brings the total number of UAVs neutralized since the onset of Operation "Rising Lion" to over 470, reflecting an interception success rate of 99%. (Source: IDF) 

Four fighters from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were killed in an Israeli attack on a training centre in northwest Iran, the ISNA news agency reported.

"Four people have died as martyrs and three others were wounded in an Israeli attack against a training camp of the Revolutionary Guards in Tabriz," ISNA reported. The city has been repeatedly targeted since Israel began striking Iran more than a week ago.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that Israel's attacks on Iran right before a new round of nuclear talks with the United States aimed to sabotage the negotiations, and it showed Israel did not want to resolve issues through diplomacy.

Speaking at a foreign ministers' meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul, Erdogan urged countries with influence over Israel not to listen to its "poison" and to seek a solution to the fighting via dialogue without allowing a wider conflict.

He also called on Muslim countries to increase their efforts to impose punitive measures against Israel on the basis of international law and United Nations' resolutions.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Saturday accused Israel of leading the Middle East to "total disaster" by attacking Iran on June 13.

"Israel is now leading the region to the brink of total disaster by attacking Iran, our neighbour," he told a summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul.

Israel struck Iran's Isfahan nuclear site overnight for the second time since the start of the war between the two arch foes, a military official said on Saturday.

"Isfahan we targeted in the first 24 hours of our operation, but we carried out a second wave of strikes there overnight, deepening our achievements and advancing the damage to the facility," the military official told reporters during a briefing on condition of anonymity. He added that Israel "dealt a severe blow to Iran's centrifuge production capabilities."

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned today that direct U.S. military involvement in the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel would be "very, very dangerous for everyone."

Speaking to reporters in Istanbul after returning from failed diplomatic talks in Geneva, Araghchi called the prospect of American intervention “very unfortunate” and cautioned that it would escalate the crisis further.

While expressing openness to future dialogue, Araghchi reiterated that Iran would not engage in talks with Washington as long as Israeli airstrikes continued. “We are not interested in negotiating under fire,” he said.

Izadi was a high-ranking official in the Quds Force, the elite overseas arm of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

As commander of the Palestine Corps, Izadi played a key role in Iran’s military and financial coordination with Hamas, according to Israeli military sources.

The IDF claims Izadi was one of the masterminds behind the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attacks that killed 1,200 people in Israel and triggered a devastating war in Gaza that has since left over 54,000 Palestinians dead.

Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz announced today that Israeli airstrikes inside Iran have killed two senior commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) elite Quds Force, in what he described as a significant blow to Iran’s regional influence network.

In a statement, Katz said that Israeli forces targeted and killed Saeed Izadi, the head of the Quds Force's Palestine Corps, during a strike on an apartment in Iran's Qom province.

The Palestine Corps is believed to oversee coordination between Iran and Palestinian militant factions.

Later, the Israeli military confirmed the killing of a second senior IRGC commander, Benham Shariyari, in a separate overnight strike on a vehicle in western Tehran.

According to Israel, Shariyari was responsible for overseeing the transfer of weapons from Iran to its regional proxies, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and the Houthis in Yemen.

The Iranian authorities have not yet confirmed the deaths of either commander.

The Indian Embassy in Iran has announced it will extend its evacuation efforts under Operation Sindhu to include citizens of Nepal and Sri Lanka, following official requests from their respective governments.

In a post on X, the Embassy stated, “On request of the Governments of Nepal and Sri Lanka, the Indian Embassy’s evacuation efforts in Iran will also cover citizens of Nepal and Sri Lanka.”

Operation Sindhu was launched by the Centre earlier this week to evacuate Indian nationals from Iran amid intensifying hostilities with Israel.

Indian nationals evacuated from war-hit Iran expressed deep gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Centre upon landing at Delhi Airport early today on a special evacuation flight from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

Visibly relieved and emotional, the returnees raised slogans of "Bharat Mata ki Jai" to celebrate their safe return under Operation Sindhu, launched by India in response to the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel.

“Thanks to our government, they helped us a lot and brought us back to India. We are happy with this government,” said one woman evacuee.

Fatima Begum, another returnee, echoed the sentiment, “Many thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We received all facilities — hotel, food, everything. We faced no problems and returned home safely.”

Fazil Naqvi, also among the evacuees, praised the Indian Embassy in Tehran for its support.

“The embassy staff helped a lot. We are happy with the Modi government and want it to continue working like this,” he told ANI.

More than 500 Indian nationals have been brought home from Iran under "Operation Sindhu", the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced this morning.

The evacuation effort, launched earlier this week, has so far helped 517 Indians return safely.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also shared details of another flight that landed early this morning.

“A special evacuation flight from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, landed in New Delhi at 0300 hrs on 21st June, bringing Indians from Iran home,” he wrote, noting that the total number of evacuees has now crossed 500.

Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh personally welcomed the returnees at Delhi airport, reaffirming the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety of Indians abroad.

India launched Operation Sindhu on Wednesday as part of an urgent effort to repatriate its nationals stranded in Iran, following an intensification of Israeli airstrikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites.

Israeli forces targeted Iran’s nuclear facility in Isfahan early today, Iranian state-affiliated Fars news agency reported.

The attack triggered air defence responses in the region, with explosions heard across the city.

Iranian officials, however, said there was no leakage of hazardous materials and no immediate threat to public safety.

"Most of the explosive sounds heard in these attacks were related to air defence activity," a security official told Fars.

The official confirmed that Israel had launched "multiple attacks," including on the Isfahan nuclear complex.

Iranian authorities have yet to release further details about damage to the site or casualties, if any.

The Isfahan facility is one of Iran's key nuclear infrastructure hubs, making it a strategic target amid heightened tensions following Israel’s ongoing campaign to degrade Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

Israel, this morning, asserted that its military campaign has set back Iran’s nuclear programme by at least two years.

Foreign Minister Gideon Saar told Germany's Bild newspaper that Israeli airstrikes, which have targeted missile and nuclear infrastructure in central Iran since June 13, had delayed Tehran’s presumed pursuit of a nuclear weapon by “at least two or three years.”

Iran continues to deny any intent to build a nuclear bomb.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed Iran is enriching uranium to 60%, a level only short of weapons-grade, but maintains there’s no proof Tehran has assembled all the components needed for a nuclear warhead.

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi called claims about Iran’s weapons capabilities “pure speculation.”

Iranian authorities have arrested 22 individuals in Qom province over alleged ties to Israeli intelligence, according to a report from the semi-official Fars news agency.

The detainees are accused of collaborating with Israeli spy services, spreading misinformation, and supporting what officials referred to as the "criminal Zionist regime," said the head of police intelligence in Qom.

The arrests, made since June 13, come amid heightened tensions between Iran and Israel.

On Thursday, police had also reported the detention of 24 other individuals accused of spying for Israel and attempting to damage Iran’s international image, as per the Tasnim news agency.

Additionally, a European national has been taken into custody on espionage charges, although details regarding their identity and the timing of the arrest remain undisclosed.

Iran frequently reports the capture of alleged foreign spies.

Several have been executed in recent weeks as Tehran intensifies internal security measures.

Norway-based rights group Iran Human Rights said that at least 223 people have been detained across the country on suspicion of collaborating with Israel, warning that the actual number may be considerably higher, reported AFP.

On the other hand, Iraq's envoy to the United Nations has accused Israel of violating Iraqi airspace, telling the UN Security Council that 50 Israeli warplanes flew over key Iraqi cities shortly before Friday's meeting on the Israel-Iran conflict.

Abbas Kadhom Obaid Al-Fatlawi, Iraq’s chargé d’affaires to the UN, said the aircraft entered from the Syrian-Jordanian border and flew southward over Basra, Najaf, and Karbala.

“These are clear violations of international law and the UN Charter,” Al-Fatlawi said.

He warned that such actions pose a threat to Iraq’s sacred sites and could provoke a strong public response given their religious significance.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday he has obtained Israel’s assurance that Russian personnel working at Iran’s Bushehr nuclear facility will be protected amid growing fears the Israel-Iran war could spiral into a broader regional crisis.

Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin also revealed that Moscow is actively engaged in diplomatic outreach with both Israel and Iran.

He said Russia has presented “some ideas” for a potential resolution to the week-old war and that discussions are ongoing.

“We asked Prime Minister Netanyahu to ensure the safety of our people at Bushehr, and he agreed,” Putin said, adding that U.S. President Donald Trump also “promised to support our legitimate demands.”

Putin warned that the situation around Iran’s nuclear facilities could have dangerous consequences if hostilities escalate.

While reaffirming Russia’s close ties with Tehran, Putin defended his government’s balancing act in the Middle East, noting that Israel is home to nearly 2 million people of Russian or former Soviet origin, a demographic he said Moscow always takes into consideration.

“We have always fulfilled our commitments to Iran,” Putin said. “But we are equally committed to the safety of our citizens wherever they may be.”

As global tensions rise over the Israel-Iran conflict, the head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog says there is no clear proof that Iran is actively pursuing nuclear weapons.

In an interview with Fox News, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi acknowledged that Iran possesses enough enriched uranium for multiple nuclear warheads.

However, he cautioned against equating that capability with intent.

“Yes, Iran has accumulated sufficient fissile material for several warheads,” Grossi said. “But we do not currently have any tangible evidence of a program aimed at building or manufacturing a nuclear bomb.”

Grossi’s remarks come amid heightened speculation that Tehran is racing toward weaponization, a claim Israeli officials strongly assert. However, the IAEA chief emphasized that while Iran’s stockpile is concerning, it does not automatically signal an imminent threat.

As hostilities between Israel and Iran escalate into their second week, hundreds of American citizens have quietly exited Iran via land routes, amid increasing concerns over their safety and rising tensions that could draw the U.S. directly into the conflict.

An internal U.S. State Department cable, obtained by Reuters, confirmed that while many Americans were able to leave Iran without incident, several reported facing “delays and harassment,” and at least two U.S. citizens were allegedly detained, though details remain scarce.

The internal document, dated June 20, underscores the significant logistical and diplomatic hurdles the U.S. faces in assisting its citizens in a country with which it has no formal relations

Diplomatic efforts to ease tensions in West Asia saw a cautious step forward Friday, as Iranian and European representatives held high-stakes talks in Geneva.

While initial exchanges were reportedly tense, an Iranian official familiar with the discussions said the atmosphere improved over the course of the meeting.

Despite the shift in tone, a breakthrough remained elusive. Iran made clear that it would not abandon its uranium enrichment program, a stance the official described as a “bold red line” for Tehran.

While the US has held off on immediate military involvement and signaled a two-week window for possible negotiations, President Trump reaffirmed his intention to act as a “peacemaker.”

Still, he stressed that meaningful progress could only come through direct talks between Washington and Tehran.

Meanwhile, European diplomats had urged Tehran to return to stalled nuclear negotiations during a high-level meeting in Geneva. But Iran rejected the overture.

Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that diplomacy would resume “only once the aggressor was held accountable for the crimes committed,” CNN reported.

Trump, on Friday, downplayed a European diplomatic effort to de-escalate the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, asserting that Tehran is more interested in negotiating directly with Washington than with European powers, as per a CNN report.

“Iran didn’t want to speak to Europe, they want to speak to us,” Trump told reporters, expressing skepticism about Europe’s ability to mediate in the crisis.

Acknowledging Washington’s limited influence over Israel’s military campaign, the President remarked, “Israel is doing well in terms of war, and I think you would have to say Iran is doing less well. It’s a little hard to get someone to stop.”

Earlier on Friday, foreign ministers from Britain, France, and Germany met with Iranian officials in Geneva for three hours in a bid to de-escalate the crisis, but the talks concluded without any breakthrough. European leaders continued to advocate for diplomacy to prevent a broader regional conflict.

Explosions were reported in the central Iranian city of Isfahan this morning, according to Iranian state media.

Semi-official news agency Fars said that air defense systems were activated in response to “suspicious aerial activity” in the region. Isfahan, a key military and industrial hub, is home to Iran’s largest nuclear research facility, a known target in past Israeli operations. The area has long been considered one of the most sensitive zones in Iran's defense and nuclear infrastructure.

There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

A strike on a residential building in the central Iranian city of Qom early today left two people dead and four others injured, Iranian state media has reported.

The explosion reportedly hit the fourth floor of a multi-story residential structure in southwestern Qom, a city known for its religious significance and proximity to Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility.

The incident occurred shortly after the IDF announced a fresh wave of strikes on Iranian territory, including attacks on suspected missile launch infrastructure.

Meanwhile, reports from semi-official Iranian outlet Nour News indicated that air defense systems were active over Tehran, approximately 130 kilometers north of Qom, suggesting multiple regions were on high alert amid fears of further escalation.

As hostilities between Israel and Iran escalate, a parallel war is unfolding online — one driven by deepfakes, AI-generated content, and doctored media.

False visuals claiming to show missile damage in Tel Aviv and Israeli jets shot down by Iran have flooded platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X, states an AFP report.

Many of these were traced to AI tools such as Google's Veo 3, known for producing hyper-realistic imagery.

Disinformation watchdog NewsGuard has identified 51 websites pushing false claims, including fake images of mass destruction and fabricated reports of captured Israeli pilots.

Much of the content, researchers say, originates from Iranian state-affiliated media and Telegram channels.

Meanwhile, Iran claims it too has been targeted — alleging that Israeli hackers briefly hijacked state TV broadcasts to incite dissent by airing women-led protest footage.

Adding to the confusion, several widely circulated clips were found to be lifted from video games like Arma 3, passed off as real combat scenes.

With both sides engaged in a high-stakes information war, analysts say the growing use of generative AI in conflict zones marks a dangerous new frontier in global warfare.

As tensions simmer in West Asia, the FBI has reportedly increased its surveillance of Iran-backed operatives on U.S. soil as Trump considers American military involvement in the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.

The heightened monitoring includes scrutiny of possible sleeper cells tied to Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based terrorist group with strong backing from Tehran, according to sources cited in a Fox News report.

Meanwhile, the CBS News has reported that law enforcement agencies are tracking potential threats as tensions continue to flare up in the region.

The move comes in the wake of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent assertion that Iran is plotting to assassinate Trump, viewing him as a major obstacle to its nuclear ambitions.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has contradicted a recent assessment by his Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, who had testified before Congress that U.S. intelligence did not believe Iran was actively developing nuclear weapons.

“She’s wrong,” Trump stated when asked about Gabbard’s remarks, adding that it would be “very hard to stop” Israeli strikes to negotiate a ceasefire.

Trump also said on Friday that he would decide within two weeks whether the U.S. will become directly involved in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, amid increasing pressure on Washington to act as hostilities intensify in the region.

An Iranian missile strike on downtown Haifa has caused significant damage to the historic Al Jarina Grand Mosque and nearby buildings, The Times of Israel has reported.

The impact shattered stained glass windows and damaged parts of the mosque's infrastructure.

President Isaac Herzog condemned the attack, stating, “Iran is trying to kill Israelis of all faiths...Muslims included.”

He reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to protecting all its citizens and emphasized Haifa's reputation as a symbol of coexistence among Jews, Muslims, Christians, Druze, Circassians, and Baha'is.

Describing the attack as “outrageous,” Herzog called it a strike against the very fabric of Israel’s multicultural society.