🔴 LIVE UPDATES: Iran hits US military base in Qatar in retaliation to nuclear site attack - Region

Al-Ahram Weekly

4 hours ago

Ahram Online provides live coverage of the unfolding military confrontation between Israel and Iran as the two sides have waged deadly strikes against one another for the 11th day in a row.
Related UNSC condemns strikes on Iran nuclear sites but avoids naming US Adviser to Iran's Khamenei says US 'no longer' has place in Middle East - as it happened Here's how Iran could retaliate after US strikes on its nuclear program
Iran's armed forces threatened on Monday to inflict "serious, unpredictable consequences" on the United States in retaliation for its strikes on nuclear sites.
US warplanes unleashed bunker-buster bombs on Isfahan, Natanz, and the underground uranium enrichment facility at Fordo, in support of the bombardment campaign that ally Israel began on 13 June.
"This hostile act... will widen the scope of legitimate targets of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran and pave the way for the extension of war in the region," said armed forces spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari on state television.
Ali Akbar Velayati, an adviser to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said bases used by US forces "in the region or elsewhere" could be attacked.
On Sunday, the US State Department issued a "worldwide caution" for Americans.
The leaders of Britain, France, and Germany called on Iran "not to take any further action that could destabilise the region."
At a Sunday UN Security Council emergency meeting, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned against "descending into a rathole of retaliation after retaliation."
21:20 CNN, quoting a senior White House official, reported that the Trump administration had anticipated a response from Tehran following the US strikes and the president does not want more military engagement in the region.
'We knew they'd retaliate. They had a similar response after Soleimani,' the official said, referring to Qasem Soleimani, the Iranian commander killed in a US airstrike in 2020.
The official said initial assessments were that the missiles fired by the Iranians didn't hit their intended targets. Qatar's Defense Ministry said its air defenses intercepted an Iranian missile attack on the US air base in the country.
However, Donald Trump is willing to escalate US military involvement if necessary, the official said.
21:13 Reuters, citing a US military official, says that no Iranian attacks have been detected on any US bases other than those in Qatar.
20:51 NBC, citing White House officials, says that US President Donald Trump is monitoring the possibility of an Iranian response targeting US bases in Bahrain and Iraq.
20:50 Kuwait announced the temporary closure of its airspace following Iranian missile strikes on a US military base in Qatar.
20:47 EgyptAir announced the cancellation of all flights between Cairo and several cities in the Gulf due to ongoing regional tensions and the closure of airspace in multiple countries.
The airline said the decision would remain in effect until the situation stabilizes.
EgyptAir's Integrated Operations Center is closely monitoring developments and will issue updates as necessary. Passengers were advised to check their bookings via the airline's call centers or website.
20:40 Iran coordinated its missile strike on the US-run Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar with Qatari officials and gave prior warning to avoid casualties, The New York Times reported, citing three Iranian officials familiar with the operation.
According to the report, the move was intended as a symbolic response to US airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, while deliberately avoiding escalation.
The officials likened the approach to Iran's 2020 strike on US forces in Iraq, where advanced notice was also given.
The strategy, they said, was designed to demonstrate strength while providing a road towards de-escalation for all parties involved.
20:36 Bahrain's Civil Aviation Affairs at the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications announced the temporary suspension of air traffic in the Kingdom's airspace as a precautionary measure in light of ongoing regional developments.
20:17 Qatar has strongly condemned the missile attack on Al-Udeid Air Base, claiming it was launched by Iran's Revolutionary Guard, calling it a "flagrant violation" of Qatari sovereignty, international law, and the UN Charter.
In a statement posted on X, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Dr. Majed Al Ansari affirmed Qatar's right to respond 'in a manner equivalent with the nature and scale of this brazen aggression.'
Al Ansari said that Qatar's air defenses successfully intercepted the missiles and that the base had been evacuated in advance as a precaution. He said no injuries or casualties occurred, and a full statement from the Ministry of Defense will follow.
He added that continued military escalation 'will undermine security and stability in the region,' calling for an immediate halt to hostilities and a return to diplomacy.
Qatar reiterated its earlier warnings about Israeli escalation and urged all parties to prioritize dialogue over conflict.
The State of Qatar strongly condemns the attack that targeted Al-Udeid Air Base by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. We consider this a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the State of Qatar, its airspace, international law, and the United Nations Charter. We affirm that… — د. ماجد محمد الأنصاري Dr. Majed Al Ansari (@majedalansari) June 23, 2025
20:13 The Bahraini Ministry of Interior has sounded emergency sirens and called on all citizens and residents to remain calm and seek shelter in the nearest safe location.
This comes amidst wider reports of Gulf countries, including Kuwait, sounding air raid sirens and issuing shelter in place or shelter in bunker orders as the retaliatory Iranian strike on US airbases proceeds in the region, so far targeting Al Udeid air base in Qatar and bases in Iraq.
The siren has been sounded. Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place — Ministry of Interior (@moi_bahrain) June 23, 2025
20:14 Iran announced that it had launched attacks on US bases in Qatar and Iraq as part of what it called 'Operation Bisharat al-Fath' (Glad Tidings of Victory), in retaliation for Washington's strikes on its nuclear facilities.
Qatar's Ministry of Defense said its air defenses intercepted a missile attack targeting Al-Udeid Air Base, reporting no deaths or injuries.
Iran's National Security Council sought to reassure Qatari authorities, stating that the attack was not aimed at Qatar itself.
​The council stressed that the action 'does not pose any threat to our friendly and brotherly country, Qatar.'
'Al-Udeid Air Base is far from urban facilities and residential areas in Qatar,' the Council said.
Qatar's Foreign Ministry said that Al-Udeid Air Base had been evacuated earlier.
The Irani council adding: 'We used the same number of bombs that the United States used in its attack on Iranian nuclear facilities.'
20:03 The United Arab Emirates has closed its airspace, according to data from flight-tracking websites. The move comes amid Iranian retaliatory strikes on Qatar and Iraq amid regional tensions following US military strikes on Iran.
Based on flight paths and air traffic control audio UAE airspace is currently closed. https://t.co/GEEbl9EgwF pic.twitter.com/HcrAFrvf7B — Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) June 23, 2025
19:59 Iranian media outlets are reporting that Iran has initiated its military response against the United States by targeting the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest US military installation in the Middle East, as well as several American bases in Iraq, according to Al Jazeera.
The reported strikes come in retaliation for US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites last week.
The White House and the US Department of Defense are aware of and closely monitoring the potential threats to the Al Udeid air base in Qatar, a senior White House official told Rueters.
This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows Al Udeid Air Base outside of Doha, Qatar, after many aircraft on its tarmac left. AP
19:52 US military sources confirmed to Reuters that air defence systems were activated as soldiers were told to shelter in bunkers at the Ain al-Asad airbase in western Iraq on Monday evening due to concerns over a potential incoming attack.
The precautionary move comes amid heightened regional tensions following recent Iranian strikes and growing fears of further retaliation targeting American military assets in the Middle East.
Ain al-Asad, located in Iraq's Anbar province, is one of the largest U.S. military installations in the region and has served as a key hub for American operations against ISIS.
As of now, no confirmed projectile has struck the base, and no casualties or damage have been reported.
18:36 Explosions have been heard over Doha after Iran launched a missile attack on a US base in Qatar, in retaliation to American strikes on Iran on Sunday.
Western officials told Axios that Iran had fired six missiles toward at least one US base in the Gulf country.
Iran was moving missile launchers into place for a potential attack on US forces in the Middle East, the Wall Street Journal reported on earlier, citing U.S. officials.
Officials said earlier that the Al-Udeid base, located just outside of Doha, was facing a 'credible threat'.
Trump administration officials are convening in Washington DC.
The base is home to US Centcom's HQ and British military personnel also serve there on rotation. However, many planes have been moved in recent weeks, satellite imagery shows.
فيديو | انطلاق صواريخ الدفاع الجوي من قاعدة العديد الاميركية في قطر في محاولة لاعتراض الصواريخ الإيرانية التي تستهدف القاعدة pic.twitter.com/EAQh5tD7PU — إيران بالعربية (@iraninarabic_ir) June 23, 2025
18:51 State media in Lebanon says Israel has carried out airstrikes in parts of the country's south, including the Hezbollah stronghold of Apple province. There is no immediate word on casualties.
Monday's airstrikes were more intense than the usual, near-daily ones that Israel has carried out since a ceasefire ended its 14-month Israeli war on the country in November.
Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem has indicated that the resistance group will not join the war between Iran and Israel for now. Kassem spoke in his first public comments since the US inserted itself into the war on Sunday. He says his group is ready to back any decision taken by the Lebanese state to force Israel to stop the war.
He also tells the Iran-backed group's Al-Ahad newspaper in a report published Monday that the attacks on Iran will 'have a high cost' as the whole region is in danger and says Donald Trump's threats to kill Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei are a 'vile act and a sign of weakness.'
18:46 Qatar temporarily suspended air traffic around the country, its foreign ministry said Monday, after nearby Iran threatened retaliation for US strikes on its nuclear sites.
"The competent authorities announce the temporary suspension of air traffic in the country's airspace, as part of a set of precautionary measures taken based on developments in the region," the foreign ministry said. Qatar is home to the United States' most extensive base in the region.
18:31 Explosions were heard near the southwestern Iranian city of Ahvaz, the Fars news agency reported, as fighting raged between Israel and Iran for an 11th day.
Fars said the blasts were heard on the western outskirts of the city, the capital of Khuzestan province on the border with Iraq.
18:16 The Israeli army said that it would keep up its strikes on the Iranian capital, urging residents to stay away from security installations for their safety.
The army "will continue to strike military targets in the Tehran area in the coming days," read a statement posted in Persian on X, adding: "For your safety, we urge you to keep your distance from the regime's weapons manufacturing facilities, military headquarters, and the security institutions."
This UGC image posted on social media shows a plume of smoke billowing after Israeli strikes in Tehran the same day. AFP
18:15 An Iranian Shahed 101 drone crashed this afternoon in the Jordanian capital's Umm Uthaina area, damaging the patio of a restaurant, according to Director of Military Media Brigadier General Mustafa Hyari, as reported by the Jordanian news agency Petra.
The Director of Military Media confirmed that the drone carried an explosive warhead that did not detonate and was successfully dismantled by the Royal Engineering Corps after the area was secured.
Hyari stated that hundreds of drones and missiles have partially fallen in Jordan in recent days, while 30 fully intact drones with explosive payloads landed, mostly in uninhabited areas. However, three drones struck Umm Uthaina, Abu Nuseir, and Azraq residential buildings.
He urged citizens to avoid fallen objects, remain indoors when sirens sound, and report sightings to relevant authorities.
Hyari warned that some drones may carry explosives or toxic chemicals and emphasized that only trained security teams should handle them.
17:30 US President Donald Trump urged for oil prices to be kept down as they fluctuated while the world eyes Tehran's response to US strikes on Iran.
"EVERYONE, KEEP OIL PRICES DOWN. I'M WATCHING!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform minutes after Wall Street started trading, with major US indexes treading water.
Trump cautioned against "playing right into the hands of the enemy."
In a separate social media post, Trump urged the US Energy Department to "DRILL, BABY, DRILL!!! And I mean NOW!!!"
Iran is the ninth-biggest oil-producing country globally, exporting just under half of the 3.3 million barrels it produces daily.
16:58 Foreign oil firms, including giants BP and Total, evacuated some foreign staff from southern Iraq amid regional tensions, the state-owned Basra Oil Company said Monday.
"Firms operating in the fields of the Basra Oil Company have temporarily evacuated some of their foreign personnel," including British BP, French Total, and Italian firm ENI, the company said in a statement, adding that operations were unaffected.
16:41 Iran's armed forces chief of staff Abdolrahim Mousavi vowed that the country would take "firm action" in response to US strikes on key nuclear sites.
"This crime and desecration will not go unanswered," said Mousavi in a video statement published on state TV, adding, "we will take firm action against the American mistake."
16:39 Dashcam video captured a massive explosion next to a road in Ashdod in Israel, as Iran launched a new wave of strikes following Israeli and US attacks on its territory.
The missile appeared to hit near a power station in the city, BBC reported.
Ashdod is Israel's most significant seaport cargo volume and is a primary gateway for goods and cargo to and from the State of Israel. It is responsible for about 40 percent of Israel's total maritime-bound trade. Ashdod also hosts a key naval base for Patrol Boats Squadron 916, which has been playing a key role in the Israeli genocidal war in Gaza.
Dashcam video captured a huge explosion next to a road in Ashdod in Israel, as Iran launched a new wave of strikes following Israeli and US attacks on its nuclear sites. pic.twitter.com/Bf9lgABL3E — Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) June 23, 2025
Israel's state power company reported supply disruptions after damage near a "strategic infrastructure facility" without naming Ashdod.
"Due to damage near a strategic infrastructure facility of the Israel Electric Corporation... disruptions in electricity supply are being reported in several communities in the area," the IEC said in a statement, without specifying the cause.
Avraham Rabukhin, head of the Tel Aviv and Coastal district grid division's grid division, later told AFP that a missile fell near one of the company's facilities.
Journalists were allowed to film the area of the strike but, under Israel's military censorship, were ordered not to publish any information about the location.
Iran launched at least three salvos of missiles at Israel on Monday morning.
The full extent of the damage from Iran's attacks on Israel is not known due to military censorship rules. Still, at least 50 impacts have been acknowledged nationwide, and 24 people have died, according to official figures.
16:20 At least two supertankers made U-turns near the Strait of Hormuz following US military attacks on Iran, Reuters reported.
Kpler and LSEG data showed that the Coswisdom Lake, a very large crude carrier supertanker, reached the strait on Sunday before making a U-turn and sailing south of the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas. On Monday, it turned back again, resuming its journey towards the port of Zirku in the United Arab Emirates.
The Coswisdom Lake was scheduled to load crude at Zirku for delivery to China.
LSEG data showed that the South Loyalty, also a VLCC, made a similar U-turn and remained outside the strait on Monday. According to Kpler data and two shipping sources, it was scheduled to load crude from Iraq's Basra terminal.
According to MarineTraffic data reported by the Times of Israel, three empty oil and chemical tankers have diverted away from the Strait of Hormuz.
The Marie C, an oil tanker sailing under the Marshall Islands flag, and Red Ruby, a crude oil tanker flying the flag of Panama, dropped anchor near Fujairah in the UAE, while the Kohzan Maru, another oil tanker flying the British flag, was tracked sailing in the Gulf of Oman.
Japan's Nippon Yusen and Mitsui OSK Lines have also instructed their vessels to minimize the time in the Gulf as a precaution. The strategic waterway remains tense amid escalating regional instability.
16:17 Qatar's foreign ministry confirmed that the country's security remains stable, following a precautionary message from the US Embassy advising American citizens to shelter in place.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said the alert did not indicate any specific threat. He added that Qatar stands ready to take "all necessary measures" to safeguard citizens and residents. The advisory had raised concerns earlier in the day, though no incidents were reported.
16:10 Local media reported that the Power supply was restored to northern Tehran after outages caused by an Israeli air raid earlier in the day.
"The outages were completely resolved in northern Tehran," Tasnim news agency said, citing the regional electricity company.
16:05 Iran arrested a European national on suspicion of spying for Israel, state TV reported.
State television cited judicial authorities as saying that a spy for Israel was arrested in the western province of Hamadan, adding that the "spy is a citizen of a European country" without elaborating.
"The spy entered the country disguised as a tourist and continued the mission of networking, gathering information, and disrupting offensive and missile systems in Iran," it added.
16:00 The US Embassy in Qatar told Americans "to shelter in place until further notice," The Wall Street Journal reported. The embassy didn't provide a reason, as the region anticipates possible Iranian attacks on American interests in retaliation for the US bombing of Iran.
15:55 Israel is looking to wrap up its war with Iran soon, Israeli and Arab officials told The Wall Street Journal, as Tel Aviv is capitalizing on the US attack to end the fighting.
Israel expects to get through its list of "military targets" in Iran in the coming days, Israeli officials told the paper.
According to WSJ, the US has told Arab officials in the region that Israel is seeking to end the fight soon, Arab officials say and has asked for the message to be passed along to Iran.
Iran has responded that it isn't yet ready to back off, as it feels compelled to respond to the US attack on Iranian nuclear sites, the officials said.
14:00 Israel's army said it was striking command centres of Iran's Revolutionary Guards and other domestic security forces responsible for "maintaining the regime's stability."
"These forces consist of various corps and command centers and are responsible, on behalf of the Iranian regime's military, for defending the homeland security, suppressing threats, and maintaining the regime's stability," it said in a statement.
Israeli Air Force fighter jets have dropped over 100 munitions on Tehran in the past two hours, according to the army.
13:30 Iran's judiciary said Israeli strikes hit Tehran's Evin prison, leaving sections of the facility damaged.
"In the latest attack by the Zionist regime on Tehran, projectiles unfortunately struck Evin prison, causing damage to parts of the facility," said the judiciary's Mizan Online website.
It added that all resources had been deployed to manage the complex and the situation remained "under control".
Israel's arny said it "is carrying out strikes of unprecedented force against regime targets and agencies of government repression in the heart of Tehran. Among the targets... (is) Evin Prison and additional regime-related targets," Israel Katz said in a post on X.
13:00 Israeli strikes hit a power supply system in the Iranian capital, triggering outages in some areas around the city, Iranian media reported.
The power distribution line in northern Tehran "was damaged, causing outages in some areas," Fars news agency reported.
12:30 Russian President Vladimir Putin slammed Israeli and American strikes on Tehran as "unprovoked aggression" and said Moscow was trying to help the Iranian people as he hosted Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Moscow.
"This is an absolutely unprovoked aggression against Iran," Putin told Araghchi, calling the strikes "unjustified" and adding that Russia was "making efforts to provide assistance to the Iranian people."
12:15 Israel carried out a fresh strike on Iran's underground Fordo nuclear site south of Tehran, Tasnim news agency reported.
"The aggressor attacked the Fordow nuclear site again," Tasnim said, quoting a spokesperson for the crisis management authority in Qom province, where the site is located.
Meanwhile, UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said that Sunday's US bombing probably caused 'very significant' damage to the underground areas of Iran's Fordow uranium enrichment plant, dug into a mountain.
However, no one has yet told the extent.
'Given the explosive payload utilised and the extreme(ly) vibration-sensitive nature of centrifuges, very significant damage is expected to have occurred,' Grossi said in a statement to an emergency meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation Board of Governors.
'I indicated that any transfer of nuclear material from a safeguarded facility to another location in Iran must be declared to the Agency as required under Iran's Safeguard Agreement, and I expressed my readiness to work with Iran on this matter,' he added.
11:40 France's foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, has warned against any attempts to force regime change in Iran. He noted his country's concern about an escalation of the Middle East conflict that could be 'devastating' for the region and have serious consequences for global stability.
Arriving at a meeting of EU foreign ministers, Barrot called on Iran not to take action to aggravate the situation, adding that Iran's nuclear programme was 'an existential risk' for Israel, the wider region, and Europe.
Meanwhile, Germany's foreign minister said Iran needs to engage in direct talks with the United States, though the European Union remains ready to participate in negotiations.
'Iran says it only wants to negotiate with Europe, and we see that as a good sign but we do also say that's not sufficient. We want to see the United States being involved,' German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said, speaking to journalists in Brussels ahead of the EU foreign ministers' meeting.
11:30 Ali Shamkhani, senior advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, confirmed that the Tehran still retains its stockpile of enriched uranium despite U.S. strikes on three nuclear sites.
In a post on X, Shamkhani wrote, 'Even if the nuclear facilities are destroyed, the game is not over. The enriched materials, domestic expertise, and political will remain.'
He added, 'The political and operational initiative now belongs to the side that plays smart and avoids blind strikes. The surprises are not over.'
11:25 Iran's Red Crescent said an Israeli strike hit near its building in northern Tehran.
"New attack around the Red Crescent... building," the emergency service said in a post on its Telegram channel, accompanied by a video of smoke rising from the site of the attack.
An AFP journalist had earlier reported hearing loud explosions north of the Iranian capital.
The Israeli military later announced it had begun a series of strikes on military targets in Tehran, without elaborating.
11:15 An Iranian closure of the Strait of Hormuz would be dangerous and 'not good for anybody', the European Union's top diplomat said.
'The concerns of retaliation and this war escalating are huge, especially closing of the strait of Hormuz by Iran is something that would be extremely dangerous and not good for anybody,' Kaja Kallas told reporters ahead of a meeting with EU foreign ministers.
Iran's Press TV reported on Sunday that Iran's Supreme National Security Council needed to make a final decision on whether to close the strait, after parliament was reported to back the measure, Reuters reported. About 20% of global oil and gas demand flows through the channel.
11:00 The Israeli army said it has attacked six airports in Iran, destroying 15 aircraft and damaging runways.
The military posted on social media that the airports targeted were in western, eastern, and central Iran.
It added that the drone strikes destroyed F-15 and F-5 fighter jets, a refuelling plane, and an AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter.
It also said runways and underground bunkers were damaged.
It's not clear when these attacks happened.
Iran has not yet confirmed the attack.
10:52 Loud explosions were heard in Jerusalem after the Israeli army warned that a fresh barrage of missiles had been launched from Iran.
Around 10 minutes after announcing the missiles had been identified, the military said "additional missiles were launched" towards Israel and urged people to take cover.
The military also admitted that one of its drones was downed during an operation on Monday morning in Iran.
10:40 China urged Iran and Israel to de-escalate in order to prevent the "spillover" of their war.
"The Chinese side urges the parties to the conflict to prevent the situation from escalating repeatedly, resolutely avoid the spillover of war, and return to the path of political resolution," foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said.
Beijing also stressed that the international community must do more to prevent fighting between Iran and Israel from impacting the global economy, noting the "Persian Gulf and surrounding waters are important international trade routes".
"Maintaining security and stability in this region is in the common interests of the international community," the foreign ministry's Guo said.
"China calls on the international community to make greater efforts to promote the de-escalation of the conflict and prevent regional instability from having a greater impact on global economic development," he added.
10:30 Iran said the Israel and US attacks launched on the Islamic Republic during talks about its nuclear program were a "betrayal of diplomacy".
"We and future generations will not forget that the Iranians were in the middle of a diplomatic process with a country that is now at war with us," said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei.
"Two days before the start of the negotiations, they attacked us militarily. It is a betrayal of diplomacy and the principle of dialogue," he added.
10:15 Oil prices were higher, and the dollar strengthened after the United States struck Iran's nuclear facilities over the weekend.
Iran is the world's ninth-biggest oil-producing country, with an output of about 3.3 million barrels per day. It exports just under half of that amount and consumes the rest.
When trading opened on Monday, Brent and the main US crude contract, WTI, jumped more than four percent to their highest prices since January.
- Key figures at around 0700 GMT -
Brent North Sea Crude: UP 1.1 percent at $78.08 per barrel
West Texas Intermediate: UP 1.1 percent at $74.89 per barrel
10:20 North Korea condemned US strikes on Iran, calling it a violation of the United Nations charter and blaming the tension in the Middle East on the "reckless valor of Israel".
"The Democratic People's Republic of Korea strongly denounces the attack on Iran by the US which severely violated the UN Charter with respect for sovereignty," said a spokesperson of the North's foreign ministry, according to a statement carried by the state news agency.
The ongoing regional tension was an "inevitable product brought by the reckless valor of Israel", the unnamed spokesperson added, claiming the Jewish state "has promoted its unilateral interests through ceaseless war moves and territorial expansion".
10:00 A series of high-level international meetings is being held this week to address the military escalation between Israel and Iran following U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, according to BBC News.
The UN Security Council is due to meet again after its Sunday session to discuss U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear sites, as Russia, China, and Pakistan proposed that the 15-member body adopt a resolution calling for an "immediate ceasefire" in Iran.
A NATO summit is opening in the Netherlands, and the situation in the Middle East is almost certain to be discussed.
The board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN's nuclear watchdog, is holding an emergency meeting.
EU foreign ministers are also meeting in Belgium.
09:45 Sirens sounded across Israel and Iran as both countries exchanged their latest round of fires.
People gather in an underground shelter in Tel Aviv on 23 June 2025. AFP
The Israeli army said it was intercepting missiles from Iran, while Iranian state media Fars said the air defence system was working to counter a drone attack.
Israel's army said in a statement that more than 15 fighter jets had struck the Kermanshah area in western Iran, "neutralising a number of surface-to-surface missile launch and storage sites aimed toward Israeli territory".
09:40 Iran's judiciary said it executed a man found guilty of spying for Israel.
"Mohammad-Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh was hanged this morning for intelligence cooperation with the Zionist regime," the judiciary said, using Iran's term for Israel.
Shayesteh was alleged to have had ties with Mossad, Israel's foreign intelligence agency.
He was also convicted of collaborating with Iran International, a Persian-language TV channel based in London that is critical of the Iranian government.
Iran frequently announces the arrest or execution of individuals it accuses of working with foreign intelligence agencies, particularly its arch-foe, Israel.
On Sunday, authorities pledged to speed up such cases. The same day, the judiciary announced the execution of Majid Mosayebi, who was also convicted of being an agent for Mossad.
09:35 Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was due to hold "important" talks with Russia's key ally Vladimir Putin on Monday, 48 hours after a major US attack on Iran.
Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, adjusts his headphones during a press conference at the Lutfi Kirdar Congress Center on the sidelines of the 51st session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), in Istanbul on 22 June 2025. AFP
"In this new dangerous situation ... our consultations with Russia can certainly be of great importance," Araghchi said after landing in Moscow, according to Russian state media.
The official IRNA news agency reported Sunday that Araghchi would "hold consultations with the president and other senior officials of Russia regarding regional and international developments following the military aggression by the United States and the Zionist regime against Iran."
Putin initially pitched himself as a possible mediator between Iran and Israel, but on Friday said he was only "suggesting ideas", after US President Donald Trump pushed back against a role for the Kremlin leader.
Russia's foreign ministry on Saturday condemned the US strikes as "irresponsible," after having previously warned against military intervention.
09:15 Iran warned the United States of severe repercussions following US attacks on the Islamic Republic's nuclear facilities, as the Iran-Israel war entered its 11th day.
"This hostile act... will widen the scope of legitimate targets of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran and pave the way for the extension of war in the region," said armed forces spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari.
"The fighters of Islam will inflict serious, unpredictable consequences on you with powerful and targeted (military) operations," he said on state television.
08:15 The US State Department issued a "worldwide caution" for Americans, saying the conflict in the Middle East could put those traveling or living abroad at an increased security risk.
"There is the potential for demonstrations against US citizens and interests abroad," and "the Department of State advises US citizens worldwide to exercise increased caution," said the State Department's security alert.
08:05 US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged China to help deter Iran from shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial trade route, following American strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. AFP
"I encourage the Chinese government in Beijing to call them about that because they heavily depend on the Strait of Hormuz for their oil," Rubio said on Fox News.
China has joined Russia and a chorus of Arab states in condemning the US attacks, saying that they "escalate tensions in the Middle East."
Analysts have said Iran may opt to retaliate against Washington's early Sunday attack by shutting the Strait, a waterway through which one-fifth of global oil output passes.
"If they do that, it will be another terrible mistake. It's economic suicide for them if they do it, and we retain options to deal with that," Rubio added.
"But other countries should be looking at that as well, it would hurt other countries' economies a lot worse than ours. It would be, I think, a massive escalation that would merit a response. Not just by us but from others," he said.
Meanwhile, Iran has threatened bases used by the US military, with an advisor to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying they will be considered a "legitimate target for our armed forces."
08:00 US President Donald Trump hinted at interest in regime change in Iran, despite several of his administration officials earlier stressing that US attacks on Iranian nuclear sites did not have that goal.
"It's not politically correct to use the term, 'Regime Change,' but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn't there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!" Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.
Trump also claimed that US strikes had destroyed Iranian nuclear sites, after other officials cautioned that the extent of damage was still unclear.
"Monumental Damage was done to all Nuclear sites in Iran, as shown by satellite images. Obliteration is an accurate term!" Trump wrote on social media, without sharing the images he was referencing.
"The biggest damage took place far below ground level. Bullseye!!!" he added.
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