US to partially evacuate embassy in Iraq as Iran tensions rise
On Monday, the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) board of governors began a meeting in Vienna to discuss Iran's nuclear programme and other issues.
It comes after the IAEA released a report criticising the "less than satisfactory" co-operation from Tehran, particularly in explaining past cases of nuclear material found at undeclared sites.
Iran described the IAEA report as unbalanced, saying that it relied on "forged documents" provided by Israel.
With the nuclear talks at a critical moment, it is not yet clear how much the US announcement is about signalling as opposed to genuine concern.
But Iranian Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh said his country would retaliate against US bases in the region if talks failed and Trump ordered military strikes against the Islamic Republic.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth also approved the voluntary departure of families of American military personnel from countries across the Middle East, including Kuwait and Bahrain, Reuters news agency reported.
Testifying in front of a congressional panel on Wednesday, the Pentagon said he believed there were "plenty of indications" that Iran was "moving their way towards something that would look a lot like a nuclear weapon".
Iran says its uranium enrichment programme was for civilian energy generation and that it was not trying to build an atomic bomb.
The UK's Maritime Trade Operations organisation - part of the Royal Navy - warned on Wednesday that increased military tensions in the Middle East could affect shipping.
The price of oil initially increased more than 4% when news of the US evacuation broke, in anticipation of regional insecurity potentially leading to supply problems.
Around 2,500 US troops are based in Iraq, according to the defence department.
In January 2020, Iran fired missiles at air bases housing US forces in Iraq in retaliation for the US strike that killed top Iranian General Qasem Soleimani.
No US military personnel stationed at the base were killed, but dozens were later diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries.
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Daily Mail
22 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
How a surge in late-night pizza orders at the Pentagon predicted Israel's attack on Iran
Israel 's attack on Iran fueled online rumors that an influx of pizza deliveries to the Pentagon was an indicator that a foreign disaster was on the horizon. Pentagon Pizza Report, an account on X with over 69,000 followers, posted a photo on Thursday night of a traffic surge at the Domino's Pizza in Arlington, which is about a 10-minute drive from the Pentagon. The account monitors online orders for pizzerias near the Pentagon and the White House and posts screenshots of when they're busy. At around 7 pm on Thursday night, Pentagon Pizza Report posted, 'As of 6:59pm ET nearly all pizza establishments nearby the Pentagon have experienced a HUGE surge in activity.' A few hours later, the account shared wait times for a nearby bar, writing, 'Freddie's Beach Bar, the closest gay bar to the Pentagon, has abnormally low traffic for a Thursday night. Potentially indicating a busy night at the Pentagon.' Israel launched the first air strikes against Iran on Friday at 3 am local time/8 pm EST, just an hour after the Pentagon Pizza Report noted a drastic surge in activity. Pizza takeout only grew as the night continued, with the account noting that the Domino's on 2602 Columbia Pike had abnormally high traffic just before 9 pm EST. Traffic continued to skyrocket, and the second closest Domino's to the Pentagon also picked up some additional customers, experiencing 'extremely' high levels of activity around 11 pm EST. Social media users were quick to point out the connection online, with one comment reading, 'This was a great catch, within an hour bombs flying in Tehran.' 'I feel like this really is telling us that there's a panic at these places,' another added. 'The pentagon needs its own pizza place inside the building. this is embarrassing,' a third noted. A fourth agreed, 'This is a security risk.' Pentagon Pizza Report screenshots data from Google, which uses an algorithm to track what times of day certain businesses are popular. Google displays the graph when someone uses the search engine to look up a business. Live visit data is also displayed so customers can check Google to see how busy a business is at that time. Google uses an algorithm from users who have opted in to Google Location History to display the data. Owners can't manually alter the information, and the tracking graph only comes up for businesses that have enough data from Google Location History. Although the data isn't perfectly accurate, it does give an estimate of when businesses tend to experience their busiest hours. Social media users have taken to accounts like Pentagon Pizza Report online to not only track if nearby businesses are experiencing high activity, but have also used the platform as a way to see if military personnel are staying late at the office. The attack in the Middle East on Thursday night indicated a foreign relations emergency for high-level officials in Washington DC. Israel's attack against Iran on Friday morning targeted the country's nuclear facilities. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the operation was intended to 'roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's survival. ' Three of Iran's top military leaders and two nuclear scientists were killed in the strikes. sending over 100 drones to Israel, most of which were deflected.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Israel's blitz was years in the planning: Mossad agents smuggled drones into Iran desert, army chiefs and nuclear scientists were killed and Tehran's radar and missile bases eliminated in most devastating attack on Iranian soil for nearly half a century
Months, if not years in the planning, it was the most devastating attack on Iranian soil for nearly half a century. A perfect fusion of high-grade conventional capabilities, human ingenuity and the latest advances in military technologies. Outcome: Iran 's nuclear-enrichment programme set back, dozens of air-defence systems wiped out and leading nuclear scientists and military commanders killed. Israel 's primary aim was to degrade Iran's nuclear-enrichment capabilities. But a political agenda was also emerging yesterday, as regime change in Tehran appeared a distinct possibility. At around 1am UK time about 200 Israeli military aircraft took off from bases inside the country. But by then much of the painstaking work had already been done, entirely in secret. The ground had been laid some time ago by Mossad agents and Israeli special forces who infiltrated Iran, smuggled weapons into the country and prepared drones ahead of what Israel named Operation Rising Lion. With only hours to go, the Israeli government informed the White House that the mission was going ahead, despite US and Iranian officials having arranged to hold talks on Sunday about descaling Iran's nuclear-enrichment programme. This warning allowed US diplomats and their families posted to the region to take additional security precautions. Donald Trump had previously indicated that while he was not prepared to assist Israel militarily, he would not stand in the country's way either. Israel's hand was also strengthened by the announcement, only days earlier, by the United Nations' nuclear watchdog that, for the first time in two decades, Iran was refusing to work with inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency. Iran's dismissive response to their pronouncement was to indicate it would establish a third nuclear-enrichment site and install more advanced centrifuges – a move which appeared to have sealed the country's fate. First reports of Israeli airstrikes emerged in northern Tehran: an explosion in the residential area of Nobonyad. Details remained scant yesterday, but some reports indicated this may have been where some of the country's leading nuclear scientists lived. Subsequently, the Iranian government confirmed the deaths of a number of academics: Fereydoun Abbasi, former head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation, Dr Mohammed Mehdi Tehranchi, president of the Islamic Azad University of Tehran, and Abdolhamid Minouchehr, Ahmad Zolfaghari and Amirhossein Feqhi, from Tehran's Shahid Behesti University. Meanwhile, deep in the deserts of central and western Iran, Israeli special forces troops released swarms of drones which targeted radar facilities and surface-to-air missile capabilities – the military hardware an Iranian response to Israel's attacks would rely on. Israel is expert in such clandestine operations. Even so, the methodology represented a 'hat-tip' to Ukraine, which is understood to secretly exchange 'tactics, techniques and procedures' (TTPs), in military vernacular, with Israel. The rationale for that cooperation from Israel's perspective is it supports Ukraine – though it does not publicise that support – because Iran supplies Russia with thousands of drones. With so many layers of Iran's defences destroyed, Israeli jets focused on their main target, the centrepiece of Iran's nuclear-enrichment programme, the Natanz atomic facility in Ishfahan province, 140 miles south of Tehran. The IDF (Israel Defence Forces) and the International Atomic Energy Authority confirmed damage to the multi-storey enrichment hall where the nuclear centrifuges are housed. Natanz has tens of thousands of centrifuges and significantly contributes towards Iran's highly enriched uranium stockpile. The IDF also targeted infrastructure at the site which, in its words, 'enables the continuous functioning and the continued advancement of the Iranian regime's project to obtain nuclear weapons'. IDF spokesman Effie Defrin said its forces had 'significantly harmed' the site, which he added was used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to 'advance their military nuclear programme'. Crucially, the Bushehr nuclear power plant was left unscathed. This ensured there was no increase in radiation levels. This was by no means the first Israeli strike on Natanz. It was the target of a major cyber attack in 2010 and a guerrilla-warfare style attack in 2020, when explosives were hidden inside one of the buildings. As many as ten strikes were reported at Tabriz airport and a nearby oil refinery in north-west Iran. A long column of black smoke was seen rising from the airport. Three people were reported dead in the city itself. Israel also struck dozens of radar installations in western Iran, probably by means of special forces troops approaching the sites on foot, assembling miniature kamikaze drones and setting them off towards these military facilities. Operating at such short range, these drones evaded Iran's limited surveillance capabilities. Explosions were also reported at the Nojeh airbase in Hamedan, western Iran. A number of senior Iranian military officers were also said to have been killed when they convened for what they thought was a secret meeting to plan pre-emptive strikes on Israel. The venue was chosen for its protection, a bunker deep underground. But, according to reports, the bunker was not deep enough, as an Israeli warhead penetrated the basement. A damaged high-rise building that was hit by Israeli air strikes, north of Tehran, Iran, 13 June 2025 HOSSEIN SALAMI Salami was commander-in-chief of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards Corps, or IRGC. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appointed Salami, who was born in 1960, in 2019. MOHAMMAD BAGHERI A former IRGC commander, Major General Bagheri was chief of staff of Iran's armed forces from 2016. Born in 1960, he joined the Guards during the Iran-Iraq war that raged in the 1980s. AMIR ALI HAJIZADEH Hajizadeh was head of the Revolutionary Guards' aerospace force. Israel named him as the central figure in directing aerial attacks against it. In 2020, he accepted responsibility for the downing of a Ukrainian passenger jet, which occurred shortly after Iran launched missile strikes on U.S. targets in Iraq to retaliate for a U.S. drone strike that killed top Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani. GHOLAM ALI RASHID Major General Rashid was head of the IRGC's Khatem-al-Anbiya HQ. He previously served as deputy chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces. FEREYDOUN ABBASI Abbasi, a nuclear scientist, was head of Iran's atomic energy organization from 2011 to 2013. A hardliner, he was a member of parliament from 2020 to 2024. MOHAMMAD MEHDI TEHRANCHI Nuclear scientist was head of Tehran's Islamic Azad University. OTHER SCIENTISTS Abdolhamid Minouchehr, Ahmad Reza Zolfaghari, Amirhossein Feqhi and Motalibizadeh. Iran later confirmed the deaths of Major General Gholam Ali Rashid, Major General Hossein Salami, commander of the IRGC, Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the commander of the UAV (unmanned aerial vehicles) force, aerial commander Davoud Shaykhian and Mohammad Bagheri, the Iranian Army's Chief of Staff. As precautionary measures, Israel closed its airspace and its diplomatic missions overseas. It also suspended gas production at sites in the Mediterranean. Meanwhile its attacks across Iran lasted for at least five hours – possibly much longer as reports last night suggested that, having secured aerial supremacy, Israeli jets were returning to some of the targets to inflict further damage. By way of response, Iran is said to have launched at least 100 drones towards Israel. Its officials also declared the attacks 'declaration of war'. Iranian drones were found on the ground in Syria after being intercepted by the Israelis. The IDF also released footage of the country's navy shooting down an Iranian drone using Barak-8 surface-to-air missile. That no Iranian ordnance seemingly struck any Israeli targets may have convinced its state news agency Fars to deny it had launched any drones at all, claiming Iran's revenge will 'take place in the near future'. Iranian media also reported at least 78 deaths and 329 casualties from the Israeli attacks, including women and children. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Israel should 'anticipate a severe punishment', adding the country's armed forces would defend Iran's sovereignty. To the surprise of Western observers, Iran's most loyal proxy group in the region, Hezbollah, which is based in Lebanon and armed and financed by Iran, said it would not respond. Iran halted all domestic and international flights from its airspace. US Secretary of State Mark Rubio suggested Israel's actions were 'unilateral'. While the US did not take part in the military action it was fully aware of Israel's intention. Sir Keir Starmer, sidelined by Israel after condemnation of its continuing campaign in Gaza, called for de-escalation. A No 10 spokesman said: 'Our priority is to prevent further escalation in the Middle East, that's in no one's interest... we're working closely with all our allies to press for that diplomatic solution'. Russia, which recently signed a military cooperation pact with Iran, condemned Israel's 'unprovoked attack on a sovereign state'. While China expressed 'concern'. So did Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu was last night due to speak to Vladimir Putin. UN secretary general Antonio Guterres asked both sides to 'show maximum restraint, avoiding at all costs a deeper conflict'. Mr Trump advised Iran to 'make a deal' while it still has the opportunity. He described Israel's attack as 'excellent'. Israel has claimed it was 'just the beginning'. The UN Security Council was meeting yesterday to discuss the continuing crisis. Mr Netanyahu was expected to speak to Sir Keir. The Prime Minister has also discussed the Middle East security crisis with German chancellor Friedrich Merz and French president Emmanuel Macron.
Reuters
3 hours ago
- Reuters
Israel, Iran launch more barrages as Israel aims to wipe out Tehran's nuclear program
TEL AVIV/DUBAI/WASHINGTON, June 14 (Reuters) - Iran and Israel targeted each other with airstrikes early on Saturday after Israel launched its biggest-ever offensive against its longtime foe in a bid to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon. Air raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, the country's two largest cities before dawn, sending residents rushing into shelters. The military said its air defence systems were operating, seeking to intercept Iranian missiles. "In the last hour, dozens of missiles have been launched at the state of Israel from Iran, some of which were intercepted," the Israeli military said. It said rescue teams were operating at a number of locations across the country where fallen projectiles were reported, without commenting on casualties. Several explosions were heard in the Iranian capital Tehran, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported. Israeli media said a suspected missile came down in Tel Aviv, and a Reuters witness heard a loud boom in Jerusalem. It was unclear whether Iranian strikes or Israeli defensive measures were behind the activity. Iran's Fars news agency said Tehran launched a third wave of airstrikes on Saturday after two salvos on Friday night. Those were in response to Israel's attacks on Iran early on Friday against commanders, nuclear scientists, military targets and nuclear sites. Israel's ambulance service said 34 people were injured on Friday night in the Tel Aviv area, most with minor injuries. Police later said one person had died. The U.S. military helped shoot down Iranian missiles headed for Israel on Friday, two U.S. officials said. Israel's military said Iran fired fewer than 100 missiles on Friday and that most were intercepted or fell short. Several buildings in and around Tel Aviv were hit. The Israeli strikes on Iran throughout the day and the Iranian retaliation raised fears of a broader regional conflagration, although Iran's allies Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon have been decimated by Israel. TRUMP SAYS: NOT TOO LATE Iran's state news agency IRNA said Tehran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel after Israel blasted Iran's huge Natanz underground nuclear site and killed its top military commanders. Iran says its nuclear programme is only for peaceful purposes. Israeli officials said it may be some time before the extent of damage at Natanz was clear. Western countries have long accused Iran of refining uranium there to levels suitable for a bomb rather than civilian use. The above-ground pilot enrichment plant at Natanz has been destroyed, U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi told the Security Council on Friday. He said the U.N. was still gathering information about Israeli attacks on two other facilities, the Fordow fuel enrichment plant and at Isfahan. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused Israel of starting a war. A senior Iranian official said nowhere in Israel would be safe and revenge would be painful. Iran's U.N. envoy Amir Saeid Iravani said 78 people, including senior military officials, were killed in Israel's strikes on Iran and more than 320 people were wounded, most of them civilians. He accused the U.S. of being complicit in the attacks and said it shared full responsibility for the consequences. Israel's U.N. envoy Danny Danon said intelligence had confirmed that within days Iran would have produced enough fissile material for multiple bombs. He called Israel's operation "an act of national preservation." Iran has long insisted its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes only. The U.N. nuclear watchdog concluded this week that it was in violation of its obligations under the global non-proliferation treaty. U.S. President Donald Trump said it was not too late for Tehran to halt the Israeli bombing campaign by reaching a deal on its nuclear programme. Tehran had been engaged in talks with the Trump administration on a deal to curb its nuclear programme to replace one that Trump abandoned in 2018. Tehran rejected the last U.S. offer.
