The attack comes days before the sixth round of nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington
An Israeli fighter jet at an airbase in Eilat, Israel, July 20, 2025. © Israel Defense Forces / Anadolu / Getty Images
Israel conducted a series of strikes on Iran on Friday and declared a state of emergency in anticipation of retaliation.
The IDF said it targeted both military and nuclear sites. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that a nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz was among the targets.
Iran has confirmed that the attacks killed Major General Hossein Salami, the commander of Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and Major General Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces. Media reports also claimed that several other senior Iranian military commanders, as well as six nuclear scientists, died in the attack.
US President Donald Trump said he had prior knowledge of the strikes. He expressed hope that Tehran will return to the negotiating table.
Iran has vowed to retaliate, suggesting that the attack “cannot have been carried out without the coordination and authorization of the United States.”
The Israeli strikes come after five rounds of US-Iranian talks on Iran’s nuclear program failed to produce a breakthrough. The sixth round of negotiations is scheduled for Sunday in Oman.
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13 June 2025
08:09 GMT
A red “flag of revenge” has been hoisted over Jamkaran Mosque in Qom, northern Iran, according to local media reports. The flag, which has been used for years, symbolizes the blood of martyrs and serves as a rallying cry for vengeance against those deemed responsible for their deaths.
#BREAKING The red flag of revenge was raised over Jamkaran Mosque in Qom following Israeli aggression against Iran. pic.twitter.com/ddyOlE4Ti1
— Tehran Times (@TehranTimes79) June 13, 2025
- 07:59 GMT
China is “deeply concerned” about the potential consequences of Israel’s strikes on Iran and urged all parties to avoid further escalation, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday.
Speaking at a regular press briefing, spokesperson Lin Jian said China was closely monitoring the situation and called on relevant parties to act in ways that promote regional peace.
- 07:56 GMT
Lebanese President Michel Aoun has condemned Israel’s strikes on Iran, saying the attacks not only targeted the Iranian people but also jeopardized international efforts to preserve stability in the Middle East.
In a statement shared on X by the Lebanese presidency, Aoun said the strikes aimed to undermine diplomatic initiatives that had made “significant progress” toward averting war. He called on the international community to take swift and effective action to prevent Israel from achieving its objectives.
- 07:42 GMT
The United States may have had advance knowledge of Israel’s recent preemptive strikes on Iran, a former senior security policy analyst at the US Department of Defense, Michael Maloof, told RT. Maloof said Washington appeared aware that “something was going to be happening,” citing the earlier evacuation of non-essential personnel from the region.
Maloof noted that the US maintains a significant military presence in the area that could be vulnerable if tensions escalate. While he acknowledged no direct evidence that US President Trump was briefed on the exact timing of the strikes, he pointed to recent administration comments hinting at imminent developments. “They [the administration] may have used the threat to pressure Iran diplomatically,” he said.
- 07:27 GMT
Türkiye’s foreign ministry has condemned Israel’s strikes on Iran, warning they could trigger broader conflict. It accused Israel of undermining diplomatic efforts to resolve regional tensions.
- 07:21 GMT
Iran has requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council following Israeli airstrikes on its territory, state news agency IRNA reported on Friday.
The letter, signed by Ambassador Amir Saeed Iravani, calls for an emergency meeting of the Council and urges decisive action against what it describes as “blatant aggression” by Israel, allegedly carried out with US support. Tehran said the strikes, including one on the Natanz nuclear facility under IAEA safeguards, violated international law and posed a severe risk of radiological disaster and regional instability.
- 07:06 GMT
Israel’s deadly strikes highlighted the need to strengthen its uranium enrichment and missile programs, Iran has said.
“The world now better understands Iran’s insistence on the right to enrichment, nuclear technology, and missile power,” the government said in a statement. “One should not speak to such a predatory regime except in the language of power,” it added.
- 07:01 GMT
The US Embassy in Israel has instructed all American government personnel and their families to shelter in place due to the current security situation, it said on Friday. The embassy warned US citizens to remain vigilant and aware of the nearest shelter, citing the risk of sudden attacks including rocket fire and drone intrusions.
Israel: As a result of the current security situation, the U.S. Embassy has directed all U.S. government employees and their family members to shelter in place until further notice.This is provided for your information as you make your own security plans.The U.S. Embassy… pic.twitter.com/mQC9bHuGwt
— Travel – State Dept (@TravelGov) June 13, 2025
- 06:57 GMT
Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya has condemned recent developments in the Middle East, calling on all sides to de-escalate tensions.
“Peace and stability in the Middle East are extremely important to Japan, and we urge all parties involved to exercise the utmost restraint and calm the situation,” Iwaya told reporters in Tokyo.
- 06:47 GMT
Tehran is unlikely to proceed with the sixth round of nuclear talks with the United States following recent Israeli airstrikes on its territory, a senior Iranian lawmaker has said.
Alaeddin Boroujerdi, a member of parliament’s national security commission, cited the escalation triggered by the strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites. While Washington denied involvement, Tehran has accused the US of complicity, deepening diplomatic tensions.
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