LIVE Iran-Israel war: Israel strikes Iranian nuclear facility in Isfahan

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has appointed successors in both military and religious ranks in case he or key commanders are killed. Operating from a bunker, he’s suspended electronic communications to avoid detection, Iranian officials say, reported The New York Times.

Amid fears of assassination, Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei now communicates through a trusted aide. He has named three clerics as potential successors in case he’s killed, the report claimed.

Ayatollah Khamenei’s son Mojtaba, who is also a cleric and is believed to be close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and was rumoured to be a front-runner, is not however among the candidates for supreme leader, the report says quoting Iranian officials.

Meanwhile Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence has ordered officials to cease using electronic devices and remain underground. Meanwhile Internet connections which were restored in Iran after 62 hours for a short period have again been disrupted or switched off, reports suggest.

An extraordinary meeting of foreign ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states was held on Saturday, 21 June, to review the situation in the Middle East.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, and foreign ministers and representatives of other members of the organisation attended the meeting and briefed them about the developments. During his opening remarks in a live broadcast, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said there is "an Israel problem in the region."

This is not a problem of Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, or Iran; this is clearly a problem of Israel," he said, adding that "Israel is now attacking our neighbour Iran, pushing the region to the brink of full-scale disaster." He called on the international community to act decisively to prevent the conflict from escalating.

"We strongly condemn Israel's attack on Iran while nuclear negotiations were ongoing," he said.

The two-day meeting has drawn over 35 foreign ministers and approximately 1,000 delegates. Araghchi and Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister also held a one-on-one meeting on the sidelines. Turkiye president Erdogan told the meeting of foreign ministers that Netanyahu's government was the biggest obstacle to peace and stability. “Just as spark ignited by Hitler 90 years ago set the world on fire, Netanyahu’s ambitions serve no purpose other than dragging the world into disaster.

Israeli officials told Jerusalem Post that there are no signs of regime collapse in Iran. One of Israel's top Generals acknowledged that the war will be long and the most complicated in Israel's history.

Even as Israel struggles to cope with Iranian missile strikes with missiles exploding in Tel Aviv at regular intervals, Israel claims to have intensified air attacks on Iran.

Israeli airstrikes were reported on Saturday, 21 June, near Khomeini Shrine in Tehran, which houses the tombs of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, his wife, son, and other notable political figures. The Israel’s defence department IDF now believes that ‘no time limit’ can be put on the duration of war with Iran, and it may last for a long while.

Fox News reports that six US B-2 stealth bombers appear to be headed towards Guam, a US island territory in Micronesia in the Western Pacific Ocean.

The B-2 stealth bomber has a range of 6,000 nautical miles (11,112 kilometres) without re-fuelling, which can be extended to 10,000 nautical miles (18,520 kilometres) with a single re-fuelling.

The distance from Guam to Iran's Fordow nuclear facility is approximately 9,510 kilometres. Tankers were already in place along the route, indicating this mission was carefully planned in advance.

The re-fuelling indicates that the bombers are carrying heavy weapons.

The US Air Force is also reportedly building a huge strike force at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. The U.S. Navy now has 5 guided-missile destroyers in the eastern Mediterranean, according to US defence officials.

Amidst reports of a US build up in the region, specifically at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, Israel is said to have intensified air attacks on Iran. In a major escalation, it is also said to have struck in Isfahan, which hosts an Iranian nuclear facility.

While reports are still awaited on the extent of damage and whether the facility itself was hit, it is believed that this was in retaliation to Iran targeting nuclear reactors in Israel. Russian President Vladimir Putin this week had warned Israel to desist from attacking nuclear facilities in Iran and said that 200 Russian engineers are still working in Iran on developing two more nuclear reactors.

IDF releases footage of the uranium conversion facility in Isfahan, claiming it intensified the damage in last night’s strike. The IDF releases footage showing the aftermath of its airstrikes on Iran's Isfahan nuclear facility.

A first strike on Ishafan on 13 June destroyed several critical sections, including uranium conversion infrastructure and labs, according to the IDF. Strikes overnight were intended to cause further damage to Iran’s nuclear program, the IDF says. Iranian red Crescent meanwhile has confirmed that five hospitals have been hit by Israel over the past week.

US President Donald Trump has said that it will be difficult to request Israel stop its airstrikes in Iran, even as he pursues a diplomatic solution to end the conflict.

Trump made the remarks to reporters in New Jersey, where he attended a fundraiser at his golf course, Xinhua news agency reported quoting local media.

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Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi says it would be “very, very dangerous for everyone” if the United States becomes actively involved in the war with Israel.

US President Donald Trump is weighing American military involvement, which Araghchi said “would be very unfortunate”.

Araghchi was speaking to reporters in Istanbul on his way home from talks in Geneva, which failed to produce a diplomatic breakthrough. As the talks ended, Araghchi said he was open to further dialogue but emphasised that Tehran had no interest in negotiating with the US while Israel continued attacking.

In an X post on Saturday, Ali Larijani, a senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, hinted that the head of the UN nuclear watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) would pay once the war with Israel ends.

Larijani's warning reflects growing anger among Iranian officials toward IAEA director-general Rafael Mariano Grossi, who has come under intense criticism from Tehran for allegedly making contradictory statements about Iran’s nuclear programme, which they claim triggered Israel’s surprise blitz last week.

Speaking before the UN Security Council on Friday, Grossi admitted that while Iran possesses the capability to build a nuclear weapon, there is currently no indication that it intends to do so.

As per a Reuters report, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Russia has repeatedly informed Israel that there is no proof of Iran pursuing nuclear weapons, in an interview quoted by Sky News Arabia on Saturday.

Putin says neither Russia nor the UN nuclear watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency has found evidence that Iran is working on acquiring nuclear arms. He also repeats Russia’s willingness to support Iran in developing a peaceful nuclear energy programme, saying Iran has the right to do so.

On Friday, Putin told an economic forum in St. Petersburg that Russia was in contact with both Iran and Israel and was sharing proposals aimed at ending the ongoing conflict, though he did not reveal details.

When Israel’s fighter jets reached Iranian skies on Friday, the 13th of June, in an audacious, unprovoked blitz on the country’s nuclear sites and security offices, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the world he was acting to thwart an existential threat.

But peel back the official rhetoric and a far more calculated political logic appears: Netanyahu’s escalation is not only about setting back Iran’s nuclear capability, it is the most brazen attempt yet to sabotage diplomacy, an attempt to rescue his precarious political standing at home, and an effort to deflect attention from Gaza’s humanitarian catastrophe.

Read Ashok Swain's full comment piece here

Responding to requests from the Governments of Nepal and Sri Lanka, the Indian Embassy in Iran will also assist in evacuating citizens of both countries amid the escalating conflict.

Nepalese and Sri Lankan nationals in Iran are advised to urgently contact the Indian Embassy via its Telegram channel or the following emergency numbers: +98 9010144557, +98 9128109115, and +98 9128109109.

The Embassy is coordinating evacuation efforts under Operation Sindhu and has urged all affected individuals to stay connected through official channels for further updates.

Concerns are mounting over the potential economic consequences of the Iran-Israel conflict if it expands into the wider Gulf region. Nader Habibi, an economics professor at Brandeis University, said that while the impact on global markets has so far been limited, that could change rapidly if the situation escalates.

“In the past seven, eight days, there is fear that if the conflict is spread to the Persian Gulf, to the Strait of Hormuz, it might have a more severe impact on the oil market by disrupting the supplier,” he said. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint through which around 20% of global oil supply passes.

Habibi added that neither Iran nor Israel has so far targeted vital economic assets or oil exports, but any shift in that direction could trigger a sharp market response. “It appears Israel is also reluctant to attack Iran’s export capacity for crude oil,” he noted.

Amid the intensifying conflict between Israel and Iran, Israeli Ambassador to India Reuven Azar has said that his country remains in “constant contact” with India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) regarding the evacuation of Indian nationals. Speaking to PTI, Azar emphasised the close coordination between the two countries, stating that “whatever message we get from the Indian government, we take it very seriously to ensure the safety of Indian citizens.”

The Indian Embassy in Israel has issued multiple advisories since the outbreak of hostilities, urging nationals to exercise caution. Following an Iranian missile strike on a hospital in Beersheba, India announced it would begin evacuating those wishing to leave Israel. The MEA confirmed that Indian citizens would be assisted via land routes and then flown back to India.

This comes as part of broader efforts under Operation Sindhu, launched earlier to evacuate Indian nationals from Iran. Iran had opened its airspace specially to facilitate the process, with several flights already bringing back citizens, including 290 students from Mashhad.

Ambassador Azar also noted that while Israel would continue its military efforts to counter Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities, a diplomatic solution to the conflict would be preferable. “We have open channels of communication and cooperation with India, and that will continue,” he said.

Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar has claimed that recent military operations have set back Iran’s ability to develop a nuclear weapon by at least two to three years. Speaking to German newspaper Bild, Saar said Israel would continue its efforts “to remove this threat”. Iran, meanwhile, maintains its nuclear programme is solely for civilian purposes and denies any intention to build a nuclear bomb.

Iranian authorities have arrested 22 individuals in Qom province for alleged connections to Israeli intelligence services, according to the Fars news agency. The arrests were made following Israel’s assault on Iran that began on 12 June. The accused are also charged with “disturbing public opinion” and “supporting the criminal regime [Israel],” though no further details have been provided.

The Israeli military has confirmed the killing of Aminpour Joudaki, commander of the second UAV brigade of Iran’s IRGC Air Force, in an airstrike. According to the IDF, Joudaki played a central role in advancing drone attacks from Ahvaz targeting Israeli territory. He had assumed greater responsibilities following the death of UAV headquarters chief Taher Pour on 13 June.

Iran’s Isfahan nuclear site was targeted in an Israeli strike, according to the Fars news agency. Reuters reported that no damage or hazardous material leakage has been detected so far.

US stocks closed mixed on Friday, 20 June in a quiet session after the Juneteenth holiday. The S&P 500 slipped 0.2 per cent, marking a second consecutive week of modest losses, while the Dow edged up 35 points, or 0.1 per cent. The Nasdaq fell 0.5 per cent. Treasury yields remained steady amid uncertainty, as former President Donald Trump said he will decide within two weeks on possible US military involvement in the Iran-Israel conflict.

Internet watchdog NetBlocks reports that Iran has been largely offline for 60 hours, severely restricting public access to information. “The internet shutdown continues to limit the public’s ability to express political viewpoints, communicate freely, and follow safety alerts,” the group said in a post on X. NetBlocks monitors global internet disruptions and cybersecurity issues.

As part of Operation Sindhu, two more flights carrying Indian nationals from Iran are expected to land at Delhi’s IGI Airport (Terminal 3) on Saturday, 21 June. The first flight from Mashhad is scheduled to arrive at 4.30 pm, followed by a second at 11.30 pm. Iran has opened its airspace to support India’s evacuation efforts amid the escalating conflict.

A new TIME magazine cover featuring Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has triggered online backlash, as users point out its striking resemblance to past covers of Muammar Gaddafi and Saddam Hussein, two West Asian leaders who were later removed through devastating US-led regime change wars.

All three covers show their faces being wiped away; a haunting visual cue repeated across decades. Israel’s US-backed war on Iran appears to be following the same playbook, with regime change being the goal all along.

Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi in an interview with NBC News of US after the talks failed said, "We no longer know how to trust the Americans. Iran will never agree to completely halt uranium enrichment, and Israel must cease its violations before any negotiations with America can occur.

“If Washington truly wanted diplomacy, Iran was already engaged with them before Israel’s attack. If the Americans are serious about diplomacy, they must contact Israel to stop its aggression. We have concluded that American diplomacy was merely a cover for Israel’s actions. There is currently a complete lack of trust with the United States.”

He had earlier told the media, “Iran is ready to consider diplomacy once again - once the aggression is stopped and the aggressor is held accountable for the crimes committed…Iran’s nuclear program is peaceful and has always been under the IAEA safeguards and monitoring. Hence, armed attacks against safeguarded nuclear facilities by a regime which is not a party to any WMD treaties is a serious crime and violation of international law.”

The minister also expressed “grave concern” about the failure of the E3 nations — Germany, UK, and France — and the EU to condemn the unprovoked Israeli attacks that sparked this war. “In this regard, I made it crystal clear that Iran’s defence capabilities are not negotiable,” he stressed, adding that Tehran “supports the continuation” of talks with the E3 and the EU.

The much-awaited talk in Geneva between the Iranian foreign minister and his counterparts from UK, Germany and France has failed to break the deadlock. The European nations refused to condemn Israel and demanded once again, in line with what the US is saying as a precondition, that Iran should give up its uranium enrichment programme entirely. While the talks are said to have lasted for three and a half hours at the UN human rights headquarters in Geneva, the Iranian foreign minister turned down the ‘zero enrichment’ formula for peace.

Iran’s MPs back home said they were not surprised at the ‘duplicity’. Talks were a deception, they strongly believed. ‘Europe tried to lecture Iran about uranium… while France still tests nukes in Polynesia, and the UK stores U.S. warheads on its soil, and Germany funds Israel’s Iron Dome. Iran exposed their hypocrisy. They demanded “zero enrichment”… but said nothing about Israel’s undeclared nuclear arsenal — or its airstrikes. Here’s what they won’t admit: Ceasefire talks were never about peace. They were about stripping Iran of deterrence …so Tel Aviv could bomb without fear of consequence. And Iran just said: Not this time,” said an Iranian MP on SNN news TV.

As the Iran-Israel conflict enters day 8, the crisis shows no sign of abating. Missile sirens were heard across Israel early Saturday after Tehran launched a fresh barrage, even as diplomatic efforts faltered. The latest round of Geneva talks, involving Iran and European powers, ended in a stalemate after the UK, France, and Germany refused to condemn Israel and insisted Iran abandon uranium enrichment altogether. Iran’s foreign minister rejected the “zero enrichment” demand, prolonging the diplomatic deadlock.

Meanwhile, in the line of fire, at least two people were killed and four injured in a missile strike on a residential complex in Qom, close to Iran’s Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant. In Israel, a building in Holon caught fire following a reported missile impact.

Since hostilities began, 639 deaths have been recorded in Iran and 24 civilian fatalities in Israel. Amid the worsening situation, India has launched Operation Sindhu to evacuate its nationals, with a special flight carrying 290 Indian students — mostly from Jammu and Kashmir — landing safely in Delhi. In a rare gesture, Iran opened its airspace to assist the evacuation.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has also urged citizens in Israel to register with the Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv or reach out to the 24/7 control room at +972 54-7520711 / +972 54-3278392, or email cons1.telaviv@mea.gov.in

More in yesterday’s blog