Iran Israel tensions | June 16 Highlights: Iran preparing for ‘largest missile attack’

Israel's defence minister Israel Katz on Monday vowed to strike "everywhere" against the government of Iranian "dictator" Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

In a statement issued after Israeli air strikes hit Iran's state broadcaster in Tehran, Israel Katz said, "The propaganda and incitement broadcasting authority of the Iranian regime was attacked" by Israeli forces," .

He noted that the strike followed the "vast evacuation of residents in the area" and adding: "We will strike the Iranian dictator everywhere."

(via AFP)

Iran Israel tensions LIVE: Iranian state media reported that the country is preparing for the 'largest and most intense missile attack in history on Israeli soil' 

Iran Israel tensions LIVE: A viral video captured the moment the Israeli Air Force bombed the office of Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB in Tehran on Monday.

The footage of the attack was showed the anchor stopping her broadcast midway and taking refuge as a strike hits the studio, with things falling in the background. Watch video here

At the G7 Summit, US President Donald Trump said Iran “is not winning this war”, adding that the Iranian government “should talk before it's too late”.

Iran Israel war news updates: As tensions between Iran and Israel escalate, a viral video has captured the moment the Israeli Air Force bombed the offices of Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB in Tehran on Monday.

The footage of the attack was captured during a live show at the IRIB offices in the capital. In the video, the Israeli strike can be seen interrupting the state TV broadcast, with the anchor fleeing the studio.

Iran Israel war news updates: As per Reuters,  the US military has moved a large number of refueling tanker aircraft to Europe in view of the growing conflict in the Middle East. 

Furthermore, the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz was leaving Southeast Asia on Monday after cancelling plans to dock in Vietnam, reported AFP. 

Iran Israel conflict news: Fresh explosions have been heard across Tehran as the Israeli military launches fresh strikes. Ahead of the strikes, the IDF called on all residents in Tehran to evacuate the region.  

The Israeli military has urged evacuation of Tehran district ahead of attack.

The army has reportedly attacked a military base in western Tehran.

The Russian foreign ministry has warned Israel over the consequences of attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities, saying that they are "dangerous" and "obvious".

Israel must exercise restraint, the ministry said, TASS news agency reported.

A report from the FARS News agency said that Israel has struck a military base in western Tehran and air defence system has been activated in the region.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told Oman's Sultan Haitham that if the US does not restrain Israeli, Tehran "will be forced to respond more severely", IRNA reported.

Rafael Mariano Grossi, the Director-General of the UN nuclear watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency, said on Monday that there is a possibility of both radiological and chemical contamination within Iran's main nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz following Israeli strikes.

The radiation poses a significant danger if uranium is inhaled or ingested, he added.

The risk can be effectively managed with appropriate protective measures, such as using respiratory protection devices while inside the facilities, Grossi said.

“The level of radioactivity outside the Natanz site has remained unchanged and at normal levels, indicating no external radiological impact to the population or the environment from this event,” he added.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson said that Israel's attack on a hospital in Western Iran is considered a "war crime".

Due to the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, El Al Israel airlines said that it is extending flight suspension through June 23 over security concerns.

Iranian Nobel laureates and Cannes winner have urged "cessation of hostilities" in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.

Iran's security forces have said that they discovered Israeli spike anti-tank guided missiles in the country, NourNews reported.

Iran Israel tensions news: As per Israeli reports, the Israeli Air Force has launched a fresh wave of airstrikes in central Iran.  The IDF is expected to provide details on the strikes later.

Iran Israel tensions update: As the conflict with Israel continues, iran has stated it will close its financial markets until further notice. 

As per Iran International,  Fatemeh Mohajerani, spokeswoman for the administration of President Masoud Pezeshkian, stated that Iran's stock exchange and financial markets will remain closed until further notice. 

She added that the decision was made “to protect the public’s financial assets.” 

Iran israel conflict news: Pakistan has denied the reports claiming it provided ballistic missiles to Iran. As per an ARY News report, Pakistan has denied the sale of ballistic missiles in light of the escalating tensions with Israel.

Security officials have rejected these allegations as “baseless, frivolous, and part of a propaganda campaign.”

Iran Israel war news updates: In view of the growing conflict between Iran and Israel, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stated that Tel Aviv threatens the “regional security” of the region.  

In a phone call to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Erdogan stated “he cannot tolerate another war.” 

“The spiral of violence that began with Israel's attacks on Iran has put the security of the entire region at risk, (and) that the lawless attitude of the (Israeli premier Benjamin) Netanyahu government poses a clear threat to the international system, and that the region cannot tolerate a new war,” the Turkish president was quoted as saying. 

iran Israel tensions update: Amid the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, Pakistan has closed its air and land routes with Iran. 

As per repoets, the closure took effect on Sunday. 

"All border crossings between the two countries have been closed for trade and pedestrian movement after Iran initiated the closure," said Balochistan provincial government spokesman Shahid Rind. 

Iran Israel war news updates: UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi has stated that there is no sign of further damage at the Natanz or Fordo enrichment sites after Israeli strikes. 

“There has been no additional damage at the Natanz Fuel Enrichment Plant site since the Friday attack, which destroyed the above-ground part of the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant,” Grossi says in a statement to an exceptional meeting of his agency’s 35-nation Board of Governors.

Iran Israel war news: Amid the tensions between Iran and Israel, Azerbaijan is reportedly helping with the evacuation of foreign citizens in Iran. 

As per media reports, the country is evacuating citizens of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia, Portugal, the Philippines, Finland and some other countries. Citizens from these nations have crossed the Astara border checkpoint and are headed to the airport in Azerbaijan's capital, Baku.

Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aykhan Hajizade said 41 of its citizens, including family members of its diplomats in Iran, also have returned to Azerbaijan.

Iran Israel tensions news: In an official statement to the board of governors, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi has stated thet UN watchdog is “monitoring the situation closely.” 

“Following Friday’s attacks on nuclear sites in the Islamic Republic of Iran, the military conflict continues. As I reported to the IAEA’s Board of Governors and then to the UN Security Council last Friday, the IAEA is monitoring the situation very carefully. Our Incident and Emergency Centre has been up and running 24/7 from the start, ascertaining the status of Iran’s nuclear facilities and the level of radiation at relevant sites through constant communication with Iranian authorities,” the IAEA director said. 

“The IAEA is ready to respond to any nuclear or radiological emergency within an hour,” Grossi added further. 

Iran Israel war news updates: As tensions escalate, the United Nations atomic watchdog held an emergency meeting to assess Israel’s attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities. The meeting also discussed their disruption on oversight of the Iran's stockpile of near-bomb grade uranium.

This meeting comes days after the IAEA stated that Tehran was in violation of certain legal obligations placed by the UN agency.