Iran Israel war highlights: Israeli forces conducting a series of strikes in Tehran

Iran Israel war LIVE updates: The US State Department announced on Tuesday that the US Embassy in Jerusalem will remain closed from Wednesday to Friday in light of the current security situation and in accordance with Israeli directives.

"Given the security situation and in compliance with Israel Home Front Command guidance, the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem will be closed tomorrow (Wednesday, June 18) through Friday (June 20). This includes the Consular Sections in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv," the State Department said on X.

Iran Israel war LIVE updates: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that missiles were recently launched from Iran toward Israeli territory. Air defence systems have been activated to intercept the incoming threat. Citizens have been instructed to move immediately to protected spaces and remain there until further notice. 

Exiting these areas is only allowed after an official directive. The public is advised to continue following the guidelines issued by the Home Front Command.

Iran Israel war LIVE updates: Russia’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday strongly criticised ongoing Israeli strikes on Iran, calling them a violation of international law. The ministry said that a resolution to disputes over Tehran’s nuclear program must come through diplomatic efforts.

"The continuing intensive attacks by Israel on Iran's peaceful nuclear sites are illegal in terms of international law and create unacceptable threats to international security and push the world to a nuclear catastrophe...," read a statement shared on Telegram.

It further noted that the broad international criticism of Israel’s actions revealed that the country was supported only "by those states who are in fact co-participants and act for opportunistic reasons."

Iran Israel war LIVE updates: US stocks fell on Tuesday as rising oil prices and renewed concerns over the Israel-Iran conflict weighed on financial markets, erasing Monday’s brief calm.

The S&P 500 dropped 0.8%, nearly returning to its starting point for the week, amid signs of escalating tensions in the Middle East and weakening economic momentum in the US.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped by 299 points (0.7%), while the Nasdaq composite lost 0.9%.

Oil prices surged sharply, adding pressure to the markets. US benchmark crude jumped 4.3% to $74.84 per barrel, and Brent crude rose 4.4% to $76.45 per barrel.

Iran Israel war LIVE updates: A senior figure in Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement said on Al Jazeera Mubasher TV that the group is prepared to step in to support Iran in its conflict with Israel, just as it did for Palestinians in Gaza.

Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthis’ political bureau, told the channel that the group is in active coordination with Tehran amid the ongoing military tensions with Israel.

The Houthis, who have already launched attacks on Israel in solidarity with Gaza, had earlier stated on Sunday that their latest strike was carried out in coordination with Iran – marking the first public admission of direct cooperation between Tehran and one of its regional allies in military operations against Israel.

Iran Israel war LIVE updates: Iran’s ambassador to the UK, Seyed Ali Mousavi, maintained on Tuesday that Tehran has no plans to develop a nuclear weapon, according to PA Media, even as he faced tough questions from British MPs.

Appearing before the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, Mousavi said Iran’s nuclear programme was “only peaceful,” and added, “There is no desire, not any intention, to produce a nuclear bomb.”

His remarks came just days after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) passed a censure motion against Iran for not meeting its nuclear nonproliferation obligations, which are meant to prevent weapons development. Reports indicate that Iran has enriched uranium to 60%, just one technical step away from the weapons-grade threshold of 90%.

Meanwhile, former US President Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that Iran “can not have a nuclear weapon” and urged people to “immediately evacuate Tehran.”

Iran Israel war LIVE updates: In a post on Telegram, the Israeli military (IDF) said missile sirens were activated across multiple parts of Israel shortly after detecting launches from Iran targeting the country.

The IDF urged citizens to strictly follow the Home Front Command’s safety instructions.

It added that the Israeli Air Force is currently engaged in intercepting the threats and conducting strikes where necessary.

The IDF noted that while defences are active, they are not impenetrable, making it crucial for the public to remain vigilant and adhere to official guidelines.

Iran Israel war LIVE updates: French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday cautioned that any effort to topple Iran’s leadership would lead to “chaos”, amid the ongoing exchange of fire between Israel and Iran.

Speaking at the G7 summit in Canada, Macron’s remarks came shortly after Donald Trump declared that the United States would not kill Iran's supreme leader “for now.”

Iran Israel war LIVE updates: As tensions between Israel and Iran continue to rise, US State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce addressed the situation on Tuesday (local time), stressing the administration’s stance on Iran's nuclear ambitions.

"Now with the conflict between Iran and Israel, President Trump is also clear that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon... The fact that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon is clear. As the White House reminds us, since taking office, President Trump has clearly stated that Iran cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon," Bruce said.

She added that ensuring the "safety and security of the American people" remains a top priority for the Trump administration. To this end, Bruce said, “The Department of State has established the Middle East Task Force to help coordinate support for US citizens, our US Diplomatic missions, personnel, and diplomatic engagements.”

To keep Americans informed and prepared, Bruce also noted, “we have issued more than 30 security alerts to countries in the region.”

Iran Israel war LIVE updates: A pro-Israel hacking group has claimed responsibility for a cyberattack targeting a major Iranian bank, marking another escalation in the ongoing military tensions between Israel and Iran, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday.

The attack disrupted operations at Bank Sepah, which has been under US sanctions since 2007 for its alleged involvement in Iran's nuclear weapons program, according to local media. However, the full scope of the damage caused by the cyberstrike is still uncertain.

The group behind the attack, known as Predatory Sparrow, has been linked to several high-profile cyber operations against Iran in recent years. 

Experts say their attacks aim to create psychological pressure on both Iranian citizens and the Israeli public.

Iran Israel war LIVE updates: Iranian state television on Tuesday afternoon called on citizens to delete WhatsApp from their smartphones, claiming – without providing evidence – that the messaging app collects user data and transmits it to Israel, Associated Press reported.

In response, WhatsApp issued a statement rejecting the allegations, saying it was “concerned these false reports will be an excuse for our services to be blocked at a time when people need them the most.”

The company emphasised its use of end-to-end encryption, which prevents any third party from accessing message content, and clarified that it does not track users’ precise locations, log communication patterns, or share messages with any government. 

“We do not provide bulk information to any government,” the statement added.

Iran Israel war LIVE updates: US President Donald Trump is meeting his national security team in the White House Situation Room this afternoon, CNN reported, citing a White House official.

Earlier in the day, Trump claimed the US knows the whereabouts of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei but stated that he has no intention of targeting him "for now."

In a social media post, Trump called for Iran’s “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER” as the conflict with Israel stretched into its fifth day.

According to sources, Israel had informed the Trump administration that it had a credible plan to assassinate Khamenei. However, US officials conveyed to Israel that Trump opposed the operation. Administration insiders reportedly feared such a move could escalate the war and further destabilise the region, according to Associated Press.

Trump returned to Washington early Tuesday after cutting short his visit to the Group of Seven summit in the Canadian Rockies, arriving at a pivotal moment in his presidency.

Iran Israel war LIVE updates: Four US B-52H Stratofortress bombers are currently positioned at Diego Garcia, a key military base in the Indian Ocean, according to satellite image analysis by AFP.

The deployment comes as the Israel-Iran conflict enters its fifth consecutive day.

Diego Garcia, leased to the US by Britain, has historically served as a strategic hub for military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The bombers, capable of carrying nuclear and precision-guided weapons, were seen on the base’s southern tarmac at 0922 GMT on Monday.

Satellite images from Planet Labs suggest the aircraft arrived around mid-May.

The White House has said that President Donald Trump is convening the National Security Council on Iran, reports news agency AFP.

Iran International has reported that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has handed over key powers to the Supreme Council of the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) amid escalating tensions with Israel.

Iran has warned of imminent 'punitive' attacks on Israel, reports news agency AFP.

Iran's senior army commander has called on Israelis to evacuate the cities of Haifa and Tel Aviv "immediately", reports Mehr news agency.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards has said that it targeted Israeli air bases in the fresh attack, news agency AFP reported.

"In the new wave of attacks, a large-scale missile operation was carried out against the air bases of the Zionist regime's army, which are the bases from which the regime's fighter jets take off towards our beloved country," the Guards said in a statement carried by state TV.

Stating that US knows where Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei is hiding, President Donald Trump on Tuesday called for Iran's "unconditional surrender" against the backdrop of escalating tensions between Jerusalem and Tehran.

Iran's national cyber security command has said that Israel launched a "massive cyber war" against the country's digital infrastructure, as per reports from the Iranian media.

The US military is moving fighter jets to the Middle East amid the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, and is extending deployments of warplanes to strengthen defenses, news agency Reuters reported, citing US officials.

US President Donald Trump, in a latest post on his Truth Social network, said that while Washington knows where Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is "hiding", it is "not going to take him out (kill!)".

"We know exactly where the so-called “Supreme Leader” is hiding. He is an easy target, but is safe there - We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now. But we don’t want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" Trump posted.

The Indian Embassy in Israel has issued an advisory for its citizens in Israel, advising them to "stay vigilant and strictly adhere to safety protocols" defined by the Israeli government.

The advisory added that Indian nationals who wish to exit Israel may consider taking up the land border crossing options.

Iran israel war news update: US President Donald Trump has stated that he wants "real end" to the conflict, and not just a ceasefire. 

"I'm not looking for a ceasefire, we're looking at better than a ceasefire," he told reporters after he cut his visit for the G& Summit in Canada short. 

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation asks airlines to adopt alternative flight routing strategies to minimise disruptions due to Iranian airspace closure.