‘I don’t know how many of my colleagues are still inside right now’

Iranian journalist Younes Shadlou has said many of his colleagues were still inside the Iranian state television building when the Israeli attack happened.

“I don’t know how many of my colleagues are still inside right now,” he reported from outside the burning building in Tehran “We had been given evacuation warnings, but everyone stayed until the very last moment to show the true face of the Zionist regime to the world.”

Israeli army accuses Iran’s armed forces of using state broadcaster

The Israeli military says in a statement that it has bombed the building of Iran’s state broadcaster in Tehran.

“This centre was used by the armed forces to promote military operations under civilian cover, while using its own means and assets,” it said, without giving any evidence. “The attack was carried out in a targeted manner to minimise harm to uninvolved people as much as possible,” it said.

Iranian officials and press freedom groups have condemned the Israeli attack.

Why not use the same lies and excuses over and over without ever backing it up, total impunity.

Israel is ‘the biggest enemy of truth’, says Iran after IRIB attack

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei has decried the Israeli attack on Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB earlier today.

In a post on social media, Baghaei called the attack a “wicked act of war crime”, accusing Israel of being “the biggest enemy of truth” and the “killer of journalists”.

He urged the UN Security Council to take immediate action and stop the “genocidal aggressor” from committing further atrocities.

The world is watching: targeting Iran's news agency #IRIB's office during live broadcast is a wicked act of war crime. Israeli regime is the biggest enemy of truth and is the No#1 killer of #journalists and #media people.
The UNSC must act now to stop the genocidal aggressor…

— Esmaeil Baqaei (@IRIMFA_SPOX) June 16, 2025

IAEA warns of possible contamination at Iran nuclear site

The head of the UN nuclear watchdog says there’s a possibility of both radiological and chemical contamination within Iran’s main nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz after Israeli air strikes.

Rafael Grossi said the main concern is the chemical toxicity of a gas called uranium hexafluoride, which is the result of fluorine mixed with the uranium during enrichment. It is volatile, will quickly corrode, can burn the skin and is especially deadly if inhaled.

Without gathering information at the site, the International Atomic Energy Agency “cannot accurately assess the radiological conditions and potential impacts on the population and the environment and cannot provide the necessary assistance”, Grossi said.

UN inspectors will remain in Iran and inspect the nuclear facilities “as soon as safety conditions allow”, he said.

_{Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility}

Shipping disruption surges around Hormuz

Electronic interference with commercial ship navigation systems has surged in recent days around the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Gulf, which is having an impact on vessels sailing through the region.

In the past, Iran has threatened to close the critical Strait of Hormuz to traffic in retaliation for Western pressure. Any closure of the strait could restrict trade and impact global oil prices.

“JMIC continue to receive reports of electronic interference stemming from the vicinity of Port of Bandar Abbas [in Iran], in the SoH and several other areas in the Arabian Gulf,” the multinational, US-led Combined Maritime Forces’ JMIC information centre said in an advisory.

“These interferences, which continue to intensify throughout the region, are having significant impact within the Gulf itself. This disruption is affecting vessels’ ability to accurately transmit positional data via automated identification systems [AIS], posing operational and navigational challenges for maritime traffic.”

US senator says he wants Congress to OK any military force against Iran

Senator Tim Kaine, a Democrat and member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is filing a resolution to require that Congress authorise a declaration of war or any specific use of military force against Iran.

“It is not in our national security interest to get into a war with Iran unless that war is absolutely necessary to defend the United States. I am deeply concerned that the recent escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran could quickly pull the United States into another endless conflict,” Kaine said.

The resolution would require any hostilities with Iran to be explicitly authorised by a declaration of war or specific authorisation for use of military force but would not prevent the US from defending itself from imminent attack.

Congress passed a similar resolution in 2020 during Trump’s first presidential term.

US aircraft carrier sails towards the Middle East

The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz left Southeast Asia after cancelling plans to dock in Vietnam and is headed to the Middle East as Israel and Iran do battle. At 13:45 GMT, the carrier was travelling through the Malacca Strait towards the Indian Ocean, according to Marine Traffic, a ship-tracking site.

An unnamed Vietnamese official confirmed to AFP news agency a planned reception aboard the USS Nimitz on June 20 – as part of the ship’s expected June 19-23 visit to Da Nang, Vietnam – had been cancelled. The official shared a letter from the US embassy announcing the Pentagon cancelled the event because of “an emergent operational requirement”.

The movement of one of the world’s largest warships came on day four of the escalating air war between Israel and Iran, with no end in sight despite international calls for de-escalation.

“The concern is that this war will continue and expand, that Iran might hit US targets, including some of the military installations that the United States has in the region,” said Barbara Slavin, a distinguished fellow at the Stimson Center in Washington, DC.

“So I would look at the movement of aircraft carriers and other equipment to deter Iran. I don’t think the Iranians are eager to bring the United States into what is already quite a devastating conflict for them.”

Trump says Iran should talk about de-escalating ‘before it’s too late’

Iran wants to talk about de-escalating hostilities with Israel, and should do so immediately “before it’s too late”, President Trump said.

“I’d say Iran is not winning this war … and they should talk immediately before it’s too late,” he told reporters at the start of a meeting with Canada’s PM Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Kananaskis.

Iran’s FM says phone call from Washington could ‘pave the way to diplomacy’

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “a war criminal” and said Israel’s PM is deliberately provoking war to block a diplomatic breakthrough between Iran and the US.

In a Telegram post, Araghchi said that Israel’s leadership is “hiding in Tel Aviv bunkers” and vowed that Iran’s armed forces will continue to retaliate “for as long as necessary to ensure that they no longer target our people”.

Araghchi said that if US President Donald Trump “truly believes in diplomacy” and wants to stop the war, then “a phone call from Washington is all it takes to silence Netanyahu”.

“That could pave the way for a return to diplomacy,” he said, adding that Iran didn’t start the war and does not seek further bloodshed, but will fight “with honour, to the last drop of blood” to defend its land and people.

‘This is madness’

The escalating fighting between Israel and Iran will not resolve the core disagreements between the archenemies, and diplomacy is the only way forward, an analyst says.

“There’s an urgent need to stop this now. This is madness,” said Barbara Slavin, a distinguished fellow at the Stimson Center in Washington and a lecturer in international affairs at George Washington University.

She said the diplomatic process with the United States over Iran’s nuclear programme had shown signs of bearing fruit, but after Israel’s surprise attack, the Iranians believe they were “double-crossed” by the Americans.

Israel is unable to stop Iran from firing missiles into the country and killing Israelis and vice versa, Slavin said.

“How much longer is this going to go on? This is not going to be resolved through military action, and the sooner it comes to an end, the better,” she told Al Jazeera.

Latest wave of attacks from Iran now over

A total of 10 missiles were fired at Israel, and according to the Israeli army and the Home Front Command, that attack is over after all of them were intercepted. Some shrapnel fell in northern Israel.

Gaza Health Ministry says 68 people killed in 24 hours

In a statement, Gaza’s Health Ministry says:

UN cuts global aid plan as funding plummets

The United Nations has announced sweeping cuts to its global humanitarian operations, blaming what it described as the “deepest funding cuts ever” for a drastic scaling back of its aid ambitions.

In a statement released on Monday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said it was now appealing for $29bn in aid – down sharply from the $44bn it had requested in December – and would refocus on the most critical emergencies under a “hyper-prioritised” plan.

The move follows a steep decline in funding from key donors, with the United States – historically the largest contributor – having slashed foreign aid under the administration of President Donald Trump.

Other donors have since followed suit, citing global economic uncertainty. So far this year, the UN has received only $5.6bn, a mere 13 percent of what it initially sought.

This comes as humanitarian needs soar in conflict zones, including Sudan, Gaza, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Myanmar. “Brutal funding cuts leave us with brutal choices,” said undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, Tom Fletcher.

“All we ask is 1 percent of what you spent last year on war. But this isn’t just an appeal for money – it’s a call for global responsibility, for human solidarity, for a commitment to end the suffering,” he added.


_{Humanitarian needs are soaring in conflict zones, including Sudan, Gaza, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Myanmar}

OCHA said remaining aid efforts would be redirected towards the most urgent crises and aligned with planning already under way for 2025 to ensure maximum impact with limited funds.

“We have been forced into a triage of human survival,” Fletcher said. “The math is cruel, and the consequences are heartbreaking. Too many people will not get the support they need, but we will save as many lives as we can with the resources we are given.”

High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, warned of the impact of funding cuts during a speech on Monday at the Human Rights Council’s annual meeting in Geneva.

He said that the fall in resources would not only impact humanitarian aid but also cripple early warning systems for human rights violations and erode protections for the most vulnerable communities.

“Funding cuts to my office, and the broader human rights ecosystem, offer comfort to dictators and authoritarians,” he told delegates.

CPJ condemns Israeli strike on Iranian state TV

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has strongly condemned Israel’s strike on an Iranian state broadcaster and called for an end to the “bloodshed”.

“CPJ is appalled by Israel’s bombing of Iran’s state TV channel while live on air,” CPJ Regional Director for the Middle East Sara Qudah said. “Israel’s killing, with impunity, of almost 200 journalists in Gaza has emboldened it to target media elsewhere in the region. This bloodshed must end now.”

In a statement on social media, Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed that the Israeli military had attacked Iran’s broadcasting authority in Tehran.

Haifa refinery facilities shut down after Iranian attack

The Haifa-based Bazan Group says the power station used to produce steam and electricity was significantly damaged by an Iranian attack.

It added that all refinery facilities have been shut down following the attack, which also resulted in the death of three people.

Three medics killed in Israeli strike on Tehran

The Iranian Red Crescent Society said three of its rescuers were killed by an Israeli air strike during rescue operations in northwest Tehran.

“This incident is not only a crime against international humanitarian law but also a blatant attack on humanity and morality,” the organisation said in a statement, adding that the three workers were aiding the wounded in the capital’s Shahid Bagheri district.

Explosions reported in Tehran

Iranian media is reporting several explosions in the capital, Tehran.


Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran

US President Donald Trump has published a social media post calling for the immediate evacuation of Tehran.

“IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.


Human toll of Israel’s attack on Iran

Israel’s attacks on Tehran have not only targeted military bases and nuclear sites, but have also penetrated the bedrooms, kitchens and living rooms of civilians. Children have been killed, teachers have fallen silent, athletes have been buried in the rubble.

All of them were as far removed from politics as possible.

According to the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education, at least 224 people have been killed and 1,481 wounded.

US Senator Bernie Sanders says Netanyahu ‘started this war’

Sanders blamed Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu for triggering the latest escalation with Iran and warned against any US involvement in the conflict.

“Netanyahu started this war by attacking Iran,” Sanders said on X, adding that “he assassinated Ali Shamkhani, Iran’s lead nuclear negotiator, deliberately sabotaging US-Iran nuclear negotiations.”

Sanders, who has been a vocal critic of Israel’s ongoing deadly assault on Gaza, said “the US must not be dragged into another illegal Netanyahu war – either militarily or financially”.

Why is it necessary to state the obvious. Because the main stream media is again trying to spin it into self defense.

IAEA warns Israel-Iran conflict threatens nuclear facilities, diplomacy

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, has warned that escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran pose grave dangers to diplomacy and nuclear safety and has urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint.

Speaking at an emergency session of the United Nations nuclear watchdog’s Board of Governors on Monday in Vienna, Director-General Grossi stressed that the region is at a critical juncture.

“Military escalation threatens lives, increases the chance of a radiological release with serious consequences for people and the environment, and delays indispensable work towards a diplomatic solution for the long-term assurance that Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon,” Grossi said.

UK MPs warn against military involvement in Israel-Iran conflict

MPs in the United Kingdom have urged the government to stay out of the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, warning against any form of military support without parliamentary consent.

Speaking in Parliament, Labour MP Abtisam Mohamed said: “Given that Israel’s claims have been challenged, even by US intelligence assessments, can the foreign secretary assure this House that no UK military support, whether direct or indirect, will be given without the clear and explicit consent of this House, and that this government has learned the hard lessons of Iraq and Libya and will not repeat them?”

In response, Foreign Secretary David Lammy insisted, “Categorically, the UK is not involved in Israel strikes.” He added that the UK does maintain a “regional role”, with UK military assets based in Cyprus, Bahrain and Qatar.

Labour MP Barry Gardiner also pressed Lammy on whether the UK had sought independent verification of Iran’s nuclear programme from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). “The failure to get transparent information from UNSCOM and UNMOVIC caused untold damage 22 years ago,” Gardiner warned, referencing the Iraq war.

Divisions emerge at G7 over response to Israel-Iran escalation

Reporting from Banff, Canada, where leaders from the Group of Seven (G7) bloc of nations are meeting, Al Jazeera’s Diplomatic Editor James Bays says divisions are surfacing over how the group should respond to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.

“It’s now emerging that there are real differences between these leaders, and it has been reported that [US] President [Donald] Trump does not want to sign a statement on de-escalation,” Bays said.

The G7 is being joined in discussions by the secretaries-general of NATO and the United Nations.

“You have the European countries… they say there should be de-escalation and diplomacy – but they always say Israel has a right to defend itself,” Bays added. “On the other end, you have Japan, the only non-Western country in the G7, and it strongly condemned Israel’s attack when it first took place on Friday.

“I think for now it seems Iran is not prepared to talk under fire. And it looks like there’s going to be a real problem getting a joint statement from G7 countries.”

Activists Decry G7 as ‘Genocidal 7’ in Fiery Calgary Protest Near Leader Summit

As G7 leaders convened behind tight security in Kananaskis, Alberta, hundreds of demonstrators flooded downtown Calgary in what organizers branded the “Genocidal 7” protest. The march brought together Indigenous activists, pro-Palestinian groups, Kashmiri dissidents, and Canadian citizens outraged over economic inequality, global conflicts, and climate inaction.

Protesters denounced the G7’s role in escalating global wars and enabling genocide—from Gaza to Kashmir—and questioned the summit's soaring costs amid Canada’s ongoing affordability crisis. Chants, drums, and placards filled the air, as demonstrators demanded justice for marginalized communities and accountability from the world’s most powerful democracies.

While leaders gathered in luxury resorts under heavy RCMP and military protection, voices on the streets of Calgary accused them of indifference—and complicity.