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Israel and Iran have continued to trade heavy missile strikes overnight as Donald Trump threatens to respond ‘at levels never seen before’ if Tehran attacks US bases.
Posting on Truth Social, the US president said his forces had “nothing to do with the attack on Iran, tonight” but warned: “If we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the US Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before.”
On Saturday, Iran warned that it would target US, UK or French bases in the region if they shot down missiles heading for Israel.
Israel and Iran continued to trade airstrikes and missiles overnight, with at least seven dead in Israel and an unknown number of casualties in Iran.
Israel targeted Iran’s Defence Ministry headquarters in Tehran, while dramatic footage showed a huge blaze raging at the Shahran oil depot near Iran’s capital, after it was targeted in an Israeli attack.
Air sirens were heard in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as casualties were reported from strikes on buildings in northern Israel and Bar Yam, a city just south of Tel Aviv.
Iran had vowed “heavy and destructive” attacks following Israel’s surprise offensive three days ago.
Watch: Missiles seen falling from Jerusalem Iran launches fresh missile barrage towards Israel
Athena Stavrou15 June 2025 10:38
Iran’s foreign minister on overnight Israeli attacks:
Iran’s foreign minister has called Israel’s attacks on gas fields a “ very dangerous act”.
Abbas Araqchi said on Sunday that Iran does not want its conflict with Israel to expand to neighbouring countries unless the situation is forced.
Araqchi said Tehran had been responding to foreign aggression, and that if this aggression stopped, Iranian reactions would also cease.
The foreign minister said the Israeli strikes on the offshore South Pars gas field Iran shares with Qatar were “a blatant aggression and a very dangerous act”.
“Dragging the conflict to the Persian Gulf is a strategic mistake, and its aim is to drag the war beyond Iranian territory,” he said.
The foreign minister said the Israeli strikes on the offshore South Pars gas field Iran shares with Qatar were “a blatant aggression and a very dangerous act”. (AP)
Athena Stavrou15 June 2025 10:30
Two Mossad agents arrested, Iran says
Iran has said it has arrested two individuals it accused of being members of Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad.
The semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that the pair were arrested in the Alborz province while they were preparing explosives and electronic devices.
Athena Stavrou15 June 2025 10:15
Pictured: Site of missile strike which killed 4 in northern Israel
We’re now getting pictures from the northern town of Tamra, where four people have been killed in a missile strike.
Israeli authorities said 24 people have also been wounded.
(AFP via Getty Images)
(AFP via Getty Images)
Athena Stavrou15 June 2025 10:04
Foreign Office Israel advice likely to change, chancellor says
Rachel Reeves has said the Foreign Office advice on travel to Israel and the Middle East is likely to change in the coming days.
Asked what people should do when considering travelling to the region, she told the BBC: “Follow the Foreign Office advice, that is likely as well, to change in the coming days.”
The Foreign Office currently advises against all travel to within 500m of Israel’s borders with Gaza and Syria – and advises against “all but essential” travel to the rest of Israel.
(Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
Athena Stavrou15 June 2025 09:51
Israel’s oil pipelines damaged in strikes
Israel’s oil pipelines have have been damaged by Iranian missile strikes overnight.
Israel’s Oil Refineries said its pipelines and transmission lines in Haifa had been damaged, according to a regulatory filing to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.
It said that no injuries or casualties were reported at the sites, with refining facilities continuing to operate despite a shutdown of some downstream operations.
It said it is examining the impact of the damage on its operations and implications on its financial results.
Athena Stavrou15 June 2025 09:40
UK could ‘potentially’ help protect Israel from strikes – Reeves
Rachel Reeves has indicated that the UK could “potentially” help protect Israel from incoming strikes.
She told Sky News that she was “not going to rule anything out at this stage” given the “fast-moving situation”.
Asked whether the UK would come to Israel’s aid if asked, the Chancellor told Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips: “We have, in the past, supported Israel when there have been missiles coming in.
“I’m not going to comment on what might happen in the future, but so far, we haven’t been involved, and we’re sending in assets to both protect ourselves and also potentially to support our allies.”
(House of Commons)
Pushed again on whether the UK would deploy assets in support of Israel if asked, she said: “What we’ve done in the past (…) is help protect Israel from incoming strikes. So a defensive activity.”
She added: “I’m not going to rule anything out at this stage (…) it’s a fast moving situation, a very volatile situation.
“But we don’t want to see escalation, we want to see de-escalation.”
Athena Stavrou15 June 2025 09:31
Germany, France and UK ready to hold talks with Iran, says German minister
Germany, France and Britain are ready to hold immediate talks with Iran over Tehran’s nuclear programme, Germany’s foreign minister has said.
Johann Wadephul, who is on a visit to the Middle East, said he was trying to contribute towards a de-escalation of the conflict between Israel and Iran.
US-Iran nuclear talks scheduled in Oman on Sunday have been cancelled, with Iran calling them “unjustifiable” after Israel launched its attack on Friday.
Johann Wadephul (Reuters)
“I hope that’s still possible,” Wadephul told German public broadcaster ARD late on Saturday. “Germany, together with France and Britain are ready. We’re offering Iran immediate negotiations about the nuclear programme, I hope (the offer) is accepted.”
“This is also a key prerequisite for reaching a pacification of this conflict, that Iran presents no danger to the region, for the state of Israel or to Europe.”
Athena Stavrou15 June 2025 09:26
Watch: Bat Yam rescue operation after Iran’s deadly attackBat Yam rescue operation after Iran’s deadly attack
Athena Stavrou15 June 2025 09:16
Reeves: Britain sending jets to Middle East does not mean we are at war
The Independent’s Political Correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:
Britain is not at war despite Sir Keir Starmer revealing it has sent assets including jets to the Middle East, Rachel Reeves has said.
The chancellor said “it does not mean we are at war”, but that the UK would not “rule anything out” in terms of helping Israel militarily.
She told Sky News: “We have, in the past, supported Israel when there have been missiles coming in. I’m not going to comment on what might happen in the future, but so far, we haven’t been involved, and we’re sending in assets to both protect ourselves and also potentially to support our allies.”
If you want to know more about the UK moving jets into the Middle East, you can read here:
Athena Stavrou15 June 2025 09:07