The Trump administration announced sweeping new sanctions Friday targeting individuals, entities, and a vessel linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), in a bid to disrupt Tehran’s military procurement networks and regional influence. The move comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East and ongoing diplomatic efforts in Geneva.
What to Know:
The sanctions target over 30 individuals, entities, and one vessel tied to the IRGC.
Several of the designated parties are accused of supporting Iran’s ballistic missile and drone programs.
Entities based in Hong Kong and the UAE are included to facilitate illicit trade and financial transactions.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the action aims to block Iran’s access to dual-use technology and sensitive machinery.
The Treasury also issued counterterrorism sanctions on four individuals, 12 entities, and two vessels linked to Yemen’s Houthi rebels for alleged illicit oil trading.
The sanctions are part of a broader U.S. strategy to curb Iran’s regional destabilization efforts and limit its military capabilities.
Stay with Newsweek for the latest updates.
11:18 AM EDT
Switzerland closes Tehran embassy amid escalating conflict
Switzerland announced Friday it has temporarily closed its embassy in Tehran, citing the “intensity of military operations” and the unstable security situation in Iran. The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed that all expatriate staff have safely left the country and will return when conditions permit.
Despite the closure, Bern emphasized that Switzerland will continue to serve as a diplomatic intermediary between Iran and the United States, a role it has held since the 1979 U.S. Embassy hostage crisis. The government said it remains ready to transmit communications “as and when both parties consider appropriate.”
10:54 AM EDT
US imposes new Iran-related sanctions on individuals and entities
The U.S. Treasury Department announced a fresh round of Iran-related sanctions on Friday, targeting more than 30 individuals, entities, and a vessel linked to what officials described as a “shadow banking” network supporting Iran’s oil trade and nuclear ambitions.
The sanctions, issued through the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), aim to disrupt financial channels that allegedly help Tehran fund its missile programs and regional proxies. Several designated entities are based in the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong, and are accused of laundering billions through front companies and exchange houses.
10:22 AM EDT
Israeli envoy urges Europe to demand full rollback of Iran’s nuclear program
Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Daniel Meron, said Friday he expects European foreign ministers to push for a complete dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program during their meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Geneva.
Speaking ahead of the talks, Meron called on France, Germany, the UK, and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas to take a firm stance, including demands to curb Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal and end its support for regional proxies.
Araghchi, however, has ruled out negotiations while Israeli strikes continue and reiterated that Iran’s missile program is off the table. The Geneva meeting marks the first direct engagement between Iranian and Western officials since the conflict erupted last week.
10:09 AM EDT
Iran, European leaders meet in Geneva as war enters second week
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Geneva on Friday for a high-stakes meeting with his counterparts from France, Germany, the UK, and the European Union’s foreign policy chief. The talks mark the first in-person engagement between Iranian and Western officials since Israel launched its military campaign against Iran a week ago.
Before the meeting, Araghchi reiterated that Iran has “nothing to discuss” with the United States while Israeli strikes continue, though he expressed openness to dialogue with European leaders.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who traveled to Geneva after consultations in Washington, said there is now a two-week window to reach a diplomatic breakthrough and avoid further escalation.
09:54 AM EDT
Iran, Europe meet in Geneva for nuclear talks amid war with Israel
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with top European diplomats in Geneva on Friday for urgent talks focused on Iran’s nuclear program, as the war with Israel entered its second week. The meeting marked the first direct contact between Iranian and Western officials since the conflict began.
Araghchi reiterated that Iran would not engage with the United States while Israeli strikes continued, calling Washington “a partner in these crimes.” However, he said Iran was open to dialogue with European leaders, though not formal negotiations.
The talks included foreign ministers from France, Germany, the UK, and the EU’s foreign policy chief, who presented what French President Emmanuel Macron described as a “comprehensive, diplomatic and technical offer.”
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said a two-week window now exists to reach a diplomatic solution, aligning with Trump’s timeline for deciding whether to launch a U.S. strike on Iran’s Fordo enrichment site.
Iran’s supreme leader and Araghchi both emphasized that missile capabilities were not up for discussion, and that any talks would focus solely on nuclear and regional issues.
European leaders, who helped broker the original 2015 nuclear deal, have warned that Iran’s current enrichment levels—up to 60%—pose a growing threat. They’ve also signaled readiness to reinstate sanctions if Iran fails to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
09:41 AM EDT
MDA evacuates 17 injured after latest missile strike
Emergency teams from Magen David Adom are treating and evacuating 17 people wounded in the latest missile attack, including three in serious condition. Among them is a 16-year-old boy with a shrapnel wound to his upper body, and two adults—aged 54 and 40—with injuries to their lower limbs.
Fourteen others sustained minor shrapnel injuries, according to MDA. Teams continue to scan additional sites for casualties, and further updates are expected as the situation develops.
09:40 AM EDT
Iranians unite under Israeli attack
An Iranian worshipper carries her country’s flag during a protest to condemn Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran, after the Friday prayers ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 20, 2025.
An Iranian worshipper carries her country’s flag during a protest to condemn Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran, after the Friday prayers ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 20, 2025.
Vahid Salemi/AP Photo
As Israeli missiles continue to strike Iran, residents across Tehran and other major cities are taking shelter in basements, metro stations, and underground garages.
Amid the ongoing uncertainty and fear, a powerful sense of defiance and community has emerged. “We don’t care about governments, we will always defend our country,” one Tehran resident told Newsweek.
Rather than fracture under fear, Iranians are coming together—sharing food, information, and shelter—to withstand the crisis.
While headlines focus on the military clash between Iran and Israel, the war’s most immediate impact is felt in the daily lives of civilians. With trust in official institutions already low, many Iranians are turning to grassroots cooperation and mutual aid to stay safe and informed. Decades of sanctions, unrest, and authoritarian rule have forged deep social bonds often overlooked by outsiders. And while some abroad had hoped foreign pressure might trigger an uprising, the strikes have instead unified many Iranians in mutual support and to defend the country — even those who do not instinctively support its current rulers.
09:23 AM EDT
Teen seriously hurt as Iran missile barrage hits Israel
Israel’s national ambulance service said Friday it was transporting a seriously wounded teenager and a moderately injured man to the hospital following a fresh wave of Iranian missile strikes, The New York Times reported.
A 16-year-old boy and a 54-year-old man were involved. The former is in serious condition, and the latter is in “moderate condition.”
09:22 AM EDT
Top Senate Democrats warn Trump against unilateral Iran strike
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and senior Democrats on key committees issued a joint statement Wednesday expressing deep concern over President Trump’s potential decision to launch military strikes against Iran.
The lawmakers criticized what they described as a lack of preparation, strategy, and clear objectives, warning that Congress must authorize any move toward war.
“If he is considering taking the country to war, the president must come to Congress,” the statement read, urging Trump to prioritize diplomacy and pursue a binding agreement to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
The Democrats also spoke of the need to protect U.S. personnel and civilians in the region, cautioning against a hasty escalation that could endanger American lives.
09:08 AM EDT
Iraqis rally in mass protests against Israel-Iran war
Supporters of Iraqi Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr protest Israel’s strikes on Iran, following the weekly Friday noon prayers in Baghdad’s Sadr City on June 20, 2025.
Supporters of Iraqi Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr protest Israel’s strikes on Iran, following the weekly Friday noon prayers in Baghdad’s Sadr City on June 20, 2025.
Murtadha Rudha/Getty Images
Iraqis marched in Baghdad and other cities on Friday after influential cleric Muqtada al-Sadr called for nationwide demonstrations opposing the Israel-Iran conflict.
Crowds filled the streets of Sadr City, waving flags and chanting slogans following Friday prayers. In Najaf, protesters held banners reading “No to Israel,” echoing al-Sadr’s call to denounce what he described as “Zionist and American terrorism.”
08:53 AM EDT
Iran rules out US talks, says no diplomacy under Israeli fire
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday that Tehran will not engage in negotiations with any country while Israeli strikes continue, calling the United States “a partner in this crime.” In an interview with state broadcaster IRIB, he said Iran had received multiple messages from Washington seeking talks, but rejected them outright.
“There is no room for talking until this aggression stops,” Araghchi said, underscoring Iran’s position that diplomacy is off the table as long as Israeli attacks persist.
However, he confirmed plans to meet with European foreign ministers in Geneva, saying Iran is open to hearing their views. “We will not miss any chance to defend Iran’s rights,” he added.
08:39 AM EDT
IDF detects new Iranian missile launch, sirens to sound
The Israeli military said Friday it had detected a fresh launch of ballistic missiles from Iran, warning that air raid sirens would sound imminently across affected areas.
The announcement, posted on the IDF’s official Telegram channel, urged civilians to seek shelter and follow Home Front Command instructions. The launch marks the latest escalation in the ongoing conflict, which has seen repeated missile exchanges between the two countries over the past week.
08:28 AM EDT
Iran, European leaders meet in Geneva as war enters second week
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Geneva on Friday for high-stakes talks with top diplomats from France, Germany, the UK, and the European Union, as efforts intensify to find a diplomatic off-ramp to the escalating war with Israel.
While Araghchi ruled out negotiations with the United States, calling it a “partner in these crimes,” he signaled openness to dialogue with European leaders—though he emphasized that talks would focus solely on nuclear and regional issues, not Iran’s missile program.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said a two-week window now exists to reach a diplomatic solution, echoing President Trump’s timeline for deciding whether to launch a U.S. strike on Iran’s Fordo enrichment site.
European leaders are expected to present a comprehensive offer aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear activity, though Tehran insists its program remains peaceful. Germany’s foreign minister said the next move is Iran’s, urging “serious and transparent readiness” to de-escalate.
The Geneva meeting marks the first direct contact between Iranian and Western officials since the conflict began.
08:13 AM EDT
Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli strikes on nuclear infrastructure
Saudi Arabia’s Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Commission said Friday that any military attack on civilian nuclear facilities constitutes a violation of international law.
The statement follows a series of Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, part of its broader campaign against Tehran’s military and nuclear infrastructure.
“Any armed attack by any party, or any threat targeting nuclear facilities designated for peaceful purposes, is a violation of international resolutions,” the commission said, citing the UN Charter and the Statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
08:00 AM EDT
Thousands rally in Iran against Israel, wave Hezbollah flags
Supporters of Iraq’s Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr take part in Islam’s Friday prayers in the city of Basra to protest Israel’s strikes on Iran, on June 20, 2025.
Supporters of Iraq’s Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr take part in Islam’s Friday prayers in the city of Basra to protest Israel’s strikes on Iran, on June 20, 2025.
Hussein Faleh/Getty Images
Large crowds gathered in Tehran and cities across Iran on Friday to protest Israel’s military actions. Demonstrators waved national flags, chanted anti-Western slogans, and held up posters of military commanders killed in recent strikes.
State television aired scenes of packed streets in the capital, where some participants carried the yellow flags of Hezbollah, underscoring support for Iran’s regional allies. The protests come amid soaring tensions with Israel and growing calls from within Iran for broader retaliation.
This aerial view shows supporters of Iraq’s Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr taking part in Islam’s Friday prayers in the city of Basra to protest Israel’s strikes on Iran, on June 20, 2025.
This aerial view shows supporters of Iraq’s Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr taking part in Islam’s Friday prayers in the city of Basra to protest Israel’s strikes on Iran, on June 20, 2025.
Hussein Faleh/Getty Images
07:46 AM EDT
Israel, Iran continue airstrikes as Trump mulls U.S. role
Israel and Iran exchanged fresh attacks Friday, marking one week since the war began. Israeli jets struck more than 60 targets, including missile production facilities and a nuclear research agency. Iran fired missiles into southern Israel, damaging residential buildings.
President Donald Trump said he would wait up to two weeks before deciding whether the U.S. would join the conflict. Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign minister is en route to Geneva for talks with European diplomats, though he insisted Tehran will not negotiate until Israeli strikes stop.
The death toll has climbed sharply, with hundreds killed in Iran and dozens in Israel, as international efforts to broker a diplomatic breakthrough intensify.
07:33 AM EDT
Israeli Air Force strikes military sites in western, central Iran
The Israeli Air Force confirmed Friday that it is conducting active airstrikes on military infrastructure in western and central Iran.
חיל-האוויר תוקף כעת תשתיות צבאיות במערב איראן ובמרכזה.
— Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) June 20, 2025
07:31 AM EDT
Iran rules out US talks unless Israel halts strikes
A worker clears rubble of the damaged headquarters of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, Iranian state television, in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, June 19, 2025.
A worker clears rubble of the damaged headquarters of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, Iranian state television, in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, June 19, 2025.
Vahid Salemi/AP Photo
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Tehran has ruled out the possibility of talks with the United States unless Israel halts its ongoing military strikes, speaking just hours before a planned meeting with European officials in Geneva.
“We are not ready to engage in negotiations with any side while the Israeli aggression continues,” Araghchi said, according to state media. He said that although Washington has sent messages proposing direct talks, Iran has declined the request. “We told the Americans clearly: as long as the attacks persist, there can be no negotiations. We are exercising our legitimate right to self-defense,” he said.
Newsweek has reached out the State Department and Iran’s foreign ministry for comment.