Israel intensified its military campaign on Monday with a new wave of strikes on Tehran, including renewed attacks on the Fordow nuclear facility and a hit on the entrance of Evin Prison. The escalation follows U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend, drawing global concern over the potential for a broader regional war. As Iran retaliates with missile salvos, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has appealed directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin for support, signaling Tehran’s search for stronger backing amid mounting pressure.

What to Know:

  • Israeli strikes targeted Revolutionary Guard command centers and key infrastructure in Tehran.
  • Fordow nuclear site was struck again after U.S. bunker-buster bombs hit it Sunday.
  • Iran retaliated with missile barrages on Israeli cities; shelters were activated across Israel.
  • Khamenei’s letter to Putin, delivered by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, seeks deeper Russian support.
  • Putin condemned the U.S. and Israeli strikes as “unjustified” and pledged assistance to the Iranian people.
  • U.S. officials say Iran’s nuclear stockpile status remains unclear; inspections have been halted since June 10.
  • IAEA chief Rafael Grossi warned of “unimaginable” consequences if diplomacy fails.
  • Asian markets dipped amid fears of oil supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Russia-Iran ties have deepened since 2022, but Moscow has not offered military aid in this conflict.

Stay with Newsweek for live updates.


09:03 AM EDT

Iran accelerates succession planning as Khamenei retreats from public view

Iran’s clerical leadership has intensified efforts to identify a successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, amid fears of further instability following Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iranian targets, Reuters reports. A three-member committee, appointed by Khamenei two years ago, has reportedly stepped up its work recently as the 86-year-old leader remains in hiding under heavy guard.

Two frontrunners have emerged: Mojtaba Khamenei, the Supreme Leader’s son and a hardline continuity candidate, and Hassan Khomeini, the reformist-leaning grandson of the Islamic Republic’s founder. While Mojtaba is ideologically aligned with his father, Khomeini is viewed as a more moderate figure who could appeal to a discontented public and ease international tensions.

Sources close to the succession talks say Khamenei is being briefed regularly but has not publicly endorsed a successor. The urgency of the process has grown following threats to Khamenei’s life and the deaths of several senior Revolutionary Guards commanders in recent Israeli strikes.

The final decision lies with the Assembly of Experts, a clerical body constitutionally tasked with selecting the next Supreme Leader. However, insiders caution that the ongoing conflict could complicate any transition, especially if the Revolutionary Guards seek to assert greater control over the process


08:49 AM EDT

White House: Iranians should decide regime’s fate if diplomacy fails

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that if Iran’s leadership continues to reject diplomatic solutions, it is up to the Iranian people to determine the future of their government.

“If the Iranian regime refuses to come to a diplomatic solution, why shouldn’t the Iranian people take away the power of this incredibly violent regime?” the spokesperson said, signaling growing frustration with Tehran’s stance amid escalating conflict.

Despite the sharp rhetoric, the press secretary emphasized that the U.S. military posture remains unchanged, suggesting that Washington is not currently planning further strikes or troop deployments.


08:46 AM EDT

Israeli strikes knock out power in northern Tehran

Israeli airstrikes on Tehran have damaged major power lines in the city’s northern districts, causing widespread outages, according to Iran’s Mehr news agency. The national electric company, Tavanir, confirmed that the disruption affected parts of Districts 2 and 3, home to over 1 million residents.

The strikes reportedly hit infrastructure near key government and military sites, though the full extent of the damage remains unclear. Local authorities have begun emergency repairs, and some power has since been restored


08:32 AM EDT

Iran’s exiled crown prince urges West to back people’s call for change

At a press conference in Paris on Monday, Reza Pahlavi, the exiled crown prince of Iran, fielded pre-selected questions about the escalating conflict and the future of Iran’s leadership.

When asked whether regime change should be a formal objective of the United States or Israel, Pahlavi responded that it is “not any foreign government’s job” to define such a goal. Instead, he urged the international community to “recognize that this is the ask of the Iranian people.”

“Where do Western democracies stand?” he asked. “Are they going to continue throwing the regime a lifeline, or recognize that this is a golden opportunity?”

Pahlavi has positioned himself as a transitional figure for a post-Islamic Republic Iran, calling for a democratic future and greater international support for Iranian dissidents.


08:14 AM EDT

China evacuates over 3,000 citizens from Iran amid conflict

China has successfully evacuated more than 3,000 of its citizens from Iran, the country’s foreign ministry confirmed Monday, as Israeli airstrikes continue to target Iranian territory. An additional 500 Chinese nationals have also departed from Israel, which is facing retaliatory missile attacks from Iran.

According to the ministry, all Chinese citizens who requested evacuation left safely, with operations coordinated through embassies and consulates in both countries. The evacuations come amid growing regional instability and widespread airspace closures across the Middle East.


07:54 AM EDT

UN nuclear chief warns of catastrophic risk without diplomacy

At an emergency meeting in Vienna on Monday, Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), warned that the escalating conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States could lead to “violence and destruction at unimaginable levels” if diplomacy fails.

Grossi urged all parties to return to negotiations and allow IAEA inspectors access to Iranian nuclear sites, including Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan, which were recently struck by U.S. forces. He emphasized the need to verify Iran’s 400 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%, warning that continued hostilities could undermine the global nonproliferation regime.

While Iran has claimed no radiation leaks occurred, Grossi said the IAEA has not yet been able to fully assess the damage. He stressed that diplomacy remains the only viable path to prevent further escalation and ensure nuclear safety.


07:40 AM EDT

Putin reaffirms support for Iran amid US, Israeli strikes

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Moscow on Monday, condemning recent U.S. airstrikes on Iran as “unprovoked aggression” and pledging continued Russian support. The meeting came as Israeli forces intensified their campaign against Tehran.

Putin, joined by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and senior aide Yury Ushakov, told Araghchi that Russia values its “long-standing, reliable relationship” with Iran and is actively working to assist the Iranian people. He also said he had spoken with leaders from the U.S., Israel, UAE, and Iran, though the Kremlin later clarified no call with President Trump was scheduled after the strikes.

Araghchi thanked Putin for standing by Iran and described Russia as being “on the right side of history.” He praised Moscow’s role in Iran’s nuclear development and diplomacy, highlighting Russia’s involvement in the Bushehr nuclear power plant, where around 200 Russian experts are currently stationed.

The meeting underscored the deepening Iran-Russia alliance, which has grown stronger since Iran began supplying Russia with drones and missiles during the war in Ukraine.


07:27 AM EDT

Putin condemns U.S. strikes, reaffirms support for Iran

Putin



In this image released by the Roscongress Foundation, Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at a plenary session of the Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia, Friday, June 20, 2025.
In this image released by the Roscongress Foundation, Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at a plenary session of the Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia, Friday, June 20, 2025.
Vyacheslav Viktorov/ Roscongress Foundation vía AP


Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in the Kremlin on Monday, denouncing recent U.S. airstrikes on Iran as “absolutely unprovoked aggression.” He emphasized Russia’s commitment to supporting the Iranian people and highlighted the countries’ long-standing partnership.

“We are making efforts to provide assistance to the Iranian people,” Putin said, reaffirming Moscow’s ties with Tehran amid rising regional tensions.

Araghchi thanked Russia for its vocal condemnation of the U.S. and Israeli actions, calling the strikes “completely illegitimate” and a violation of international norms. He also praised Russia’s role in Iran’s peaceful nuclear development, noting its involvement in building the Bushehr nuclear power plant.


07:14 AM EDT

US Embassy in Qatar urges Americans to shelter in place

The U.S. Embassy in Qatar has reportedly issued a shelter-in-place advisory for American citizens, citing unspecified security concerns.


07:01 AM EDT

Iran says Evin Prison under control after Israeli strike

Iran’s judiciary announced Friday that the situation at Evin Prison in Tehran is “under control” following an Israeli airstrike that damaged parts of the facility. The statement, issued through the Mizan news agency, said authorities had taken “all necessary measures” to manage the prison complex, though it did not specify the extent of the damage.

Video footage circulating online showed the prison’s main gate blasted open, raising concerns about the safety of detainees. The strike was part of a broader Israeli offensive targeting government and military sites in Tehran, including facilities linked to the Revolutionary Guards.


06:43 AM EDT

Map shows US military presence in Middle East as Iran makes threats

The map below from Newsweek’s John Feng shows bases in the Middle East with an American presence—and so potential targets for Iranian retaliation.

Iran has said the U.S. strikes on its nuclear facilities broaden the scope of what it sees as legitimate targets, a clear threat to Americans in the region.

The U.S. has warned Iran not to retaliate against its troops in the Middle East, or any other American assets or personnel, saying its strikes were targeted and limited. It is urging Iran to pursue diplomacy from here.



06:37 AM EDT

Iran plays down Evin Prison incident

The media arm of the Iranian judiciary said “the situation is under control” at the Evin Prison in Tehran following Israel’s bombing of the entrance there.

Evin Prison is where Iran holds many of its political prisoners.

Human rights groups have documented allegations of human rights abuses at the prison over the years, which Iran denies.

Iranian state media also published CCTV footage of a blast at the entrance of the prison.