U.S. Vice President JD Vance said on Monday Iran was no longer able to build a nuclear weapon after U.S. strikes destroyed its infrastructure.

"Iran was very close to having a nuclear weapon," Vance said in an interview on Fox News' "Special Report with Bret Baier."

"Now Iran is incapable of building a nuclear weapon with the equipment they have because we destroyed it," Vance said.

President Donald Trump brokered a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran on Monday in a call to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and with Trump's team in contact with Iranian officials, a senior White House official said.

The official, providing details of the ceasefire on condition of anonymity, said Israel agreed to the ceasefire so long as Iran does not launch fresh attacks. Iran signaled it would abide by the agreement, the official said.

A series of powerful explosions rocked Tehran early Tuesday morning, according to AFP journalists.

Warplanes buzzed overhead as explosions shook the north and centre of Iran's capital around 3:00 am (2330 GMT). 

The blasts occurred just hours before a staggered ceasefire was due to take effect around 0400 GMT, with Iran unilaterally halting all operations, according to an announcement by US President Donald Trump. 

U.S. President Donald Trump told NBC News he expects an Israel-Iran ceasefire that he announced on Monday to last "forever."

Iran's Revolutionary Guards on Tuesday promised that the United States would regret any further attacks on Iran.

"We warn the foolish and stupid American president...that in case of the repeat of an aggression or attack against the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the proud martyr-bearing land of Iran, he will receive more crushing and regrettable responses that will serve as a lesson," the Guard's commander Mohammad Pakpour was quoted as saying by state television. 

Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani secured Tehran's agreement to the U.S. proposal for a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Iran during a call with Iranian officials held after Iran's strikes on a U.S. air base in Qatar on Monday, an official briefed on the negotiations told Reuters early on Tuesday.

The phone call came after U.S. president Donald Trump told Qatar's emir that Israel had agreed to the ceasefire and asked for Doha's help persuading Tehran to also agree to the ceasefire deal, the official said. 

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that a "complete and total" ceasefire between Israel and Iran will go into force with a view to ending the conflict between the two nations.

UN chief Antonio Guterres condemned Iran's attack Monday against a US base in Qatar and urged again for diplomacy to end the conflict between Iran and Israel, his spokesman said.

"From the outset of the crisis, the Secretary-General has repeatedly condemned any military escalation in this conflict, including today's attack by Iran on the territory of Qatar," spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

The Israeli army called Tuesday for residents of an area of central Tehran to evacuate, saying it was "targeting the Iranian regime's military infrastructure".

In a post on the X social network in Persian around midnight, it published a map showing an evacuation zone marked in red covering part of District 7 in Tehran.

"To all civilians, for your safety and well-being, we urge you to evacuate immediately from the marked area and avoid approaching it in the coming hours," it said.

Qatar on Tuesday announced the re-opening of its airspace, the Qatari aviation authority said, after Iran fired a series of missiles at the Gulf state targeting the US's Al Udeid base hosted there.

"The General Civil Aviation Authority announces the resumption of air traffic in the airspace of the State of Qatar and the return of the atmosphere to normal," it said in a statement on X.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Monday that Tehran's attack on U.S military base al-Udeid in Qatar came in response to the U.S. "aggression against Iran's territorial integrity and sovereignty."

US President Donald Trump no Americans were harmed and there was hardly damaged in the Iranian missile attacks on the US airbase in Qatar. 

 "I am pleased to report that NO Americans were harmed, and hardly any damage was done. Most importantly, they've gotten it all out of their "system," and there will, hopefully, be no further HATE", President Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Iraq's foreign ministry warned of a "broader confrontation" and heightened tension in the region after Iran attacked a US base in Qatar on Monday.

Iraq has repeatedly warned "against the danger of new parties getting involved in the conflict, which could lead to a broader confrontation and further regional tension," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Tehran is considering suspending its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the speaker of Iran's parliament said Monday.

In parliament, "we are seeking to pass a bill to suspend Iran's cooperation with the IAEA", speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf said on X, accusing the UN's nuclear watchdog of lacking objectivity and professionalism. The IAEA in June adopted a resolution condemning Tehran's failure to cooperate with the agency with regard to its nuclear programme.

Iranians gathered in central Tehran on Monday night, images on state TV showed, to celebrate a missile attack targeting a US base in Qatar in retaliation for American strikes on nuclear sites.

Demonstrators were seen waving the flag of the Islamic republic and chanting "Death to America", while others honked their car horns in celebration, footage showed.

Oil prices sank more than six percent Monday after Iran attacked a US military base in neighboring Qatar in retaliation for US weekend strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Near 1815 GMT, futures for West Texas Intermediate fell 6.5 percent to $69.96 a barrel, while Brent oil futures dropped 6.4 percent to $72.07 a barrel, its lowest level in 10 days.

A US defense official said there were no known American casualties from the incident, which analysts said did not appear to be near key oil infrastructure.

Amid tensions in the middle east after Iran struck US air bases in Qatar in response to American strikes on Tehran's nuclear facilities. Air India has cancelled its flight over the gulf region until further notice amid the tense situation. 

The airline in a statement said, "Amid the developing situation in the Middle East, Air India has ceased all operations to the region as well as to and from the East Coast of North America and Europe with immediate effect, until further notice." 

"Our India-bound flights from North America are diverting back to their respective origins and others are being diverted back to India or re-routed away from the closed airspaces. We request the understanding of all passengers who may be affected by this disruption that's beyond an airline's control. Air India is in continuous consultation with its external security advisors and is vigilantly monitoring the evolving situation. We will keep our passengers informed of any updates. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our number one priority."

Airspace in the region slowly in the process of reopening. UAE flights moving again. Bahrain and Kuwait flights coordinating for movement in the next hour, though extensions of closures possible. pic.twitter.com/5gDcORa4w5

— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) June 23, 2025

Saudi Arabia, the arch-rival of Iran condemned the Iranian attack on Doha. They said, "the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expresses its condemnation and denunciation, in the strongest terms possible, the aggression launched by Iran against the brotherly State of Qatar, which constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and the principles of good neighborliness, and an entirely unacceptable act that cannot be justified under any circumstances."

No Iranian missiles hit the U.S. military's al Udeid airbase in Qatar, a US official told Reuters on Monday.

The initial assessment follows an attempted attack by Iran on the base using short- and medium-range missiles.

Oil prices have fallen by 5% after Iran attacked US military base in Doha

Kuwait has also shut its airspace after Iran struck American air bases in Qatar. Bahrain has also shut its airspace after the attack.

A series of explosions was heard Monday night in the north of Tehran, according an AFP journalist, just as Iran announced it was launching missiles at US bases in retaliation for American strikes on nuclear facilities.

The journalist reported yellow flashes typical of Iranian air defences in the sky over Tehran shortly before 9:00 pm (1730 GMT).

The main remaining base in northeast Syria hosting U.S. troops is on full alert and mobilized for possible attacks by Iran or Iran-aligned groups, a Syrian security source told Reuters on Monday.

The base is known as Qasrak and is one of two bases in the northeast Hasakah province where U.S. troops are based.

Iran coordinated its strikes on U.S. bases in Qatar, prompting air space closure, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Monday.

The New York Times, which first reported the coordination, said Iran took the action to minimize casualties.

Qatar's neighbouring country Bahrain has also shut its airspace "temporarily" after Iran struck American air bases in Doha.

"The Civil Aviation Affairs of the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications announced the temporary suspension of air navigation in the skies of the Kingdom of Bahrain as a precautionary measure in light of recent regional developments," said a statement carried by the official Bahrain News Agency.

Qatar confirmed that no casualties have taken place in the Iranian attack on American military bases in the country. Doha said it reserves the right to respond to the Iranian aggression.

Qatar has condemned Iranian strikes on American air bases in the country in retaliation to US attack on Tehran's nuclear facilities. The Adviser to the PM of Qatar said: 

"We express the State of Qatar's strong condemnation of the attack on Al Udeid Air Base by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, and consider it a flagrant violation of the State of Qatar's sovereignty and airspace, as well as of international law and the United Nations Charter. We affirm that the State of Qatar reserves the right to respond directly in a manner proportional to the nature and scale of this blatant aggression and in accordance with international law. We are reassured that Qatari air defenses thwarted the attack and successfully intercepted the Iranian missiles. The Ministry of Defense will issue a statement clarifying the circumstances of the attack later.

We also affirm that the continuation of such escalating military actions will undermine security and stability in the region and drag it into situations that will have disastrous repercussions for international peace and security. We call for an immediate cessation of all military actions and a serious return to the negotiating table and dialogue.

We emphasize that the State of Qatar was among the first countries to warn against the consequences of Israeli escalation in the region*, calling for the priority of diplomatic solutions, and adhering to the principles of good neighborliness and non-escalation, affirming that dialogue is the only way to overcome current crises and preserve the security of the region and the peace of its peoples.

The base had been evacuated earlier in accordance with approved security and precautionary measures, in light of the tensions currently prevailing in the region. All necessary measures were taken to ensure the safety of the base's personnel, including members of the Qatari Armed Forces, friendly forces, and others. He confirmed that no injuries or human losses occurred as a result of the attack."

Iran today retaliated against the US, targeting the Al-Udeid base in Qatar, days after its nuclear sites were bombed in an operation overseen by Donald Trump.

"Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps with the sacred code or Aba Abdullah Al-Hussein (PBUH) has targeted the Al-Udeid base in Qatar with a devastating and powerful missile attack in Operation Besharat Fatah. This base is the headquarters of the Air Force and the largest strategic asset of the US terrorist army in the West Asian region," the Iranian Armed Forces said in a statement.

The Indian Embassy in Doha has issued an advisory for its citizens in Qatar and said, "In view of the ongoing situation, Indian community in Qatar is urged to be cautious and remains indoors. Please remain calm and follow local news, instructions and guidance provides by Qatari authorities. The Embassy will also keep updating through our social media channels."

Iranian state TV said they have responded to "American aggression" with power. 

Iran has responded to US air strikes on its nuclear facilities after it reportedly launched missiles at American air bases in neighbouring Qatar.

🎯 A List of Targets Struck in Iran This Afternoon:
1. Command centers and assets belonging to the IRGC and internal security forces
2. 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗷 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀- One of the IRGC’s central armed bases of power; responsible for enforcing Islamic law and reporting…

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 23, 2025

Israel's military said it was striking command centres of Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards and other domestic security forces responsible for "maintaining the regime's stability".

"These forces consist of various corps and command centers and are responsible, on behalf of the Iranian regime's military, for defending the homeland security, suppressing threats, and maintaining the regime's stability," it said in a statement.

The foreign minister of Iran, Abbas Araghchi, met Russian president Vladimir Putin a day after US struck the country's three nuclear facilities in an overnight operation.

Israel carried out a fresh strike on Iran's underground Fordo nuclear site south of Tehran, a media outlet in the country reported.

"The aggressor attacked the Fordo nuclear site again," Tasnim news agency reported, quoting a spokesperson for the crisis management authority in Qom province where the site is located.

Loud blasts were heard in northern Tehran, following which Iran Red Crescent said Israel strikes hit near its building in the Iranian capital. 

Israel's military said sirens sounded in several areas across the country on Monday after missiles were fired from Iran, as the two foes traded fire for the 11th day.

"A short while ago, sirens sounded in several areas across Israel following the identification of missiles launched from Iran toward the State of Israel," an army statement said. AFP journalists in Jerusalem and the centre of the country received alerts on their phones warning of incoming missiles.

A parliamentary bill to suspend Iran's cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog is under consideration, Ruhollah Motefakerzadeh, a member of parliament's presidium said on Monday according to state media.

Iranian media also reported Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf saying: "We in the parliament are seeking to pass a bill that would suspend Iran's cooperation with the IAEA until we have objective guarantees of the professional behaviour of this international organisation."

Qalibaf added Tehran was not looking to develop nuclear weapons.

"The world clearly saw that the Atomic Energy Agency has not fulfilled any of its obligations and has become a political tool," he added. (Reuters)

Israel's military said sirens sounded in several areas across the country on Monday after missiles were fired from Iran, as the two foes traded fire for the 11th day.

"A short while ago, sirens sounded in several areas across Israel following the identification of missiles launched from Iran toward the State of Israel," an army statement said. AFP journalists in Jerusalem and the centre of the country received alerts on their phones warning of incoming missiles.

China said on Monday that the international community must do more to prevent fighting between Iran and Israel from impacting the global economy, noting the "Persian Gulf and surrounding waters are important international trade routes".

"China calls on the international community to make greater efforts to promote the de-escalation of the conflict and prevent regional instability from having a greater impact on global economic development," foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said.

China urged Iran and Israel on Monday to de-escalate in order to prevent the "spillover" of their war, as fighting between the two foes raged for the 11th day. "The Chinese side urges the parties to the conflict to prevent the situation from escalating repeatedly, resolutely avoid the spillover of war, and return to the path of political resolution," foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said.

Beijing on Monday said the international community must do more to prevent fighting between Iran and Israel from impacting the global economy, noting the "Persian Gulf and surrounding waters are important international trade routes".

"Maintaining security and stability in this region is in the common interests of the international community," the foreign ministry's Guo said.

"China calls on the international community to make greater efforts to promote the de-escalation of the conflict and prevent regional instability from having a greater impact on global economic development," he added.

In a fiery warning to US President Donald Trump, Iran's military on Monday said the American attacks on Iranian nuclear sites have expanded the battlefield and that powerful retaliatory operations are imminent.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was due to hold "important" talks with key ally Vladimir Putin on Monday, 48 hours after a major US attack on Iran's key nuclear facilities.

Moscow is a crucial backer of Tehran, but has not swung forcefully behind its partner since Israel launched a wave of attacks on June 13, strikes that triggered Iran to respond with missiles and drones.

While Russia condemned the Israeli and US strikes, it has not offered military help and has downplayed its obligations under a sweeping strategic partnership agreement signed with Tehran just months ago.

"In this new dangerous situation ... our consultations with Russia can certainly be of great importance," Russian state media reported Araghchi as saying after landing in Moscow.

The Israeli military said it carried out air strikes on at least six airports in western, eastern and central Iran and destroyed at least six Iranian airfields.

While Russia and Iran have had close ties for decades, Putin said he is trying to stay neutral in the conflict as a large number of Russian-speaking people live in Israel.

In a 2011 video now viral on X, Trump claimed Obama had "no ability to negotiate", further suggesting the President would launch a war against Iran to maintain his position of power.

Iran's judiciary said Monday it executed a man found guilty of spying for Israel, as fighting raged between the two countries for an 11th day.

"Mohammad-Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh was hanged this morning for intelligence cooperation with the Zionist regime," the judiciary said, using Iran's term for Israel.

The US launched Operation Midnight Hammer on Sunday, targeting three of Iran's fortified nuclear sites.

Iran's ambassador to the United Nations called on Sunday for an emergency Security Council meeting for what he described as America's "heinous attacks and illegal use of force" against Iran.

Israeli strikes on Iran have killed at least 950 people and wounded 3,450 others, according to the Washington-based group Human Rights Activists. The group said of those dead, it identified 380 civilians and 253 security force personnel. In Israel, at least 24 people have been killed and over 1,000 wounded.

North Korea condemned the US strikes, calling it a violation of the United Nations charter and blaming the tension in the Middle East on the "reckless valor of Israel".

"The Democratic People's Republic of Korea strongly denounces the attack on Iran by the US, which severely violated the UN Charter with respect for sovereignty," said a spokesperson of the North's foreign ministry, according to a statement carried by the state news agency.

China's foreign ministry said it "strongly condemns" the US strikes, warning that they "escalate tensions in the Middle East".

"China calls on all parties to the conflict, especially Israel, to cease fire as soon as possible," the ministry said.

French President Emmanuel Macron called a meeting of the country's defence council, with his office saying he had spoken with the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Oman.

France is urging "all parties to exercise restraint to avoid any escalation that could lead to an extension of the conflict", Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot posted on X.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called on Iran to "return to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis".

"Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat," Starmer said on X, adding that "stability in the region is a priority".

Ukraine's foreign ministry said the strikes were justified to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons, praising them as a "clear signal".

"Ukraine is convinced that Iran's nuclear programme must be stopped so that it never again poses a threat to the countries of the Middle East or any other state," it said.

Russia "strongly condemned" the bombings, calling them "irresponsible" and a "gross violation of international law".

"A dangerous escalation has begun, fraught with further undermining of regional and global security," the Russian foreign ministry added.

The European Union's top diplomat Kaja Kallas called for de-escalation and a return to negotiations.

"I urge all sides to step back, return to the negotiating table and prevent further escalation," Kallas wrote on X, adding that Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and that EU foreign ministers would discuss the situation on Monday.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) announced enhanced deployments to religious, cultural, and diplomatic sites throughout the city.

The one-minute footage shows a B-2 bomber plane, the US' most advanced strategic weapons platform, flying over the American airbase before touching down.

Iran is considering closing the key oil shipping route Strait of Hormuz after the US bombed three of its nuclear facilities, Iranian media reported today.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged China Sunday to help deter Iran from shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial trade route, following American strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. "I encourage the Chinese government in Beijing to call them about that because they heavily depend on the Strait of Hormuz for their oil," Rubio said on Fox News.

Analysts have said Iran may opt to retaliate to Washington's early Sunday attack by shutting the Strait, a waterway through which one-fifth of global oil output passes.

"If they do that, it will be another terrible mistake. It's economic suicide for them if they do it, and we retain options to deal with that," Rubio added.

"But other countries should be looking at that as well, it would hurt other countries' economies a lot worse than ours. It would be, I think, a massive escalation that would merit a response. Not just by us but from others," he said.

"The punishment continues. The Zionist enemy has made a big mistake, committed a big crime; it must be punished and it is being punished; it is being punished right now," Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei said in a post on X. 

#همین_حالا
مجازات ادامه دارد
دشمن صهیونی یک اشتباه بزرگی کرده، یک جنایت بزرگی را مرتکب شده؛ باید مجازات بشود و دارد مجازات میشود؛ همین حالا دارد مجازات میشود.#الله_اکبر pic.twitter.com/wH6Wk9nNhJ

— KHAMENEI.IR | فارسی 🇮🇷 (@Khamenei_fa) June 23, 2025

Iran is reportedly planning to attack the US bases in Iraq in retaliation against American strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.

"The Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations has submitted an urgent letter to the Security Council at midnight local time, vehemently condemning the United States’ unlawful and reckless bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities. The United States and the bloodthirsty Zionist Regime of Israel shall be held fully accountable for these flagrant violations of international law and must face the grave consequences thereof."

The Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations has submitted an urgent letter to the Security Council at midnight local time, vehemently condemning the United States’ unlawful and reckless bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities. The United States and… pic.twitter.com/GKGFwtBQsN

— I.R.IRAN Mission to UN, NY (@Iran_UN) June 22, 2025

Japan called on Monday for de-escalation of the conflict in Iran and said U.S. strikes demonstrated Washington's determination to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons. 

Japan also said it was "extremely regrettable" the situation between Israel and Iran had escalated into a cycle of retaliation, according to Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya.

"Japan continues to strongly hope that the path to dialogue will be reopened by efforts toward a resolution of Iran's nuclear issue through talks between the U.S. and Iran," Iwaya said in a statement.

Iranian state media reported that North Korea has condemned US strikes on Iran. 

Yemen's Houthi rebel group issued fresh threats against American commercial and naval ships.

President Donald Trump insisted Sunday that US strikes had destroyed Iranian nuclear sites, after other officials cautioned that the extent of damage was still unclear.

"Monumental Damage was done to all Nuclear sites in Iran, as shown by satellite images. Obliteration is an accurate term!" Trump wrote on social media, without sharing the images he was referencing.

"The biggest damage took place far below ground level. Bullseye!!!" he added.

Israel is very close to completing its goal of removing the dual threats of Iran's ballistic missiles and nuclear programme, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday. He promised not to let Israel be dragged into a war of attrition but also said he would not end the Iran campaign prematurely.

"We won’t pursue our actions beyond what is needed to achieve them, but we also won't finish too soon. When the objectives are achieved, then the operation is complete and the fighting will stop," he told Israeli reporters.

"I have no doubt that this is a regime that wants to wipe us out, and that's why we embarked on this operation to eliminate the two concrete threats to our existence: the nuclear threat, the ballistic missile threat. We are moving step by step towards achieving these goals. We are very, very close to completing them," he said.

He said Iran's Fordow nuclear site had been very badly damaged by U.S. bunker-buster bombs overnight but the extent of damage remained to be seen. Tehran has vowed to defend itself at all costs.

Asked about the whereabouts of Iran's 60 per cent enriched uranium, Netanyahu said: "We've been following that very closely. I can tell you that it's an important component of a nuclear programme.

"It's not the sole component. It's not a sufficient component. But it is an important component and we have interesting intel on that, which you will excuse me if I don't share with you," he said. (Reuters)

Iran is considering closing the key oil shipping route Strait of Hormuz after the US bombed three of its nuclear facilities, Iranian media reported today.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday raised the question of regime change in Iran following U.S. strikes against key military sites over the weekend, as senior officials in his administration warned Tehran against retaliation.

"It’s not politically correct to use the term, “Regime Change,” but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!" Trump wrote on his social media platform.

Trump's post came after officials in his administration, including U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, stressed they were not working to overthrow Iran's government.

"This mission was not and has not been about regime change," Hegseth told reporters at the Pentagon, calling the mission "a precision operation" targeting Iran's nuclear program.

Iran on Sunday threatened US bases in the Middle East after massive air strikes that Washington said had destroyed Tehran's nuclear program, though some officials cautioned that the extent of damage was unclear. With aerial assaults between Iran and Israel raging -- including fresh strikes by Israel on what it said were military targets in Iran -- the US State Department issued a worldwide caution alert for its citizens traveling or living abroad.

Ali Akbar Velayati, an advisor to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said bases used by US forces could be attacked in retaliation.

"Any country in the region or elsewhere that is used by American forces to strike Iran will be considered a legitimate target for our armed forces," he said in a message carried by the official IRNA news agency.

"America has attacked the heart of the Islamic world and must await irreparable consequences."

Asian markets plunged while oil prices briefly hit five-month highs on Monday as investors anxiously awaited Tehran's next move after the United States joined Israel in attacking Iran's nuclear facilities, escalating the Middle East crisis.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Sunday called for a swift return to diplomacy after the US struck three nuclear sites in Iran overnight, his spokesman said.

Iran must "immediately enter into negotiations with the US and Israel and to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict", Merz said, according to his spokesman Stefan Kornelius.

The German government believes "large parts of Iran's nuclear programme have been damaged by the airstrikes", Kornelius said.

The US strikes came after Israel launched large-scale attacks on Iran on June 13 targeting its missile and nuclear facilities, as well as military leaders and security services.

Iran's ambassador to the United Nations on Sunday slammed the United States for its strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.

"The United States, a permanent member of this Council... has now once again resorted to illegal force, waged a war against my country, under a fabricated and absurd pretext: preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons," Amir Saeid Iravani told the UN Security Council.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday questioned the possibility of regime change in Iran following U.S. military strikes against key Iran military sites over the weekend.

Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE hosts the US 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, a force that is composed of 10 squadrons of aircraft and also includes drones such as MQ-9 Reapers.

Combat aircraft have rotated through Al Dhafra, which also hosts the Gulf Air Warfare Center for air and missile defense training.

The United States has for years maintained troop presences at a series of installations in Syria as part of international efforts against the Islamic State group, which rose out of the country's civil war to overrun large parts of Syria and neighboring Iraq.

The Pentagon announced in April that it would roughly halve the number of its forces in the country to less than 1,000 in the coming months as part of a "consolidation" of US troops in the country.

Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar includes the forward components of CENTCOM, as well as of its air forces and special operation forces in the region.

It also hosts rotating combat aircraft, as well as the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, which the military says includes "airlift, aerial refueling intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, and aeromedical evacuation assets."

Kuwait has several US bases, including Camp Arifjan, the location of the forward headquarters for the US Army component of CENTCOM. The US Army also has stocks of prepositioned materiel in the country.

Ali al-Salem Air Base hosts the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, which the military describes as the "primary airlift hub and gateway for delivering combat power to joint and coalition forces" in the region. Additionally, the United States has drones including MQ-9 Reapers in Kuwait.

The United States has troops at various installations in Iraq, including Al-Asad and Arbil air bases. The Iraqi government is a close ally of Iran, but also a strategic partner of Tehran's arch-foe the United States.

There are some 2,500 US troops in Iraq as part of the international coalition against the Islamic State jihadist group. Baghdad and Washington have agreed on a timetable for the gradual withdrawal of the coalition's forces from the country.

US forces in Iraq and Syria were repeatedly targeted by pro-Iran militants following the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, but responded with heavy strikes on Tehran-linked targets, and the attacks largely subsided.

The tiny Gulf kingdom hosts an installation known as Naval Support Activity Bahrain, where the US Navy's Fifth Fleet and US Naval Forces Central Command headquarters are based.

Bahrain's deep-water port can accommodate the largest US military vessels, such as aircraft carriers, and the US Navy has used the base in the country since 1948, when the facility was operated by Britain's Royal Navy.

Several US ships have their home port in Bahrain, including four anti-mine vessels and two logistical support ships. The US Coast Guard also has vessels in the country, including six fast response cutters.

Australia backs the United States' air strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities but wants to avert a spiral into "full-scale war" in the Middle East, the government said Monday.

"Iran cannot be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon. We support action to prevent that from occurring, and this is what this is," Foreign Minister Penny Wong told reporters.

"What happens now matters. We do not want to see escalation. We do call for diplomacy, de-escalation and dialogue because the world does not want to see full-scale war in the Middle East."

Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will reportedly meet Russian President Vladimir Putin tomorrow, amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres warned Sunday against yet "another cycle of destruction" and retaliation following the US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, which he said marked a "perilous turn" in the region. "I have repeatedly condemned any military escalation in the Middle East," the secretary-general told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.

"The people of the region cannot endure another cycle of destruction. And yet, we now risk descending into a rathole of retaliation after retaliation."

Rafael Grossi, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), also called for restraint as he voiced fears over "potential widening" of the conflict. "We have a window of opportunity to return to dialogue and diplomacy. If that window closes, violence and destruction could reach unthinkable levels and the global non-proliferation regime as we know it could crumble and fall," Grossi said.

A banner bearing a picture of US President Donald Trump accompanied by a message "Thank You, Mr President", was displayed in Tel Aviv on Sunday after US military carried out strikes on June 22 on three Iranian nuclear sites. 

US President Donald Trump made the final decision to launch strikes on Iranian nuclear sites "minutes before the bombs dropped," Vice President JD Vance said on Saturday, CNN reported.

The US State Department issued a "worldwide caution" for Americans on Sunday, saying the conflict in the Middle East could put those traveling or living abroad at an increased security risk.

"There is the potential for demonstrations against US citizens and interests abroad," and "the Department of State advises US citizens worldwide to exercise increased caution," said the State Department's security alert.

The world braced on Sunday for Iran's response after the U.S. attacked key Iranian nuclear sites, joining Israel in the biggest Western military action against the Islamic Republic since its 1979 revolution. Iran vowed to defend itself a day after the U.S. dropped 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs onto the mountain above Iran's Fordow nuclear site while American leaders urged Tehran to stand down and pockets of anti-war protesters emerged in U.S. cities.

In a post to the Truth Social platform on Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump addressed the issue of regime change in Iran. "It’s not politically correct to use the term, 'Regime Change,' but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!" he wrote.

Meanwhile, Iran and Israel continued to trade volleys of missile attacks. An Israeli military spokesperson said Israeli fighter jets had struck military targets in western Iran. Earlier, Iran fired missiles that wounded scores of people and flattened buildings in Tel Aviv. (Reuters)

Iran on Sunday threatened US bases in the Middle East after massive air strikes that Washington said had destroyed Tehran's nuclear program, though some officials cautioned that the extent of damage was unclear.

Ali Akbar Velayati, an advisor to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said bases used by US forces could be attacked in retaliation.

"Any country in the region or elsewhere that is used by American forces to strike Iran will be considered a legitimate target for our armed forces," he said in a message carried by the official IRNA news agency.

"America has attacked the heart of the Islamic world and must await irreparable consequences."

The Israeli army said it carried out strikes on Iranian "military targets", including missile launch and storage sites, on Sunday.

"Approximately 20 (Israeli airforce) fighter jets conducted intelligence-based strikes using over 30 munitions on military targets in Iran," the Israeli army said in a statement posted to Telegram.

The attacks were carried out on "storage and missile launching infrastructure sites", as well as "military satellites and radar sites", it added.

The Israel Defense Forces said nearly 20 fighter jets conducted intelligence-based strikes using over 30 munitions on sites across Kermanshah, Hamedan and Tehran as part of its ongoing effort to degrade the Iranian regimes military capabilities.

🔴 Approx. 20 IAF fighter jets conducted intelligence-based strikes using over 30 munitions on sites across Kermanshah, Hamedan and Tehran.
Targets included:
⭕️ Missile storage & launch infrastructure
⭕️ Radar and satellite systems used for aerial intel
⭕️ A surface-to-air… pic.twitter.com/uAJFhVwm4w

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 22, 2025

The price of oil rose and US stock futures fell as global markets react to the US strike against nuclear targets in Iran.

The price of Brent crude oil, the international standard, rose 3.9% to $80 a barrel. US crude rose 4.3% to $77 a barrel.

Futures for the S&P 500 fell 0.6%. Treasury yields fell slightly.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday questioned the possibility of regime change in Iran following U.S. military strikes against key Iran military sites over the weekend.

Donald Trump praised the US military and said, "The damage to the Nuclear sites in Iran is said to be monumental."

Entrances to tunnels used to store part of Iran's enriched uranium stockpile at the sprawling Isfahan nuclear complex were hit in US military strikes overnight, the UN nuclear watchdog said on Sunday.

"We have established that entrances to underground tunnels at the site were impacted," the International Atomic Energy Agency said in a statement.

Officials have previously said much of Iran's most highly enriched uranium was stored underground at Isfahan.

In a statement to the UN Security Council soon after the IAEA statement was issued, the agency's chief Rafael Grossi appeared to confirm the tunnels hit were part of the area used for the storage of that stockpile.

Israel was very close to meeting its goals in Iran of removing the threats of ballistic missiles and the nuclear programme, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday.

The UN chief has warned of cycle of "retaliation" after US bombed Iran

Netanyahu claimed that Iran's nuclear site Fordow was "badly hit" in the US bombing. "The extent of damage is still to be seen," he added.

Abbas Araghchi, the Foreign Minister of Iran, has arrived in Moscow. He will be meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday.

Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu has said his country has "moved closer to goals" in Iran after US bombing.

The Joint Maritime Trade Operations advisory has stated high electronic interference in Arabian Gulf and adjacent waters, especially disrupted GPS systems.

The interference in the Strait of Hormuz originates from Bandar Abbas and the central Arabian Gulf, causing some vessels to navigate the strait only during daylight. Increased ship congestion is also noted near Dubai and southern Gulf of Oman.

The Houthis continue to issue threats, primarily concerning the Red Sea, the advisory stated.

𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐱. 𝟑𝟎 𝐈𝐀𝐅 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐣𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐤 𝐝𝐨𝐳𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐈𝐫𝐚𝐧 𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟔𝟎 𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐝:
📍 Yazd
IAF fighter jets struck the "Imam… pic.twitter.com/ZARmIvqdbd

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 22, 2025

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prayed for President Donald Trump at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. 

Netanyahu visited the wall with his wife Sara, asking God to "bless, protect and help the President of the United States, Donald Trump, who has taken it upon himself to drive out evil and darkness in the world".

After the prayer, the Israeli leader placed a note in the stones of the wall, a centuries-old tradition at the holy site, bearing the words "The people of Israel have risen -- the people of Israel live!"

An advisory from the US Department of Homeland Security warned of a "heightened threat environment in the United States" following overnight US military strikes on Iran's nuclear sites.

British Airways cancelled flights between London's Heathrow Airport and Dubai and Doha following US strikes on Iran and fears that the situation in the Middle East could deteriorate.

"As a result of recent events, we have adjusted our flight schedule to ensure the safety of our customers and crew," a BA spokesperson said, confirming that outgoing and incoming flights between Heathrow and Dubai or Doha were cancelled.

A British Airways flight from London Heathrow to Dubai was diverted to Zurich on Saturday night, according to the tracking website Flightradar24.

India is closely tracking oil trends after reports indicated Iran plans to close the Strait of Hormuz following the US attack on three nuclear sites. The Strait is a key shipping route, through which a fifth of global oil and gas supply flows.

We have been closely monitoring the evolving geopolitical situation in the Middle East since the past two weeks. Under the leadership of PM @narendramodi Ji, we have diversified our supplies in the past few years and a large volume of our supplies do not come through the Strait…

— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) June 22, 2025

Marco Rubio said a move to close the strait would be a massive escalation that would merit a response from the US and others.

In a significant escalation of geopolitical tensions, the US launched a targeted military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, raising global concerns about the potential fallout and future implications.

The United Nations Security Council is due to meet later on Sunday, diplomats said, after the United States joined Israel's assault on Iran and hit the country's main nuclear sites overnight in strikes with massive bunker-busting bombs.

Iran requested the meeting, calling on the 15-member body "to address this blatant and unlawful act of aggression, to condemn it in the strongest possible terms."

Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon said in a statement that the US and Israel "do not deserve any condemnation, but rather an expression of appreciation and gratitude for making the world a safer place."

The US military today explained how exactly the operation to bomb three nuclear sites in Iran unfolded. B-2 stealth aircraft dropped bunker-buster bombs on a fortified nuclear facility, while submarine-launched cruise missiles hit two other sites.

Iran says nuclear know-how 'cannot be destroyed' (AFP)

Iran reports 'no danger' near attacked nuclear sites (AFP)

It was March 2003 when the United States invaded Iraq with the backing of a largely supportive public. Images of "shock and awe" lit up TV screens as American patriotism surged in the wake of 9/11. Polls showed broad approval for the war.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth today said that the United States strikes on key sites in Iran has completely "devastated the Iranian nuclear programme."

U.S. military strikes overnight in which President Donald Trump said Iran's main nuclear sites were "obliterated" will put to the test the widely held view that such attacks can delay a nuclear programme but not kill a determined push for atom bombs.

As Iran's nuclear programme has expanded and become more sophisticated over the past two decades, many officials and nuclear experts have warned: You can destroy or disable a nuclear programme's physical infrastructure but it is very hard or impossible to eliminate the knowledge a country has acquired.

Western powers including the United States have publicly suggested as much, complaining of the "irreversible knowledge gain" Iran has made by carrying out activities they object to.

(Reuters)

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Sunday that U.S. military strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities were an incredible and overwhelming success which took months and weeks of positioning to carry out.

Hegseth said the strikes did not target Iranian troops or people, but they did obliterate Iran's nuclear ambitions.

"The operation President Trump planned was bold and it was brilliant, showing the world that American deterrence is back. When this President speaks, the world should listen," Hegseth said.

(Reuters)

US struck Iran with B-2 bombers, submarine-launched missiles: top US general (AFP)

Trump 'seeks peace, and Iran should take that path': Pentagon chief (AFP)

Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, said on Sunday that U.S. President Donald Trump had started a new war for the U.S. by attacking Iran.

U.S. forces struck Iran's three main nuclear sites, Trump said late on Saturday, and he warned Tehran it would face more devastating attacks if it does not agree to peace.

"Trump, who came in as a peacemaker president, has started a new war for the U.S.," Medvedev wrote on his Telegram channel, adding that "with this kind of success, Trump won't win the Nobel Peace Prize".

The leader of Russia's Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR) Leonid Slutsky said the strikes "had no military reason for the U.S. and cannot be justified under international law".

"The consequences of the escalation threaten to go beyond the region. Washington understands the inevitability of Tehran's response. All this brings the spiral of confrontation to a new level and increases the risks of World War III," Slutsky, who heads the State Duma international affairs committee, wrote on Telegram.

(Reuters)

France's foreign minister said on Sunday that Paris was concerned by U.S. air strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites overnight and urged all sides to show restraint and move to towards a negotiated solution to the crisis.

Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot wrote on X that France, which had held talks with Iran on Friday in Geneva along with its European partners, had neither participated in these strikes nor in their planning.

"France has noted with concern the strikes carried out last night by the United States against three Iranian nuclear programme sites," Barrot, who spoke with his U.S. counterpart Marco Rubio on Saturday evening, said.

"France is convinced that a lasting resolution to this issue requires a negotiated solution within the framework of the Non-Proliferation Treaty," Barrot wrote on X. (Reuters)

The entire Fordow plant is underneath the mountain site; there are no overt structures or chimneys because the whole nuclear reactor is underground, which is why the United States had to penetrate into it with bunker-buster weaponry.

Russia said Sunday that it "strongly condemned" the United States's bombings of nuclear sites in Iran, calling the attacks "irresponsible" and a "gross violation of international law".

"It is already clear that a dangerous escalation has begun, fraught with further undermining of regional and global security," the Russian foreign ministry added in a statement.

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday reacted to the news of the United States striking nuclear sites in Iran by saying that "humanity is crying out for peace", and called for an end to wars.

"Each member of the international community has the moral responsibility to end the tragedy of war, before it becomes an irrepairable chasm," Leo said during his weekly Angelus prayer at the Vatican, adding that he was reacting to the "alarming news coming from the Middle East".

Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the last Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Shah, claimed on Sunday that US strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities were a result of "catastrophic pursuit of nuclear weapons" by Ali Khamenei's "terrorist regime."

"The enrichment of nuclear material — and, now we can say it outright, the future production of nuclear weapons — will continue. A number of countries are ready to directly supply Iran with their own nuclear warheads," former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said in a post on X. 

"We discussed in detail about the current situation. Expressed  deep concern at the recent escalations. Reiterated our call for immediate de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward and for early restoration of regional peace, security and stability," PM Narendra Modi said in a post on X.

Spoke with President of Iran @drpezeshkian. We discussed in detail about the current situation. Expressed deep concern at the recent escalations. Reiterated our call for immediate de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward and for early restoration of regional…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 22, 2025

Iran reportedly used its biggest missile capable of carrying the heaviest payload in its attacks on Israel, hours after US bomber jets struck three nuclear facilities that are believed to be nurturing Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

Iranian state TV aired what appeared a test-firing footage of the Khorramshahr-4 missile, with an onscreen caption saying it was used today in a barrage on Israel, according to a report by The Times of Israel. 

Israel is to temporarily reopen its airspace for flights from 1100 GMT on Sunday as it repatriates thousands of citizens left stranded overseas by its war with Iran, the country's airport authority said.

Israel's main Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv "will open for landings from 02:00pm -- 8:00pm as part of Operation Safe Return", the authority said in a statement, referring to the government's efforts to bring home citizens.

Pakistan's reaction came after US President Donald Trump announced that the American forces had attacked three key Iranian nuclear facilities.

With the US carrying out precision airstrikes on three nuclear facilities in Iran, all eyes are now on Tehran's response.

China condemned the US airstrikes through state media, warning Washington may be repeating past strategic mistakes. A flash commentary by CGTN, the foreign-language arm of China’s state broadcaster, described the US action as “a dangerous turning point.”

“History has repeatedly shown that military interventions in the Middle East often produce unintended consequences, including prolonged conflicts and regional destabilization,” the commentary stated, referring to the 2003 Iraq war.

It said a measured, diplomatic approach that prioritizes dialogue over military confrontation offers the best hope for stability in the Middle East.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Sunday called for a swift return to diplomacy after the US struck three nuclear sites in Iran overnight, his spokesman said.

Iran must "immediately enter into negotiations with the US and Israel and to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict", Merz said, according to his spokesman Stefan Kornelius.

The German government believes "large parts of Iran's nuclear programme have been damaged by the airstrikes", Kornelius said.

Israel Airports Authority said that it is "preparing for the opening and resumption of flights, and as of now, no time has been set."

The authority also said that "the airspace will be opened according to developments in the situation and in coordination with various entities."

Qatar, host of the biggest US military base in the Middle East, on Sunday said it feared serious repercussions after US air strikes on nuclear facilities in Iran.

The foreign ministry "warns that the current dangerous escalation in the region may lead to catastrophic consequences at both the regional and international levels", a statement said.

"It calls on all parties to exercise wisdom, restraint, and to avoid further escalation."

The military escalation in the Middle East risks sparking warfare with irreversible consequences, the head of the ICRC said on Sunday, following US strikes on Iran's nuclear sites.

"The intensification and spread of major military operations in the Middle East risk engulfing the region -- and the world -- in a war with irreversible consequences," Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, said in a statement. 

Yemen's rebel government said on Sunday it supported a vow by its armed wing a day earlier to hit US ships in the Red Sea should Washington launch strikes on Iran.

"We affirm the Republic of Yemen's commitment to the armed forces' declaration that they were ready to target US ships and warships in the Red Sea," the government said in a statement after the United States launched attacks on Iran.

Bahrain, host of a major US naval base, on Sunday told most of its government employees to work from home until further notice after American air strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.

"A remote working system will be activated across ministries and government agencies, with a 70 percent work-from-home capacity," the official Bahrain News Agency said, citing "regional circumstances and current developments".

Amid tensions spiralling in the Middle East, Iran has warned of "severe consequences" for the United States after the US military joined Israeli forces to strike three nuclear sites in Iran early on Sunday.

Seventy-two years ago, in August 1953, the US and the United Kingdom orchestrated a covert operation to depose Iran's democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh.

Saudi Arabia expressed "great concern" on Sunday after US air strikes on nuclear facilities in its giant neighbour Iran.

"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is following with great concern the developments in the sisterly Islamic Republic of Iran, represented by the targeting of Iranian nuclear facilities by the United States of America," the Saudi foreign ministry posted on X.

"Iran’s nuclear programme is a grave threat to international security. Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat. The situation in the Middle East remains volatile and stability in the region is a priority. We call on Iran to return to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis," said UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in a post on X. 

Iran's foreign ministry said the US attacks Sunday on nuclear facilities showed that Washington "will stop at no illegality or crime" to support Israel.

"It has now become abundantly clear to all that the very regime which enjoys permanent membership in the Security Council is beholden to no principle or morality and will stop at no illegality or crime to serve the aims of a genocidal, occupying regime," the ministry said in a statement, referring to the United States and Israel respectively. 

The New York Police Department (NYPD) announced enhanced deployments to religious, cultural, and diplomatic sites throughout the city.

The United States' bombing of nuclear sites in Iran is historic and the leadership of President Donald Trump has proven to be "amazing", Israeli Ambassador to India Reuven Azar has said.

With his unprecedented decision to bomb Iran’s nuclear sites, directly joining Israel’s air attack on its regional arch-foe, U.S. President Donald Trump has done something he had long vowed to avoid - intervene militarily in a major foreign war. The dramatic U.S. strike, including the targeting of Iran’s most heavily fortified nuclear installation deep underground, marks the biggest foreign policy gamble of Trump’s two presidencies and one fraught with risks and unknowns.

Trump, who insisted on Saturday that Iran must now make peace or face further attacks, could provoke Tehran into retaliating by closing the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most important oil artery, attacking U.S. military bases and allies in the Middle East, stepping up its missile barrage on Israel and activating proxy groups against American and Israeli interests worldwide, analysts said. Such moves could escalate into a broader, more protracted conflict than Trump had envisioned, evoking echoes of the “forever wars” that America fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, which he had derided as “stupid” and promised never to be dragged into.

“The Iranians are seriously weakened and degraded in their military capabilities,” said Aaron David Miller, a former Middle East negotiator for Democratic and Republican administrations. “But they have all sorts of asymmetric ways that they can respond... This is not going to end quick.” (Reuters)

More personnel from the United States diplomatic mission departed Iraq over the weekend as part of ongoing efforts to reduce embassy staffing due to "regional tensions", a US official said Sunday after Washington attacked Iranian nuclear sites.

After the US strikes, Iraq's government denounced a "military escalation" that threatens "peace and stability in the Middle East."

The US official told AFP that "as part of our ongoing effort to streamline operations, additional personnel departed Iraq on June 21 and 22."

The departures were a continuation of a process that started last week "out of an abundance of caution and due to heightened regional tensions", he added.

The embassy and the consulate remain operational.

The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Sunday said that it had not detected any increase in radiation levels at key nuclear sites in Iran following US air strikes.

"Following attacks on three nuclear sites in Iran... the IAEA can confirm that no increase in off-site radiation levels has been reported as of this time," the nuclear watchdog posted on X, just hours after US President Donald Trump said the strikes had "totally obliterated" Iran's main nuclear sites at Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz.

Iranian state television reported that Tehran launched 30 missiles at Israel on Sunday after US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites. 

Iran's armed forces said Sunday they targeted multiple sites in Israel including Ben Gurion airport, after US attacks on key nuclear sites in the Islamic republic.

"The twentieth wave of Operation Honest Promise 3 began using a combination of long-range liquid and solid fuel missiles with devastating warhead power," the armed forces said in a statement quoted by Fars news agency. The targets included the airport, a "biological research centre", logistics bases and various layers of command and control centres, it added.

American planes launched a "very successful attack", US President Donald Trump said, claiming Iran's main nuclear enrichment facilities had been "completely and totally obliterated". Trump has said Tehran must never get a nuclear weapon, and ally Israel has claimed its attacks on Iran have set back the country's nuclear weapons progress by several years. Iran has always denied any ambition to develop nuclear weapons and maintained its right to a civilian nuclear programme.

Iran has significantly ramped up its nuclear programme in recent years, after a landmark deal with world powers curbing its nuclear activities in exchange for sanction relief began to unravel in 2018 when the United States under Trump unilaterally withdrew. As of mid-May, Iran's total enriched uranium stockpile was estimated at 9,247.6 kilograms -- or more than 45 times the limit set out in the 2015 deal -- according to the latest report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Among its stockpiles, Iran has an estimated 408.6 kilograms (901 pounds) enriched to up to 60 percent -- just a short step from the 90 percent needed for a nuclear warhead. The country now theoretically has enough near-weapons-grade material, if further refined, for about 10 nuclear bombs, according to the definition by the Vienna-based IAEA. (AFP)

India has started to evacuate its nationals from Israel as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East escalated with the US attacking three nuclear sites in Iran on Sunday, sources said.

At least 16 people were hurt and at least one impact was reported in central Israel after Iran launched two waves of missiles at the country following the US bombing of its nuclear sites, rescue services and reports said. Israel's Magen David Adom rescue service said in a statement that it had "evacuated 16 people to hospital, including a 30-year-old man in moderate condition after being wounded in the upper body by shrapnel".

Public broadcaster KAN 11 showed images of a devastated building surrounded by mounds of rubble that it said was in central Israel, following the two waves of missiles launched at Israel from around 7:30 am (0430 GMT). Sirens rang around the country after the Israeli army reported the incoming missiles, with air defences activated shortly afterwards, causing loud explosions heard in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

Israeli police reported "the fall of weapon fragments" in a northern area encompassing the port of Haifa, where local authorities said emergency services were heading to an "accident site".

The air force began "a series of strikes toward military targets in western Iran", a military statement said, adding it had "struck missile launchers ready to launch toward Israeli territory, soldiers in the Iranian Armed Forces, and swiftly neutralised the launchers that launched missiles toward Israeli territory a short while ago".

The US stealth bombers struck three key Iranian nuclear sites: Natanz, Esfahan, and Fordow.

Iran launched a barrage of missiles at Israel on Sunday, hours after the US joined the Israeli military's campaign and bombed three nuclear sites at the Islamic country.

At least 11 people were hurt and at least one impact was reported in central Israel after Iran launched two waves of missiles following the US bombing of its nuclear sites, rescue services and reports said.

Israel's Magen David Adom rescue service said in a statement that "11 people were taken to hospital, including one in moderate condition — a 30-year-old man wounded in the upper body by shrapnel."

Public broadcaster KAN 11 showed images of a devastated building surrounded by mounds of rubble that it said was in central Israel, following the two waves of missiles launched at Israel from around 7:30 am (0430 GMT).

US President Donald Trump confirmed late Saturday that American forces had conducted precision strikes on three of Iran's principal nuclear sites - Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow - in what he described as "a spectacular military success."

Airlines continued to avoid large parts of the Middle East on Sunday after U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, according to flight tracking website FlightRadar24, with traffic already skirting airspace in the region due to recent missile exchanges.

"Following US attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, commercial traffic in the region is operating as it has since new airspace restrictions were put into place last week," FlightRadar24 said on social media platform X.

Its website showed airlines were not flying in the airspace over Iran, Iraq, Syria and Israel. They have chosen other routings such as north via the Caspian Sea or south via Egypt and Saudi Arabia, even if it results in higher fuel and crew costs and longer flight times.

Missile and drone barrages in an expanding number of conflict zones globally represent a high risk to airline traffic. (Reuters)

Airlines continued to avoid large parts of the Middle East on Sunday after US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, according to flight tracking website FlightRadar24, with traffic already skirting airspace in the region due to recent missile exchanges

The United States on Sunday targeted three nuclear sites in Iran, as it intervened in the ongoing conflict between the Islamic Republic and Israel and triggered fears of dangerous escalation of tensions across the Middle East.