The confrontation between Israel and Iran has entered its sixth day, with continued missile exchanges and airstrikes fueling fears of a wider regional conflict. Explosions rocked Tehran as Israel claimed attacks on centrifuge and weapons production sites in Iran. Israel’s Defense Minister Katz claimed that Israeli jets destroyed the Iranian regime’s internal security headquarters.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that any U.S. strikes against Iran will have serious and irreparable consequences. In a televised address to the nation, Khamenei said Iran will stand firm against an imposed war. Responding to U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for surrender, Khamenei said the Iranian nation will not surrender. He has criticized Israel for launching its military campaign while Tehran was engaged in talks with the United States over its nuclear enrichment program.
U.S. President Donald Trump declined to reveal his position on joining Israeli strikes on Iran. Speaking to the media at the White House, Mr. Trump said Iran is in big trouble and wants to negotiate. However, he also made it clear that Iran can under no circumstances have a nuclear weapon.
Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has warned that direct U.S. military assistance to Israel could radically destabilize the situation in the Middle East.
The conflict has sparked mass civilian evacuations in Iran. Thousands are fleeing Tehran, with heavy traffic clogging highways out of the capital. Reports of widespread damage and civilian injuries are mounting.
In Israel, air raid sirens continue to sound in multiple cities. Ben Gurion Airport remains closed, and the U.S. Embassy and consulate have suspended operations through the end of the week.
Israel has issued evacuation warnings to residents in southwestern Tehran, signaling that more strikes could follow. The crisis is reverberating across the Gulf. Dubai and other cities remain on high alert, bracing for any potential spillover. In a humanitarian gesture, the UAE has waived visa overstay penalties for Iranians unable to return home due to the hostilities.
