Israel Strikes Nuclear Facility in Iran: Live Updates on Israel–Iran War Escalation

Israel Strikes Nuclear Facility in Iran: Israel and Iran launched a new round of missile attacks late into Sunday, heightening tensions and fears of a large-scale regional conflict. The escalation came after Israel had extended its surprise offensive against its main enemy; which included an attack on the world’s largest gas field.

Sunday, Iran's foreign minister stated the country does not want the conflict with Israel to spill into neighbouring countries unless forced to do so, stressing that Iran was acting in self-defence and would stop its reaction if their foreign aggressors stopped.

Also Read: Iran-Israel War Live: Trump Warns Tehran of ‘Never Seen Before’ Force if US is Attacked

Early Sunday, the Israeli military announced that it had struck the Iranian defence ministry headquarters in Tehran. And claimed to have hit various other sites around the capital -- all of which it identified as being “related to the Iranian regime’s nuclear weapons project.”

According to Israel’s military, each of these sites was part of Iran’s aims for nuclear capabilities, although both U.S. intelligence agencies and the International Atomic Energy Agency all reported that Iran was not pursuing a nuclear weapon, before Israel initiated its round of airstrikes Friday.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump warned Tehran in a Truth Social post, stating, “If we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the U.S. Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before.” He added, “However, we can easily get a deal done between Iran and Israel, and end this bloody conflict.”

But the specifics of any potential deal were not disclosed by Trump.

Also Read: Was Asim Munir Invited to the US Military Parade? White House Clears the Air Amid Backlash

Latest developments

• Overnight, Iranian strikes on Israel killed a minimum of eight persons, including children; and caused widespread panic, as air raid sirens sent millions to shelter, according to reports from AFP. In the country's central region, a rocket strike killed at least four people, including a ten-year old boy killing and injuring approximately 100 others, according to a spokesperson from Magen David Adom (MDA).
• Iran launched a second barrage of missiles at Israel early Sunday, continuing an unprecedented wave of intense cross-border attacks for three consecutive days. Iranian state television reported the strikes at approximately 03:10 am (2340 GMT Saturday), stating, "A new wave of Operation Honest Promise 3 began a few minutes ago," while broadcasting live footage from Israel. The attacks are a continuation of the escalation in violence that occurred when Israel launched a surprise attack.
• Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards confirmed the bombings were against facilities used by Israeli fighter jets to refuel as well as energy infrastructure. The Revolutionary Guards also added that "if depravity and attacks (against Iran) continue, Iran's military response will grow more fiercely and more broadly." The message indicated Iran's resolve to continue an offensive, and if the strikes continued, to escalate the strikes.
• As the situation evolved, Iran cancelled agreed nuclear negotiations to take place in Oman. The US had hoped it could use the talks as a way to de-escalate the situation, eventually stopping or scaling back the Israeli bombing campaign. Reinforcing Iran's authoritarian nature, the Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated that United States could not proceed with the discussions due to current conditions and called Israel's airstrikes on the population of Gaza, along with its war on the civilians of Palestine as "barbarous."
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu downplayed Iran's attacks, while saying that what Iran has suffered so far is only a tiny fraction of what further could come, signalling more serious Israeli retaliation in the days ahead.
• Israel's military said that more Iranian missiles were launched late Saturday and stated that they were simultaneously in the process of trying to intercept, while claiming it was targeting military sites and sites of military significance in and around Tehran. Residents in Jerusalem reported seeing several projectiles in the night sky, but no air raid sirens went off in the capital. However, air raid sirens did activate in Haifa, a major city in northern Israel. Iran confirmed that the Shahran oil depot in Tehran was attacked in an Israeli strike, and reported an outbreak of fire at a nearby oil refinery to the capital. The Tasnim news agency, although that Israel's attack on Iran's defence ministry produced only minor damage.
• Donald Trump slid into the escalating crisis threatening Iran that would face even further consequences for its actions. Yet he also left open the possibility of diplomacy, stating that it would not be too late to stop Israel's military campaign — as long as Iran agreed to significantly reduce its nuclear program. The cancellation of the nuclear talks in Oman, however, complicates the chances for any immediate work toward diplomacy.

Also Read: British F‑35 Fighter Jets Make Emergency Landing at Trivandrum Due to Low Fuel