Latest news with #Shiraz
The Sun
2 hours ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Iranians BURN US & Israel flags and chant ‘we want to DIE for Ayatollah' as thousands join ‘death to the West' protests
SEETHING Iranians burned US and Israeli flags and swore their allegiance to the regime in mass protests across the country. Thousands flooded the capital's streets after weekly prayers, chanting for the death of the west and pledging their lives to the Supreme Leader. 9 9 9 Israel has urged the people of Iran to rise up against the regime, but there are still pockets of support for the Islamic government. But alongside their loyalty to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the crowds aimed vitriolic hate at Israel and the West. Photos show Israeli and US flag deliberately set on fire and trampled on. A sea of Iranian and Hezbollah flags and photos of Khamenei were paraded through the roads. Footage also shows demonstrators brandishing pictures of commanders killed over the past week by Israel's missiles. One banner read: "I will sacrifice my life for my leader." Iranian state TV said: "This is the Friday of the Iranian nation's solidarity and resistance across the country." The broadcaster said that protests also took place in other cities - particularly Tabriz in northwestern Iran and Shiraz in the south. And there are reports of smaller scale gatherings in towns around the country. While these crowds back the regime, there are plenty in Iran who want to see it toppled and the people finally freed from its tyranny. Thousands have drained from Tehran and even left the country. Friday's protests were by far the largest since Israel and Iran began trading missiles. People took to the streets despite the ongoing threat of Israeli bombs. In Isfahan, home to one of the nuclear facilities Israel has hit, thousands joined in the funeral of an Iranian killed in an Israeli attack. Several men were seen carrying a coffin draped with Iranian flags and with a photo of a uniformed soldier. Behind them, men, women and children followed, chanting: 'Death to Israel, death to America." 9 9 9 Protester Abu Hussein, a 54-year-old taxi driver, told Arab News: 'It is an unjust war… Israel has no right. 'Israel is not in it for the (Iranian) nuclear (program). "What Israel and the Americans want is to dominate the Middle East." The protests came on a day that efforts to find a diplomatic solution got gathered momentum. Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi travelled to Geneva to meet European foreign minsters - including those from the UK, Germany and France. Earlier in the day, he attended a special meeting of the UN's Human Rights Council. Meanwhile, the UN's Security Council met in New York upon Iran's request. 9 9 9
CNN
a day ago
- Politics
- CNN
In Iran, daily life is ‘filled with constant fear and distrust'
After days of tit-for-tat strikes between Israel and Iran, for the civilians caught up in Israel's bombing campaign, life is filled with uncertainty. 'This is war,' one 58-year-old father of two in the capital, Tehran, told CNN, adding, 'no one really understands what that means.' A week into the conflict, Iranians' contact with the outside world is difficult, hampered by sporadic internet and phone coverage. Some – typically wealthy activists – have access to Starlink terminals providing independent internet access. Speaking through voice recordings, messages and occasional calls, all the people interviewed asked CNN not to reveal their full names for fear of retribution from Iran's authorities. Life has found a new wartime rhythm, they said, with local shops still open but some accepting payment on credit, the father of two told CNN. Unable to withdraw money from Iran's Sepah Bank, this credit has become a lifeline. 'We have electricity but gasoline is useless to us because we have nowhere to go outside Tehran,' he said, after long lines of traffic departing the capital were seen in recent days. Glued to the TV watching an outlawed Iranian broadcaster based in London, he said his family hadn't left their house in recent days. 'Daily life is filled with constant fear and distrust,' he said. From Shiraz in southern Iran, a 55-year-old English teacher described a 'huge group of people waiting' to withdraw cash at a bank branch in the city center. 'The workers were completely overwhelmed and said they just cannot process all these requests for cash. I wouldn't say it was chaotic, but I do feel there is an underlying feeling of panic,' he said. 'It feels like a missile is following me. I go to Karaj and they bomb there. I come to Tehran and they bomb here,' a 27-year-old conscript soldier told CNN. Posted in Tehran, he was able to visit family in Karaj at the weekend, but in the capital is prohibited by military rules from using his phone or other devices. 'We can't even check the news.' A hairdresser from Shiraz lamented the destruction being inflicted: 'I don't even know what to say. You watch the videos, the photos. People are being killed, our country is being looted, falling apart like this.' 'Israel and the US don't care about the Iranian people,' she said. 'You want to hit the real target, but it's surrounded by ordinary people. They're destroying the country.' 'Rebuilding all this may take decades, if not longer, and in the end it's we the people who will have to bear the cost,' a 22-year-old janitor of an apartment building in Tehran told CNN. More than 200 people have been killed in Iran, according to Tehran, with Israel's strikes taking out much of the key leadership in the country's military and nuclear program. But Iran has accused Israel of also targeting its energy and digital infrastructure. 'We are paying the price for a dictatorship and its arrogance,' shared a nurse from Mashad, northeast Iran, whose father was a decorated war veteran. 'But now that all its forces (in the region) have been destroyed, it seems that its own turn has come,' she added. Watching the attacks on a deeply unpopular regime, some Iranians confessed to welcoming the strikes, even as civilians were caught up in the bombings. 'I want to say what I truly feel,' a student from Shiraz told CNN, 'I don't know what I'll be judged for, what I'll be accused of. 'Still, I'll say it, I'm genuinely happy. Really, deeply happy!' she added. 'I believe it's worth it, for the sake of future generations.' But a week into the fighting, even as diplomatic channels for peace start to coalesce, there's still no sign of an end to the bombings. Uncertainty has only been fueled by US President Donald Trump teasing the possibility of US aircraft joining the bombing campaign. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has slammed Trump's call for surrender, warning that America's involvement in Israel's military campaign would '100% be at their loss.' Other Iranians share his defiance. 'The mood in Iran is starting to morph into an environment of nationalism,' according to a 69-year-old Iranian-American woman visiting Tehran. 'I saw a lot of cars waving the Islamic Republic flag from their windows as we drove out of town.' 'I lost a son during the Iran-Iraq War and will be happy to fight America and the Zionists again,' a 78-year-old mosque caretaker from Isfahan told CNN, 'Those who love martyrdom cannot be defeated.' The prospects of peace look slim, one engineering student from Mashad told CNN. 'Now that Trump has come this far, he will see it through to the end. They don't let a wounded bear go free,' she said.
CNN
a day ago
- Politics
- CNN
In Iran, daily life is ‘filled with constant fear and distrust'
After days of tit-for-tat strikes between Israel and Iran, for the civilians caught up in Israel's bombing campaign, life is filled with uncertainty. 'This is war,' one 58-year-old father of two in the capital, Tehran, told CNN, adding, 'no one really understands what that means.' A week into the conflict, Iranians' contact with the outside world is difficult, hampered by sporadic internet and phone coverage. Some – typically wealthy activists – have access to Starlink terminals providing independent internet access. Speaking through voice recordings, messages and occasional calls, all the people interviewed asked CNN not to reveal their full names for fear of retribution from Iran's authorities. Life has found a new wartime rhythm, they said, with local shops still open but some accepting payment on credit, the father of two told CNN. Unable to withdraw money from Iran's Sepah Bank, this credit has become a lifeline. 'We have electricity but gasoline is useless to us because we have nowhere to go outside Tehran,' he said, after long lines of traffic departing the capital were seen in recent days. Glued to the TV watching an outlawed Iranian broadcaster based in London, he said his family hadn't left their house in recent days. 'Daily life is filled with constant fear and distrust,' he said. From Shiraz in southern Iran, a 55-year-old English teacher described a 'huge group of people waiting' to withdraw cash at a bank branch in the city center. 'The workers were completely overwhelmed and said they just cannot process all these requests for cash. I wouldn't say it was chaotic, but I do feel there is an underlying feeling of panic,' he said. 'It feels like a missile is following me. I go to Karaj and they bomb there. I come to Tehran and they bomb here,' a 27-year-old conscript soldier told CNN. Posted in Tehran, he was able to visit family in Karaj at the weekend, but in the capital is prohibited by military rules from using his phone or other devices. 'We can't even check the news.' A hairdresser from Shiraz lamented the destruction being inflicted: 'I don't even know what to say. You watch the videos, the photos. People are being killed, our country is being looted, falling apart like this.' 'Israel and the US don't care about the Iranian people,' she said. 'You want to hit the real target, but it's surrounded by ordinary people. They're destroying the country.' 'Rebuilding all this may take decades, if not longer, and in the end it's we the people who will have to bear the cost,' a 22-year-old janitor of an apartment building in Tehran told CNN. More than 200 people have been killed in Iran, according to Tehran, with Israel's strikes taking out much of the key leadership in the country's military and nuclear program. But Iran has accused Israel of also targeting its energy and digital infrastructure. 'We are paying the price for a dictatorship and its arrogance,' shared a nurse from Mashad, northeast Iran, whose father was a decorated war veteran. 'But now that all its forces (in the region) have been destroyed, it seems that its own turn has come,' she added. Watching the attacks on a deeply unpopular regime, some Iranians confessed to welcoming the strikes, even as civilians were caught up in the bombings. 'I want to say what I truly feel,' a student from Shiraz told CNN, 'I don't know what I'll be judged for, what I'll be accused of. 'Still, I'll say it, I'm genuinely happy. Really, deeply happy!' she added. 'I believe it's worth it, for the sake of future generations.' But a week into the fighting, even as diplomatic channels for peace start to coalesce, there's still no sign of an end to the bombings. Uncertainty has only been fueled by US President Donald Trump teasing the possibility of US aircraft joining the bombing campaign. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has slammed Trump's call for surrender, warning that America's involvement in Israel's military campaign would '100% be at their loss.' Other Iranians share his defiance. 'The mood in Iran is starting to morph into an environment of nationalism,' according to a 69-year-old Iranian-American woman visiting Tehran. 'I saw a lot of cars waving the Islamic Republic flag from their windows as we drove out of town.' 'I lost a son during the Iran-Iraq War and will be happy to fight America and the Zionists again,' a 78-year-old mosque caretaker from Isfahan told CNN, 'Those who love martyrdom cannot be defeated.' The prospects of peace look slim, one engineering student from Mashad told CNN. 'Now that Trump has come this far, he will see it through to the end. They don't let a wounded bear go free,' she said.
Khaleej Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
'I'm so scared': Dubai expats anxiously await return of family stuck in war zones
[Editor's Note: Follow the KT live blog for live updates on the Israel-Iran conflict.] For Iranian expat HM, the past week in her Dubai home has been a nightmare. Her parents, who were supposed to return after a short trip to their hometown of Shiraz, have been stuck there since the start of the conflict between Iran and Israel. 'I am worried,' she told Khaleej Times. 'My parents were supposed to return this week, but flights have been suspended. Thankfully, they're safe and so far, everything is calm in their area.' She said she checks in with her parents daily. 'Although parts of Tehran have been hit, daily life in many other cities, like Shiraz, seems to be continuing with caution but without chaos,' she said. 'Internet connectivity has taken a hit in some regions, making it harder to get real-time updates. Many are relying on phone calls or VPNs to stay in touch with the outside world.' HM is one of the many UAE expats who are worried about their families in war zones as the region has seen an escalation of conflict. On Friday, Israel launched strikes on Iran targeting high-value sites including missile factories, nuclear facilities, and top Iranian military leaders. Main figures of Iran's top military brass were killed in the attack, including the armed forces' chief of staff, Mohammad Hossein Bagheri and Hossein Salami, the commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. Now in its seventh day, the war continues with US looking set to join Israel in attacking Iran. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. HM added that her parents are trying to book flights or ferry services to return to the UAE, but everything is either fully booked or canceled until early July. 'I am now alone at my home with my cat,' she said. 'I go to work every day and try to maintain my normal routine but inside I feel empty. I am so scared. I hope someone can mediate some talk and end this conflict. No one wants a war. Everyone wants to just live peacefully.' Keeping a close eye Dubai resident Dana, who has her family home in Israel, said she and her friends were 'keeping a close eye' on the developments in the region. 'The situation is tense, but we've been in touch with our families,' she said. 'They're getting into the shelters when needed and are doing their best to stay safe.' On Thursday, Israel's Magen David Adom rescue service said that at least 47 people were injured in Iran's latest missile strikes, and 18 more injured 'while running to shelter'. Meanwhile Iranian missiles also hit a hospital in the south of Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Iran would "pay a heavy price" for hitting the Soroka Hospital in Beer Sheva. 'I just want her home' For 75-year-old expat Ahmed, the only thing he wants right now is his daughter to come back to Dubai. 'She travels around a lot and was in Tehran when the war broke out,' he said. 'Two days ago, she left Tehran along with her family to move to the north of Iran. All the residents of Tehran have been asked to move north. There are almost 10 million people there. How will they all evacuate?' He added that most families are struggling because there is a rationing of fuel. 'Everyone gets about 15 litres of fuel,' he said. 'How long will they travel with that? It doesn't get you very far.' The Israeli military said it had targeted the nuclear reactor in the area of Arak in Iran overnight and struck what it called a nuclear weapons development site in the area of Natanz. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that his country has remained committed to "diplomacy" but will continue to act in "self-defence". Another expat who did not want to reveal any of her details admitted that he has been unable to contact his family, who live in Tehran, for two days and that he was worried about their safety.
Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Times
Israel-Iran latest: Trump suggests US could intervene in conflict
EU foreign ministers will gather on Tuesday for an emergency meeting on the conflict and 'possible next steps' to bring about de-escalation, an official for the bloc's foreign policy chief said. 'In light of the gravity of the situation in the Middle East, EU high representative Kaja Kallas has convened a meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers via video link for Tuesday,' an official said. By Haroon Janjua Some residents of Tehran are fleeing the capital. Families are heading towards the more rural and less populated north, situated near the Caspian Sea. Reports suggest that traffic is so congested that movement is difficult. In Shiraz, long queues for petrol have been seen throughout the city and residents are stocking up on food, water and nappies. Families can be seen in cars loaded with suitcases and water strapped to the roofs, making their way to the countryside. Israel's military has said several sites have been hit by the latest Iranian missile barrage and firefighters reported that a residential building had been struck on the coast. 'Homefront Command search and rescue teams have been dispatched to several hit sites in Israel, following the latest barrage from Iran,' the military said in a statement shortly after telling the public they could leave protected shelters. The fire services said rescuers were heading to building on the coast that sustained a 'direct hit'. Iran's armed forces told Israeli residents to leave the vicinity of 'vital areas' for their safety in a video statement. It was broadcast by state TV at about the time that Iran sent a new barrage of missiles towards Israel. 'We have a data bank of vital and critical areas in occupied territories (Israel) and call upon you not to let the brutal regime use you as human shields. Do not stay or travel near these critical areas,' an armed forces spokesperson said. Israel's air force has begun striking dozens of surface-to-surface missile targets in western Iran, the military said in a statement. Israel's strikes have killed at least 406 people in Iran and wounded another 654, according to Human Rights Activists, a group based in Washington which checks local reports against a network of sources. Earlier, Iranian media reported that the death toll from Israeli strikes on Friday and Saturday had risen to at least 128. Hundreds more were said to have been wounded. The outbreak of hostilities has stranded 40,000 tourists in Israel, the Ministry of Tourism has calculated. Among them is Karen Tuhrim, from London, visiting her daughter in Tel Aviv. 'Within two days of being here, Israel attacked Iran. So now I'm stuck,' she said. 'For me, at the moment, I feel better being here than in London, watching it all on the news, knowing my daughter is here. So, for now, we're good.' All Israel's museums have closed until further notice, entrance to the Old City of Jerusalem is barred to non-residents and many shops are closed. 'The streets and shops are empty,' said Anwar Abu Lafi, of Jerusalem. 'People are yearning for a break, to find something good in this existing darkness. We are deluding ourselves into thinking that the future will be better.' President Trump vetoed an Israeli plan to kill Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, according to two US officials. 'Have the Iranians killed an American yet? No. Until they do we're not even talking about going after the political leadership,' said a senior official in the Washington administration. The officials told Reuters that top US and Israeli officials had been in constant communication since the conflict started. The Israelis reported that they had an opportunity to kill Khamenei, but Trump dissuaded them. Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, told Fox News: 'There are so many false reports of conversations that never happened, and I'm not going to get into that. But I can tell you, I think that we do what we need to do, we'll do what we need to do. And I think the United States knows what is good for the United States.' Iran 'must not develop or possess nuclear weapons', Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor, has said as he travelled to the G7 summit in Canada. He defended Israel's decision to launch strikes on Tehran, claiming that 'Iran's progress toward nuclear weapons led to Israel attacking military targets in Iran on Friday'. He said: 'This would be a threat to Israel, the Middle East, and the international community as a whole.' Iran's top intelligence chiefs have been eliminated, Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed. Mohammad Kazemi, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' intelligence organisation, and his deputy Hassan Mohaqeq are reportedly buried under rubble following an Israeli airstrike on the corps' intelligence headquarters. Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, told Fox News that they were killed in an IDF attack on the organisation's building in Tehran. President Erdogan has told President Trump in a phone call that Ankara was ready to play a role in resolving the nuclear dispute that led to the conflict between Israel and Iran. Erdogan welcomed Trump's latest statement on a possible peace between Iran and Israel, his office said, and urged his US counterpart to take action immediately to prevent a disaster 'that could set the region on fire'. Israeli intelligence found that Iran had enough uranium to build nine nuclear bombs, Binyamin Netanyahu has said in his first television interview since Israel launched its strikes. 'The intel we got was absolutely clear, Iran was working on a secret plan to weaponise the uranium, a test device in months. We show enough uranium for nine bombs,' the Israeli prime minister told Fox News. 'We had to stop that. That was the intel we shared with the United States and that was something we couldn't ignore. We will not have a second Holocaust, a Jewish Holocaust. Never again is now and we have to act now.' 'They intend to give these nuclear weapons to the Houthis and their proxies. They have plans to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles (capable of) reaching the eastern seaboard of the United States. 'We had to act. It was the 12th hour. We acted to save ourselves but by doing so we're protecting many others.' Israel's military says it has bombed an Iranian refuelling plane at Mashhad airport in northeast Iran. The airport is 2,300km from Israel, which the Israel Defence Forces said would make this the 'most distant strike since the beginning of the operation'. By Josie Ensor, US Correspondent Top Pentagon officials have been divided over the extent of American military support for Israel, US media reports suggest. General Michael Kurilla, chief of US Central Command, is among those requesting more resources to support and defend Israel, including a second aircraft carrier strike group, according to Semafor. Elbridge Colby, the undersecretary of defence for policy, has resisted their requests. He has long opposed moving US military assets from Asia to the Middle East. There are wider rifts in President Trump's circle, roughly along the lines of hawks versus doves. While JD Vance, vice-president, and Steve Witkoff, Middle East envoy, have pushed for detente with Iran through a new nuclear deal, cabinet figures including Mike Waltz, the former national security adviser, and Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, have called for a maximalist approach. President Macron, who is visiting Greenland, has called for a return to negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme. 'I hope that the coming hours will bring calm and a road forward for discussion, to avoid any escalation of nuclear capabilities, acquisition of nuclear capacities in Iran, and to prevent any unrest in the region,' he said. 'Yesterday (Saturday) I was able to speak with the president of Iran, and I called for a discussion among us as soon as possible. This is also what I conveyed in my conversation with President Trump, who shares this vision. 'We will have the opportunity, in a few hours, to revisit this matter with G7 leaders' who are meeting in Canada until Tuesday, he added. President Trump has said it was possible that the US 'could get involved' in the conflict between Israel and Iran. America was 'not at this moment involved', he told ABC News. Trump also said that he would be open to President Putin mediating between Israel and Iran. 'He is ready. He called me about it. We had a long talk about it, ' Trump said. Five car bombs detonated in Tehran this afternoon, according to Iran's IRNA news agency. Each went off at a different location and some reports said that all were close to government buildings. An Israeli official, speaking to the public broadcaster KAN, denied any Israeli involvement. The ballistic missile attack on Israel is the first launched by Tehran in daylight since the conflict began. Another airline has cancelled flights in the region because of escalating risks to flying in the region. Etihad Airways has cancelled flights between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv until June 22. Kirill Dmitriev, Russia's envoy for investment and economic co-operation, said in a post on X that Moscow could play 'a key role' in mediating between Israel and Iran. Dmitriev was responding to a post from President Trump in which he said he had spoken about the conflict to President Putin. Israel's military says there have been no reports of missile impacts within the country. Tehran claimed to have fired 50 ballistic missiles, but Israel said the attack comprised just 'several'. At least 14 Iranian nuclear scientists have been killed in Israeli attacks since Friday, including in car bombs, according to sources in the Gulf. President Trump has just posted the following on Truth Social: 'Iran and Israel should make a deal, and will make a deal, just like I got India and Pakistan to make, in that case by using TRADE with the United States to bring reason, cohesion, and sanity into the talks with two excellent leaders who were able to quickly make a decision and STOP! Also, during my first term, Serbia and Kosovo were going at it hot and heavy, as they have for many decades, and this long time conflict was ready to break out into WAR. I stopped it (Biden has hurt the longer term prospects with some very stupid decisions, but I will fix it, again!). Another case is Egypt and Ethiopia, and their fight over a massive dam that is having an effect on the magnificent Nile River. There is peace, at least for now, because of my intervention, and it will stay that way! Likewise, we will have PEACE, soon, between Israel and Iran! Many calls and meetings now taking place. I do a lot, and never get credit for anything, but that's OK, the PEOPLE understand. MAKE THE MIDDLE EAST GREAT AGAIN!' Explosions have been heard in Tel Aviv. The IDF said: 'A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel. 'Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat. Upon receiving an alert, the public is instructed to enter a protected space and remain there until further notice.' Iranian state media is reporting the launch of a fresh wave of ballistic missiles towards Israel. In Israel, air raid sirens are reported to have been sounded in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Gaza's civil defence agency said 16 people were killed today in Israeli military operations in the Palestinian territory, most of them while waiting for aid. At least three were killed and many injured when Israeli forces 'targeted a gathering of hundreds of citizens near the aid distribution point' in central Gaza. Mahmud Bassal, civil defence spokesman, claimed that seven were killed while heading towards an area northwest of Gaza City where aid was being distributed from lorries. In southern Gaza, two more died and 50 were injured 'when (Israeli) forces opened fire on citizens near an aid distribution point,' Bassal said. The Israeli army said it was 'not aware of gunshots near Netzarim or Rafah' and that it was investigating events in northern Gaza. The death toll in Iran from Israeli strikes on Friday and Saturday has risen to at least 128, Iranian media says. Hundreds more were said to have been wounded. At least '128 people were martyred in these military attacks, and around 900 injured individuals were admitted' to hospitals, said Etemaad Daily, quoting numbers from the health ministry. At least 40 women were among the dead and the 'number of martyred children is significant', the report claimed. Continuing the war of words, Iran's President Pezeshkian said that any further attacks on Israel will be 'more decisive and severe'. Pezeshkian added that Iran's military has so far responded 'strongly and appropriately', state media in Tehran reported. The hardline national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also visited Bat Yam on Sunday and said Israel was 'at peace' with the price paid by Iran's attacks. 'We are at peace with this … and God willing, the State of Israel will win,' he said, and claimed Israel was 'obligated' to attack Iran. 'We worked on the campaign against Iran for a very long time. It was clear to all of us that an Iranian nuclear weapon is the most serious thing that could happen and therefore we took into account what could happen if there were an Iranian nuclear weapon,' he added. Last week, Ben-Gvir was sanctioned by the British government for 'repeated incitements of violence against Palestinian communities'. A social media star from north London has been in central Tel Aviv since June 4 for a holiday and work trip and said the escalating attacks from Iran were 'really frightening'. Zach Margolin, 31, has booked himself three flights on June 18, 19 and 20 to give himself the best chance of getting home for his sister's wedding next weekend. 'It's really frightening. Last night was the most I've seen or felt,' he said. 'We could hear enormous explosions, we could hear the Iron Dome flying up and then the building is shaking. It's proper explosions.' On Friday night, he rushed from his central Tel Aviv Airbnb at 10pm, 1am and 5am as sirens signalled missiles were headed towards the city. 'You'd be crazy not to be afraid. I've been to Israel many times during sirens, and usual protocol is you go in the shelter, wait ten minutes and then go out, but this is a different beast,' he said. 'It's not one missile from Yemen, or rockets from Gaza — it's hundreds of ballistic missiles coming from Iran.' He added: 'Ideally the UK government should be putting on a repatriation flight. The only update [from the Foreign Office] is don't go to Israel.' Binyamin Netanyahu has said that Iran will pay 'a very heavy price' for killing Israeli civilians, in the first reported remarks during his visit to Bat Yam. 'Iran will pay a very heavy price for the premeditated murder of civilians, women and children,' Netanyahu said during his visit. At least six people were killed during the Iranian attack, including a child. Israeli media said another three people were missing. A British grandfather stranded in Jerusalem said he is weighing up a bus escape through the Negev desert to flee Iranian missile fire. James Eden, 72, from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, flew to Israel last Monday for a six-day Christian pilgrimage. But now he is trapped in a near-deserted city with missiles flying overhead and outbound flights suspended. Eden said that although the Foreign Office had called him, he was told 'there wasn't a lot they could do'. He said: 'They can't put on any planes because the airspace is shut — all they can do is send out alerts and keep track of us.' When he asked about crossing the border, officials told him he could travel to Egypt at his own risk, 'but they're not going to help me get out of Egypt either'. A FCDO spokesperson said: 'We're in contact with a British man in Israel.' Lord Hogan-Howe, the former Metropolitan Police commissioner, said a 'strict eye' must be kept on the Iranian threat to the UK. The Times Radio presenter Adam Boulton asked him if Britons should fear Iranian terrorist activity in this country. He replied: 'I think there's certainly evidence that this country (already) has been targeted. 'I think the question now is, are there going to be state-backed plans to attack this country rather than just people in this country? 'So I think… all the security services and the police are going to have to be aware of that. 'If there's not a negotiated end [to the conflict] and this runs on for years, as we've already had problems in the Middle East, you're going to have to keep a very strict eye on what the Iranian state might be thinking about in the UK.' Binyamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, has toured areas of Bat Yam that were destroyed in overnight strikes by Iranian missiles. Although there was no statement from the Israeli leader, footage showed him inspecting the ruins of an apartment building in the city. Six residents of the building died in the attack. Isaac Herzog, the Israeli president, was also present, according to The Times of Israel website. Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager. 'Dozens of homes in this area were completely damaged by a single missile launched from Iran in a cruel and terrible missile attack that was launched across the entire country,' Herzog said. He added: 'This is a very significant moment in the history of Israel. We must show the emotional and mental resilience that we always have.' Israel's military has said its air force targeted 'more than 80' positions in Iran's capital Tehran overnight. The strikes were conducted 'throughout the night', the military said in a statement, and 'targeted more than 80 objectives, including the headquarters of the Iranian Ministry of Defence, the headquarters of the nuclear project (SPND), and additional targets where the Iranian regime hid the nuclear archive'. Iranians will be able seek shelter in mosques and schools during any Israeli attacks, as well as subway systems, which will be open at all times from tonight, a government spokesperson, Fatemeh Mohajerani, told state TV . 'There is no problem with the provision of food, medicine, fuel,' she added. Iran's nuclear programme is a threat to the security of Israel and Europe, France's foreign minister has claimed, saying diplomacy was the only way to avoid an escalation in the conflict. 'The Iranian nuclear programme is an existential threat for the security of Israel and beyond the security of Europe. We always said the best way to prevent that threat, to contain it, remains diplomacy,' Jean-Noel Barrot told RTL radio. Germany, France and Britain are ready to hold immediate talks with Iran over Tehran's nuclear programme in an effort to de-escalate the situation in the Middle East, Johann Wadephul, the German foreign minister, said. On Sunday morning Israel's ambassador to Britain, Tzipi Hotovely, told the BBC that Europe 'owes a huge thank you' to Israel for the strikes. Fresh explosions have been heard in Tehran, the AFP news agency is reporting. At the same time, the Iranian news outlets Khabar Online and Ham Mihan reported that air defence systems over the west and northwest of the Iranian capital had been activated 'to counter new attacks', while Shargh daily shared a video of columns of smoke in the city's east. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has updated its guidance to advise against all travel to Israel amid the conflict with Iran. Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager. Iran has asked Cyprus to convey 'some messages' to Israel, President Christodoulides has said, adding that he expected to speak to Binyamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, later in the day. Christodoulides said he was not happy with what he described as a slow reaction by the European Union to the unfolding crisis in the Middle East. Cyprus is the closest EU member state to the growing conflict and has asked for an extraordinary meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council. Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the Treasury, has not ruled out repatriation flights from Israel. The Times Radio presenter Adam Boulton asked Rachel Reeves's number two whether there would be repatriation flights, and whether the government would change its advice on travel to Israel. Jones replied: 'It's for the Foreign Office to confirm the travel advice in the normal way. 'It's not appropriate for us to speculate about Foreign Office travel advice, because it has real-world implications for people who may or may not be travelling in terms of their tickets with airlines and hotel bookings.' Boulton asked him: 'Would you organise flights to get people out? Because obviously there's problems with the airspace.' Jones responded: 'Again, that would be something for the Foreign Office to answer in due course.' By Tom Witherow The Foreign Office advice for Britons not to travel to Israel will be significant for many people. Britain was in the top three nations to visit Israel last year with 80,000 tourists, meaning the UK was behind only France and the USA. Last month, when Jews celebrated Passover, the number of Britons heading to Israel more than doubled to 14,700 compared with the same month in 2024. But any hope that tourist numbers from the UK were recovering will now be dashed. Israel's tourism industry has already been decimated by the war, with the number of tourists falling from a pre-Covid high of 4.9 million in 2019 to 1 million in 2024. Israelis living in Bat Yam near Tel Aviv spoke of their shock after their homes were destroyed in an Iranian missile strike. 'There's nothing left. No house. That's it,' Yivgenya Dudka told the AFP news agency. Shahar Ben Zion said he had been reluctant to go down into the bomb shelter but was persuaded by his mother. 'There was an explosion and I thought the whole house had collapsed,' he said. 'Thank God, it was a miracle we survived.' Julia Zilbergoltz told AFP she was woken by the explosion having slept through the warning siren early on Sunday morning. ''I'm stressed and in shock. I've been through hard times in my life but I've never been in a situation like this,' she said as she left with her belongings. Iran says it has arrested two people over alleged links to Israel's Mossad spy agency, claiming they were preparing explosives and electronic devices. 'Two members of the Mossad terrorist team who were making bombs, explosives, booby traps and electronic equipment were arrested' in Alborz province, west of Tehran, the Tasnim news agency reported. Rachel Reeves has warned that the conflict between Israel and Iran could lead to higher levels of inflation. The chancellor said that 'what happens in the Middle East affects us here at home' as she pointed to the fact that oil prices had risen by 10 per cent. She also highlighted concerns that Iran could close the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important shipping routes. She said: 'We are very concerned about the developments in the Middle East because of the implications here at home but also in the Middle East.' By Steven Swinford, Political Editor Britain is poised to advise against all travel to Israel amid concerns about the escalating conflict with Iran. The government will update its travel guidance from 'amber' to 'red', putting Israel on the same footing as Iran. On Friday the UK advised against all but 'essential' travel to Israel. It is now going a step further and advising against all travel entirely. There are thousands of British citizens in Israel and ministers are drawing up contingency plans to evacuate them. However, they are unlikely to be carried out quickly because Israeli airspace is closed and there are no land routes out of the country. By Gabrielle Weiniger, reporting from the city You can tell that people are seeking a semblance of normality by the number of coffee shops that are open, more than in the past two days. Some adventurers are even playing volleyball or swimming in the sea — but there is no doubt that Tel Aviv is quieter and more sombre than in recent memory. Israelis are horrified by the climbing toll from an Iranian strike in Bat Yam, an outer suburb of the city. The extent of the destruction is not something people are used to here. Some locals have turned off the news — a background hum for many homes in the country — because they could not bear to witness the carnage as rescue workers try to recover people stuck beneath the rubble. The mayor of Bat Yam said at least 20 people were unaccounted for after Saturday night's strike, which is confirmed to have killed six people and injured 180 more. Flights to and from Israel have been grounded for a third consecutive day during the exchange of strikes with Iran. The effect of the airspace closure on Friday was mapped by the tracking site Flightradar24. Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager. Iran was posing an 'imminent threat' before the strikes on its nuclear weapons program, Israel's ambassador to Britain has said. Tzipi Hotovely told Laura Kuenssberg on the BBC: 'They were racing fast to get nuclear bombs with the combination of enrichment and weaponisation. We had to move fast to operate against Iran's nuclear ambitions.' She said Europe 'owes a huge thank you' to Israel for the strikes. 'Our region would have been a place that is not safe for anyone if Iran had accomplished their plan,' Hotovely said. 'There was an imminent threat … Our enemies are saying clearly they want to eliminate Israel … We should believe them.' An Israeli oil-refining company has reported damage to pipelines in Haifa, northern Israel, from Iran's overnight missile salvo. Bazan said its refining facilities were still running, with no injuries, but that some parts of the complex had been shut down. In a statement to the stock exchange this morning quoted by Globes, the company said that it is 'examining the impact on its operations' including the financial implications for the energy sector as well as an assessment on the damage and repairs needed. Attacks on Israeli energy production are rare. The UK government is calling for 'calm heads' and de-escalation, Rachel Reeves has said. The chancellor told Sky News on Sunday that it was right for Britain to send combat jets to the Middle East to protect its assets in the region. 'It does not mean that we are at war. It does not mean that we have been involved in these strikes and this conflict. It's a precautionary move.' However, Reeves did not rule out British assets being used to defend Israel. 'The prime minister and our allies are urging for de-escalation, that is what is really critical now, calm heads and a de-escalation of the conflict,' she said. Doubts remain about how effectively Israel can hit Tehran's nuclear programme but there is room for escalation — and danger of catastrophic miscalculation, Mark Urban writes Israel's military has told Iranians to evacuate 'military production factories', suggesting further strikes are likely. Avichay Adraee, a spokesman for the Israel Defence Forces, issued an 'urgent warning to all Iranian citizens'. It reads: 'All individuals who are currently or will soon be inside or near military weapons production factories and their supporting institutions must immediately evacuate these areas and not return until further notice.' Earlier on Sunday Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said Iran would cease fire if Israel did the same. He also claimed that Israel had 'crossed a new red line' by targeting nuclear facilities. Britain, France and Germany are ready to hold 'immediate negotiations' with Iran about its nuclear programme, according to the German foreign minister. Johann Wadephul said he hoped talks were still possible despite the cancellation of a US-Iran meeting due to be held in Oman on Sunday. 'Germany, together with France and Britain are ready,' he told the German broadcaster ARD. 'We're offering Iran immediate negotiations about the nuclear programme. I hope it is accepted. 'This is also a key prerequisite for reaching a pacification of this conflict, that Iran presents no danger to the region, for the state of Israel or to Europe.' The Houthi rebels in Yemen say they have attacked Israel in co-ordination with the Iranian army. Several ballistic missiles were fired towards the port of Jaffa near Tel Aviv, a spokesman said. He described the strikes as 'triumphing for the oppressed Palestinian and Iranian peoples'. It followed reports from Israeli media that Israel targeted a meeting of senior Houthi leadership in Yemen on Saturday night. Israel's military said it had hit Iran's defence ministry headquarters and other military targets linked to the country's 'nuclear weapons project'. Explosions were heard in Tehran at about 2.30am on Sunday. Fuel depots were also hit during the 'larege-scale wave of attacks' by fighter jets, the IDF added. 'These targets advance the effort to obtain nuclear weapons,' the military said in a post on social media. Iranian authorities have so far not issued any updates on damage or casualties. The first wave of Israeli strikes from Friday night into Saturday morning killed 78 people and wounded 320, according to Amir-Saeid Iravani, Iran's UN ambassador. President Trump has threatened Iran with 'the full strength and might of the US armed forces' if it targets the United States. It follows reports in Iranian media that Tehran had warned the US, the UK and France that it would strike their military bases and naval vessels in the region if they chose to defend Israel. Trump insisted that the US had 'nothing to do with' Israel's latest attack on Iran overnight. He added: '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.' Trump also claimed that the conflict could be ended 'easily' with a deal between Israel and Iran. Iran launched a new wave of missile strikes on Israel overnight, killing at least ten people including a ten-year-old boy. Residents rushed to bomb shelters after air raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa shortly after 11pm local time. Strikes were reported in Rehovot and Bat Yam near Tel Aviv, in western Galilee and in the Haifa region. Six people were killed in Bat Yam, where at least 35 people were said to be missing after an eight-storey building was hit, according to officials. More than 140 were injured in the attacks, according to Israel's ambulance service. Four other women were said to have been killed in strikes elsewhere. Binyamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, has toured areas of Bat Yam that were destroyed in overnight strikes by Iranian missiles. Although there was no statement from the Israeli leader, footage showed him inspecting the ruins of an apartment building in the city. Six residents of the building died in the attack. The Israeli president Isaac Herzog was also present, according to The Times of Israel website. Please enable cookies and other technologies to view this content. You can update your cookies preferences any time using privacy manager. 'Dozens of homes in this area were completely damaged by a single missile launched from Iran in a cruel and terrible missile attack that was launched across the entire country,' Herzog said. He added: 'This is a very significant moment in the history of Israel. We must show the emotional and mental resilience that we always have.'
