Hello and welcome to this live blog. Here we keep you informed of the latest developments surrounding the conflict between Israel and Iran.
Trump: ‘Keep oil prices low, I’m watching you’A remarkable post by Donald Trump on his social media platform Truth Social: the American president calls for keeping oil prices low. “I’m watching you,” he writes.
The unrest in the Middle East is causing unrest in the oil market. After the American attack on Iran, the oil price rose.
This is followed by a striking statement from Rutte: according to him, the US attack on Iran is “not in violation of international law.” It seems that Rutte does not want to offend Trump, because experts agree that the attack did violate the law. There was no acute threat or attack from Iran.
Rutte dismisses a critical question from a journalist from Al Jazeera. The journalist says that Rutte always calls Russia the aggressor in Ukraine, but does not condemn the American attack in Iran. “Isn’t that hypocritical, given the recent actions of the US?”
NATO chief Rutte at press conference: ‘Iran must not have a nuclear weapon’Mark Rutte is currently giving a press conference ahead of the NATO summit in The Hague that starts tomorrow. At that press conference he also briefly touches on developments in Iran.
“When it comes to NATO’s position on the Iranian nuclear program, allies agreed long ago that Iran must not have a nuclear weapon,” says Rutte.
The question remains whether and when Iran will retaliate for the American attack. A reporter from Reuters just reported on X that the Americans expect such retaliation to take place within “one or two days.”
Israel can achieve most goals in the coming daysIsrael is well on its way to achieving its military goals in Iran, an insider tells CNN. Those goals may be achieved within a few days, the source said.
A spokesman for the Israeli government tells news agency Reuters that the war will end when the goals of curbing Iran’s nuclear program have been achieved.
White House repeats that Iranian nuclear facilities are ‘completely destroyed’The White House has repeated that the nuclear facilities bombed by the US have been “completely destroyed.” President Donald Trump said that shortly after the American attack on Iran and White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt repeated that in an interview with Good Morning America.
The International Atomic Energy Agency was unable to confirm Trump’s claims today.
This photo shows smoke clouds above Tehran. Israel says it has hit several important locations of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard (IRG) and the infamous Envin prison in the capital.
A photo from the Kremlin, where President Vladimir Putin is still in discussion with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqhchi (front right, with his back to the camera).
Israel reports attack on notorious Iranian prisonIsraeli forces reported earlier today an attack on the entrance to the notorious Envin prison during attacks on the capital Iran. Iranian media confirm the attack.
CNN verified images of large black clouds of smoke above the prison complex on the north side of the Iranian capital.
Envin is notorious for its long history of human rights violations. The prison holds, among others, political opponents of the regime and journalists.
The top of the Iranian regime is thinking hard about a successor to KhameneiThe top of the Iranian regime is busy with the question of who should succeed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after his death. Reuters reports this based on Iranian insiders. The 86-year-old Khamenei is aware of this.
A three-member commission that was formed by the ayatollah himself two years ago has accelerated the process to find a successor in recent days. This was decided in view of the escalation of the conflict with Israel, in which the government of Prime Minister Netanyahu has planned to kill Khamenei.
Khamenei is regularly kept informed by the commission, Reuters reports. The ayatollah is currently hiding with his family and is heavily guarded, the sources emphasize. If Khamenei dies, a successor will be appointed immediately to maintain the stability of the government.
The Israeli army now reports that it has indeed attacked the Fordow nuclear facility to prevent access to the site.
Oil tankers turn around at Strait of HormuzAt least two large oil tankers have turned around in the past 36 hours at the Strait of Hormuz, the important international shipping route along the south coast of Iran. This is evident from location data of ships analyzed by news agency Reuters. Since the American attack on Iran, there have been fears that Iran will close the shipping route, which would have major consequences for international trade.
In particular, oil transport would be affected in that case. It is estimated that 20 percent of all oil is shipped through the Strait of Hormuz. Disruption of the oil trade is already visible, despite the fact that Iran has not yet made a decision about a possible closure of the route, Reuters reports based on insiders.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned this morning that closing the Strait of Hormuz “would not be good for anyone.” She emphasized the importance of a diplomatic solution.
Iranian Foreign Minister: ‘Russia is on the right side of history’Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has just arrived at the Kremlin for talks with President Vladimir Putin. Prior to that consultation, Araqchi thanks Putin for condemning the American attacks on Iran.
Russia is on “the right side of history,” he said. Putin told Araqchi that the violence against Iran is unfounded and that Russia is ready to help the Iranian people.
The Israeli army now reports that it is attacking barracks of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, including the headquarters in Tehran.
Israeli media report that Israel did not hit the Fordow complex itself, but the access roads leading to it.
Fordow before the American attack last weekend (above photo) and after (below photo).
Fordow is considered the heart of Iran’s nuclear program. Uranium would be enriched here in 2,200 machines. The complex is hidden under a mountain.
Nuclear facility Fordow hit in new attackThe nuclear complex in Fordow has just been hit again in an attack. Iran states that these are Israeli missiles. According to a spokesperson, there is no danger to people living nearby.
Fordow is one of the three most important places in Iran’s nuclear program. The facility was already bombed by the Americans last weekend. Donald Trump claimed that the complex was completely destroyed, but Iran denied this.
For those who hadn’t seen them yet: this is a B2 bomber. The aircraft were used last weekend by the Americans to drop heavy bombs on Iran’s three most important nuclear facilities.
Members of the Iranian Red Crescent lay flowers at a vehicle of the organization that was hit by an Israeli missile last week. According to the Iranian news agency Mehr, three employees of the Red Crescent have died. The Red Crescent is a aid organization that serves as the local counterpart of the Red Cross.
Rockets land on Tehran and power goes out in part of the cityEyewitnesses report that a new wave of Israeli rockets has landed on Tehran, writes news agency AP. Iranian media also report explosions in the capital. The electricity is said to have gone out in the north of the city. A rocket is said to have landed near the office of the Red Crescent. That area was also hit last week.
Israelis must take shelter from Iranian attacksIn all of Israel, the air raid siren could be heard this morning as a result of Iranian attacks, the Israeli army reports. The threat is now over and citizens are allowed to leave the shelters again. According to The Times of Israel, Iran fired fifteen rockets over a period of forty minutes. No one was injured.
Iranian Foreign Minister arrives in Moscow for meeting with PutinIranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has arrived in Moscow. He will meet there with President Vladimir Putin. Iran maintains good relations with Russia and supplies, among other things, drones that are used in the war against Ukraine. Earlier, Putin put himself forward as a possible mediator between Iran and Israel, but he later weakened that offer.
Iran executes man who was convicted of cooperation with IsraelIn Iran, a man has been executed today who was convicted of cooperation with the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad. The state news agency Tasnim reports this. The man had already been arrested at the end of 2023. He is said to have led a cyber team that had ties to the Mossad. Iran also executed a man on Sunday after a similar accusation.
US warns Americans abroadThe US Department of State has issued a “worldwide warning” to Americans. The conflict in the Middle East poses an increased security risk for people traveling or living abroad.
The ministry warns, among other things, of “demonstrations against American citizens and interests abroad” and calls on Americans to be “extra careful.”
Iran and Israel exchange rocket attacks againIran and Israel exchanged rockets again last night. Around 2:00 AM (Dutch time), the Israeli army reported that rockets were on their way from Iran. In Tel Aviv, the air raid siren went off and citizens had to find their shelters. Half an hour later, the threat was over, according to the army. The rockets would all have been intercepted by Israeli air defenses.
Iranian state media report that in the center of Tehran “air defenses were used to counter enemy targets.” Israeli rockets are said to have hit Parchin, a military complex southeast of the Iranian capital.
On the city walls around the Old City in Jerusalem, the American flag was displayed next to that of Israel last night.
Iran-backed militias are said to be preparing an attack on American basesAmerican intelligence services have signals that Iran-backed militias in the Middle East are preparing to attack American military bases. The New York Times reports this based on insiders.
It would concern retaliatory attacks on bases in Iraq and possibly Syria. An insider tells the American newspaper that Iraqi authorities are working hard to deter the militias.
Iran: US has been drawn into war by Israel under false pretensesThe United States has been misled by supporting Israel with attacks. This was said by the Iranian delegate at the emergency meeting of the UN Security Council just now. Iran has the full right to defend itself, he added.
Delegate Amir Saeid Iravani said that Iran is still considering a response to the American attack. The army decides on that.
Iravani accused Israel of spreading “the misleading and incorrect narrative” that Iran is about to build a nuclear weapon. He concluded his argument with the call to hold the US and Israel “fully” accountable.
Trump praises attack on Iran again and hints at fall of Iranian regimeIn a post on his social media platform Truth Social, President Trump again praises the American attack on Iran. “The blows were hard and precise,” he writes.
In another post, Trump hints at a so-called regime change in Iran. “It is not politically correct to use that term, but if the current Iranian regime is unable to make Iran great again, why couldn’t there be a regime change?”, the president asks rhetorically.
Earlier, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denied that the US is out to topple the Iranian regime.