Israel and Iran exchanged missile strikes for a third consecutive day, intensifying a deadly conflict that has left hundreds dead and sparked international concern.
Israel struck more than 80 sites in Tehran, including Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility and reportedly killed Iranian intelligence chief Mohammad Kazemi.
Iran confirmed his death and launched retaliatory attacks, including one that hit the Israeli city of Haifa, injuring seven people. Iran’s Health Ministry reported 224 deaths and 1,200 injuries since Friday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran would “pay a very heavy price for the premeditated murder of civilians” after a missile killed 10 people, including children, in Bat Yam.
Netanyahu also told Fox News the campaign could lead to regime change in Iran, contradicting earlier comments from an IDF spokesperson who said regime change was not the objective.
Iran’s top diplomat Abbas Araghchi accused Israel of crossing “a new red line in international law” and said Iran would halt its response if Israeli aggression stopped.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 15, 2025
Tehran has opened mosques, schools, and metro stations as bomb shelters, and the Swiss embassy—which represents US interests in Iran—has temporarily closed.
Amid the escalating conflict, US President Donald Trump said it was “possible” for the US to become militarily involved.
Speaking to ABC America, Trump said he was open to Russian President Vladimir Putin acting as a mediator, adding, “We will have PEACE, soon, between Israel and Iran!” in a post on Truth Social.
Trump also reportedly vetoed an Israeli plan to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with US officials saying the White House made clear its opposition after being briefed.
Netanyahu declined to confirm the report, saying, “There’s so many false reports of conversations that never happened… we’ll do what we need to do.”
World leaders including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have urged both sides to avoid further escalation.
Source: ABC.
