ISRAEL HITS IRAN’S NUCLEAR SITES

Giorgio Cafiero, an analyst and head of Gulf State Analytics, pointed out that Russia has proposed to act as a mediator between Israel and Iran, saying it remains to be seen whether either side will accept the Kremlin’s offer.

But Cafiero cautioned that Iran is not seeking to reduce tensions in the near term.

“Iran is not interested in restraint or de-escalation,” he told Al Jazeera. “It wants to show Israel — and the world — that any strikes on Iranian territory will carry very, very serious consequences.”

“That is the message that Tehran is sending out right now,” he added.

According to Haaretz, Iranian missiles have struck several buildings in central Israel, citing information from emergency responders. 

Channel 12 reported loud explosions in a number of residential districts and said one missile made a direct impact in Tel Aviv.

Live broadcasts from Tel Aviv show multiple interceptions in the air as the city comes under rocket attack. 

One impact was observed on the ground, though it is not yet confirmed whether it was the result of a successful interception or a direct hit.

Local media in Iran have reported a powerful explosion near the General Staff headquarters of the Armed Forces in Tehran.

The cause of the blast remains unclear, and there has been no official statement from authorities so far.

Eyewitnesses described hearing a loud noise in the vicinity, sparking concerns among residents. 

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she had spoken with Israeli President Isaac Herzog about the escalating situation in the Middle East and urged all sides to show maximum restraint.

“I reiterated Israel’s right to defend itself and protect its people,” von der Leyen said in a post on X.

“At the same time, preserving regional stability is vital.”

The Israeli army has said that it intercepted a “suspicious aerial target” that was launched into the country, prompting sirens to sound in the southern city of Eilat, reported Al Jazeera.

In a separate statement, the Israeli military said it also intercepted two more suspicious targets launched into the country’s southern Negev desert region.

Israel’s strikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities constitute a “grave danger and a serious threat” to the peace, security, and stability of the entire region and beyond, Pakistan told the Security Council during an emergency session convened on Friday.

The 15-member Council cleared its original schedule to address the rapidly evolving crisis, also hearing from the head of the UN nuclear watchdog, who warned of the grave risks to regional stability and nuclear safety.

In his remarks to the emergency UN meeting, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, strongly condemned the “unjustified and illegitimate” aggression by Israel against Iran, reaffirming that Islamabad stood in resolute solidarity with the Iranian government and people.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi requested the Security Council meeting, saying Israel “has now crossed every red line, and the international community must not allow these crimes to go unpunished.

Among those supporting the request for a meeting were Pakistan, China and Russia.

Amid escalating tensions, the Pakistani envoy urged the Security Council to discharge its responsibility to uphold international law and stop this aggression immediately.

Ambassador Asim strongly called for the resolution of the crisis through dialogue and diplomacy. 

In a phone conversation with US President Donald Trump, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani urged restraint and a diplomatic path amid growing regional tensions after Israel’s strikes on Iran. 

The Amiri Diwan said the emir “stressed the need to work towards de-escalation and reaching diplomatic solutions.” 

Trump reportedly affirmed that the US was “ready to participate in efforts to resolve the crisis in order to preserve regional security and stability”.

Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani has said that Iran “strongly and unequivocally” condemns the “barbaric and criminal attack” and the targeted assassinations of senior military officials, nuclear scientists and innocent civilians.

Addressing the UNSC session, he said that last night, Israel – with full intelligence and political support from the US – conducted a series of coordinated and premeditated military attacks across multiple sites in Iran.

These “deliberate and systematic killings” were not only “illegal but inhuman”, he added.

He further said that these actions contravene numerous international legal instruments, including the IAEA Statute and the Geneva Convention.

Iran affirms its inherent right to self-defence, as enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter, according to him.

Iravani stressed that Iran will respond “decisively and proportionately to this act of aggression at a time, in a place and by means of its choosing.

“This is not a threat. This is a natural consequence of an unprovoked military attack,” he said.

“Iran’s response will be firm, lawful and essential to restore deterrence, defend our sovereignty and uphold the principles of international law,” he added.