In a major escalation, Israel launched overnight airstrikes on Tehran, targeting dozens of military sites including the SPND headquarters. The strikes come amid rising tensions over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, as diplomatic efforts continue.

Israel army says struck weapons research centre in Tehran

In a major escalation, Israel launched overnight airstrikes on Tehran, targeting dozens of military sites including the SPND headquarters. The strikes come amid rising tensions over Iran&rsquo;s nuclear ambitions, as diplomatic efforts continue.

Israel's military said Friday it struck dozens of targets in Tehran overnight, including what it called a centre for the "research and development of Iran's nuclear weapons project," in the eighth day of war between the two foes.
In a statement, the army said it had "completed a series of strikes in the heart of Tehran: dozens of targets were struck, including military missile production sites and the SPND (Organisation of Defensive Innovation and Research) headquarters for research and development of Iran's nuclear weapons project."
According to the Israeli military the SPND headquarters "is used for research and development of advanced technologies and weapons supporting the Iranian regime's military capabilities."
The army said that during the night on Thursday more than 60 fighter jets struck dozens of military targets.
"Among the targets were sites producing missile components and facilities manufacturing raw materials used in casting missile engines," it added.
Israel, claiming that Iran was on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon, launched air strikes against its arch-enemy a week ago, triggering deadly exchanges.
European foreign ministers will hold talks Friday with their Iranian counterpart, hoping to reach a diplomatic solution to the war as US President Donald Trump mulls the prospect of US involvement.

NASA has postponed the Axiom-4 mission, carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, to allow more time for evaluating the ISS after repairs and addressing Falcon-9 rocket issues.

NASA puts off Sunday's launch of Axiom-4 mission to International Space Station

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NASA has postponed the Axiom-4 mission, carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, to allow more time for evaluating the ISS after repairs and addressing Falcon-9 rocket issues.
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NASA has put off Sunday's launch of the Axiom-4 mission carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and three others to the International Space Station, saying it required additional time to evaluate operations on the orbital lab after the recent repairs in its Russian section.
The Axiom-4 mission was targeting a June 22 launch after being put off multiple times due to a leak in the boosters of SpaceX's Falcon-9 rocket, inclement weather in the ascent trajectory and leaks in the aft-most section of Zvezda service module.
The space agency needs additional time to continue evaluating the International Space Station operations after recent repair work in the aft (back) most segment of the orbital laboratory's Zvezda service module, it said.
Because of the space station's interconnected and interdependent systems, NASA wants to ensure the station is ready for additional crew members, and the agency is taking the time necessary to review data, the Axiom Space statement said.
Former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, Peggy Whitson, will command the commercial mission, while Shukla will serve as the pilot. The two mission specialists are European Space Agency (ESA) project astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary.
The 14-day mission will "realise the return" to human spaceflight for India, Poland and Hungary.
The astronauts were originally scheduled for lift-off on May 29, which was put off to June 8, June 10 and June 11, when SpaceX, the providers of the launch rocket and the space capsule, detected a liquid oxygen leak in the Falcon-9 rocket.
At a pre-launch press conference on June 10, SpaceX Vice President William Gerstenmaier said engineers had detected a liquid oxygen (LOX) leak on the Falcon-9 booster during the re-entry phase of its previous mission that was not fully repaired during refurbishment.
At the same press interaction, Dana Weigel, Manager of NASA's International Space Station Program, had said that launch opportunities were available till June 30.
In case SpaceX and Axiom Space are unable to launch in the month of June, there are opportunities from mid-July, she added.
The Axiom-4 crew has been in mandatory pre-launch quarantine since May 26.
The pre-launch quarantine is necessary to closely monitor the astronauts' health, avoid exposure to any last-minute illness and ensure that the astronauts flying to the space station don't carry any infection to the closed environment of the orbiting lab.

European foreign ministers race to defuse the growing Israel-Iran conflict as deadly exchanges escalate and the US weighs potential involvement amid rising nuclear fears.

European, Iranian diplomats to meet as US mulls joining Israel campaign

European foreign ministers race to defuse the growing Israel-Iran conflict as deadly exchanges escalate and the US weighs potential involvement amid rising nuclear fears.

European foreign ministers will hold talks Friday with their Iranian counterpart, hoping to reach a diplomatic solution to the war with Israel as US President Donald Trump mulls the prospect of US involvement.
Israel, claiming Iran was on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon, launched air strikes against its arch-enemy a week ago, triggering deadly exchanges.
Sirens sounded in southern Israel on Friday morning after missiles were launched from Iran, the Israeli army said. It earlier warned people in Iran's northern industrial area of Sefidrood to evacuate ahead of Israeli strikes.
European leaders urging de-escalation have scrambled to hold talks with Iran, as Trump said he would decide "within the next two weeks" whether to involve the United States in Israel's bombing campaign.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will meet with his French, German, British and EU counterparts in Geneva on Friday to discuss Iran's nuclear programme.
Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy said "a window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution", after meeting senior US officials in Washington on Thursday.
Lammy and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio "agreed Iran can never develop or acquire a nuclear weapon", according to the State Department.
Netanyahu welcomed the prospect of US involvement in its campaign, while Russia, an Iranian ally, told the United States that joining the conflict would be an "extremely dangerous step".
The UN Security Council is also due to convene on Friday for a second session on the conflict, which was requested by Iran with support from Russia, China and Pakistan, a diplomat told AFP on Wednesday.
While Netanyahu has not publicly said that Israel is trying to topple Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, defence minister Israel Katz warned after the strike on Israel's Soroka hospital that Khamenei "can no longer be allowed to exist".
A week of deadly exchanges between the two countries has plunged the Middle East into a new crisis, more than 20 months into the war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
 - Panic -
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sworn Iran will "pay a heavy price" for a strike on an Israeli hospital on Thursday, an attack Tehran said was targeting a military and intelligence base.
Soroka hospital's director Shlomi Codish said 40 people were wounded in the strike that destroyed several wards.
World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom hebreyesus called attacks on health facilities "appalling", while UN rights chief Volker Turk said civilians were being treated as "collateral damage".
In Iran, people fleeing Israel's attacks described frightening scenes and difficult living conditions, including food shortages and limited internet access.
"Those days and nights were very horrifying... hearing sirens, the wailing, the danger of being hit by missiles," University of Tehran student Mohammad Hassan told AFP, after returning to his native Pakistan.
"People are really panicking," a 50-year-old Iranian pharmacist who did not want to be named told AFP at a crossing on the border with Turkey.
Iran imposed a "nationwide internet shutdown" on Thursday -- the most extensive blackout since widespread anti-government protests in 2019 -- internet watchdog NetBlocks said.
The shutdown "impacts the public's ability to stay connected at a time when communications are vital", NetBlocks wrote on X.
Any US involvement in Israel's campaign against Iran would be expected to involve the bombing of a crucial underground nuclear facility in Fordo, using specially developed bunker-busting bombs.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump told aides he had approved attack plans but was holding off to see if Iran would give up its nuclear programme.
The US president had favoured a diplomatic route to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons -- an ambition Tehran has consistently denied -- seeking a deal to replace the 2015 agreement he tore up in his first term.
Dozens of US military aircraft were no longer visible at a US base in Qatar on Thursday, satellite images showed -- a possible move to shield them from potential Iranian strikes.
 - Nuclear sites -
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed Iran was "a couple of weeks" away from producing an atomic bomb.
Iran had been enriching uranium to 60 percent -- far above the 3.67-percent limit set by the 2015 deal, but still short of the 90 percent needed for a nuclear warhead.
Israel has maintained ambiguity on its own arsenal, but the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute says it has 90 nuclear warheads.
A key Iranian government body, the Guardian Council, threatened a "harsh response" if "the criminal American government and its stupid president... take action against Islamic Iran".
On Thursday, Israel said it struck "dozens" of Iranian targets overnight, including the partially built Arak nuclear reactor and a uranium enrichment facility in Natanz.
Iranian atomic energy agency chief Mohammad Eslami confirmed in a letter to the UN nuclear watchdog that the Arak reactor was hit, demanding action to stop Israel's "violation of international regulations".
Iranian media reported blasts in Tehran late Thursday, while the Revolutionary Guards said more than 100 "combat and suicide" drones were launched at Israel.
In the central Israeli city of Bat Yam, the body of a woman was found in a site hit on Sunday, taking the death toll in Israel from Iranian missiles since June 13 to 25 people, according to authorities.
Iran said Sunday that Israeli strikes had killed at least 224 people, including military commanders, nuclear scientists and civilians.

Countries urgently evacuate citizens from Israel and Iran amidst escalating conflict, facing disrupted airspace and resorting to land routes for safety.

Foreigners evacuated by air, land and sea as Israel-Iran conflict worsens

Global efforts to evacuate citizens from Israel and Iran highlight escalating tensions, with disrupted airspace complicating travel and prompting land routes.

Intense Israel-Iran conflict prompts global evacuations through ground routes amid sky restrictions.

Countries are evacuating their nationals from Israel and Iran by air, land and sea as conflict rages between the bitter rivals.
Days of attacks and reprisals by the two enemies have shuttered airspace across the Middle East, severely disrupting commercial flights and leaving people unable to get in or out of the region easily.
Some governments are using land borders to get their citizens out by road to countries where airports remain open. &nbsp; Thousands of foreigners have already left since the conflict started last week when Israel launched surprise missile strikes on Iran.
 Bulgaria &nbsp; Bulgaria has moved all its diplomats from Tehran to the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku, the Balkan country's prime minister said Thursday.&nbsp; We are not closing the embassy, ??but moving it to Baku until the danger passes, said Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov.
A group of 89 Bulgarians was evacuated from Israel by plane to Sofia, along with 59 nationals from Slovenia, the US, Belgium, Albania, Kosovo and Romania.
They left from the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh, where they had been transferred by bus across the border from Israel.
He said the government had urged all Bulgarians willing to join the convoy to do so. They set off in 11 vehicles on Wednesday morning.
There were alternatives. They could travel via Turkey, but eventually we decided that they should go via Azerbaijan, Zhelyazkov added.
 China &nbsp; China said it has evacuated more than 1,600 nationals from Iran and several hundred others from Israel.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said Beijing would continue to do its utmost to assist in the safe transfer and evacuation of Chinese citizens.
Aell Huang, who was in the Iranian city of Isfahan, said he didn't feel safe during the conflict. I heard explosions from time to time. Civilians got hurt too. I got more prepared mentally once I saw the embassy's warning.
He and some friends hired a car and headed to Azerbaijan, waiting at border control for almost 12 hours, where he saw as many as 60 other Chinese nationals.&nbsp;
The Chinese Embassy said it would organise group evacuations by bus from Israel starting Friday.
A notice posted on the embassy's WeChat social media account said citizens would be taken out through the Taba border crossing to Egypt. It asked them to register online and said they would be notified of the evacuation time.
People carrying Chinese, Hong Kong, and Macao passports were eligible, the notice said.
 European Union &nbsp; The European Union has helped evacuate some 400 people from Israel via Jordan and Egypt as part of its efforts to coordinate an emergency response within the 27-nation bloc.&nbsp; Member states coordinate the list and we co-finance these flights up to 75 per cent of the transport costs, European Commission spokesperson Eva Hrncirova told a regular press conference in Brussels on Wednesday.
Hrncirova said the E.U. was fielding requests by Slovakia, Lithuania, Greece, and Poland for assistance with Middle East evacuations.
 France &nbsp; French Foreign Minister Jean-Nol Barrot said Thursday it was helping nationals who want to leave Iran and Israel to do so through neighboring countries where commercial flights were still available.
Barrot said people in Iran could travel to Armenia and Turkey without a visa. Those unable to reach the border on their own would be transported by convoy by the end of the week so they could take commercial flights to France.
French nationals wanting to leave Israel can go via Jordan and Egypt. From Friday morning, some buses will carry passengers from the Israeli border to Amman and Sharm el-Sheikh airports.
Germany &nbsp; Germany flew 171 people out of Amman on a special flight on Wednesday. A further 174 people returned on Thursday and another flight is planned this weekend.
Passenger Daniel Halav, who was stuck in Tel Aviv, said he had never been so glad to be home after landing in Frankfurt, the German news agency dpa reported.
But, he said, we had to take care of ourselves of how we got to Amman. From my point of view, we were left a bit alone there.
 The German Foreign Ministry said officials had decided against organizing convoys to get people to Amman, arguing this move could have created a security risk and that those wishing to leave were scattered across Israel.

PMs Carney and Modi focus on enhancing Canada-India ties post-G7, addressing past diplomatic tensions by planning High Commissioner reinstatement.

Canada and India Seek Stronger Diplomatic Ties

Canada’s PM Mark Carney and India’s PM Narendra Modi work on mending bilateral ties post-G7 summit, focusing on mutual respect, reinstating High Commissioners to deepen connections and overcome prior diplomatic issues.

Canadian PM Mark Carney emphasized Narendra Modi's G7 summit presence, noting India's growing global influence. Both leaders are keen on mending diplomatic ties amidst past tensions, planning to reinstate High Commissioners and enhance bilateral relations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi&rsquo;s attendance at the G7 summit is a reflection of the size and dynamism of the Indian economy and the leadership position India plays, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said.
Carney held bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the margins of the G7 summit here in Canada on Tuesday.&ldquo;In terms of Prime Minister Modi's attendance at the G7, Prime Minister Modi has attended every G7 since 2018, which is a reflection of the size of the Indian economy, the dynamism of the Indian economy, Indian technology, the leadership position India plays in a host of venues from G20 and beyond,&rdquo; Carney said at a press conference as the G7 Leaders&rsquo; Summit wrapped up here.&ldquo;So as chair of the G7, hosting the prime minister in that context is entirely natural, entirely consistent. I fully expect the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister of India, will be in attendance at the G7 next year,&rdquo; Carney said.Carney described his bilateral meeting with Modi as &ldquo;important"."But I would describe it as foundational, as a necessary first step, an exchange of views, frank, open exchange of views around law enforcement, transnational repression, an agreement to provide the necessary foundations to begin to rebuild a relationship based on mutual respect, sovereignty and trust," Carney said.
Carney added that the two leaders will move to appoint High Commissioners again.&ldquo;And let me just finish by putting that in context, which is, that there are very deep ties of people and businesses between Canada and India," he said.
"It's well known&hellip;and they are not served at present by consular services, in effect, certainly by High Commissioners, and it's necessary to have that level of service as a basis on which to build out again in the context of respect for sovereignty, and to begin to realise the potential of the relationship. And we will," he said.Carney said both he and Modi are committed to working towards that, but &ldquo; there's a lot of, a lot of work that will need to be done.&rdquo; &nbsp;
Last year, India recalled its high commissioner and five other diplomats after Ottawa attempted to link them to the killing of pro-Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
India also expelled an equal number of Canadian diplomats.India had accused the previous government led by Justin Trudeau of allowing pro-Khalistani elements to operate from Canadian soil.Carney, an economist and political newcomer, took charge as Canada's new prime minister in March following Trudeau's exit from the top office. After Trudeau's exit, New Delhi said it hoped to rebuild ties with Canada.

Soroka Hospital in southern Israel suffered damage after a direct missile hit during a massive Iranian attack involving dozens of ballistic missiles. Blasts were also reported in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as air defences responded.

Israeli hospital, Tel Aviv area struck by Iranian missiles: officials

Soroka Hospital in southern Israel suffered damage after a direct missile hit during a massive Iranian attack involving dozens of ballistic missiles. Blasts were also reported in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as air defences responded.

A hospital in southern Israel and two towns near Tel Aviv were struck after a barrage of Iranian missiles on Thursday morning, with rescuers reporting at least 47 people injured in the latest attacks.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Iran would "pay a heavy price" after the strike on Soroka Hospital in Beersheba in southern Israel, while Defence Minister Israel Katz said the army had been ordered to "intensify" strikes on Iran.
"This morning, Iran's terrorist dictators fired missiles at Soroka Hospital... and at civilians in the centre of the country. We will make the tyrants in Tehran pay a heavy price," Netanyahu said in a post on X.
A spokesperson for the hospital reported "damage to the hospital and extensive damage in various areas. We are currently assessing the damage, including injuries. We ask the public not to come to the hospital at this time".
AFP footage showed smoke billowing from the complex, which serves populations in southern Israel, but is also known to treat soldiers wounded in Gaza.
Buildings were also damaged in the central towns of Ramat Gan and Holon, close to coastal hub Tel Aviv, which has been repeatedly targeted by Iranian missiles since war broke out between the countries last Friday.
Israel's Magen David Adom (MDA) rescue service said that at least 47 people were injured in Iran's latest missile strikes, with 18 more injured "while running to shelter".
Three people are in serious condition, and two are in moderate condition, an MDA spokesperson said in a statement.
"An additional 42 people sustained minor injuries from shrapnel and blast trauma, and 18 civilians were injured while running to shelter," the spokesperson added.
Defence Minister Katz meanwhile said in a statement: "These are some of the most serious war crimes -- and (Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali) Khamenei will be held accountable for his actions."
"The Prime Minister and I have ordered the (military) to intensify strikes against strategic targets in Iran and against the power infrastructure in Tehran, in order to eliminate the threats to the State of Israel and to shake the ayatollahs' regime," he added.
Sirens sounded across Israel early Thursday as the military said it detected incoming missiles from Iran and AFP journalists reported hearing loud blasts in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
A military official added that "dozens of ballistic missiles" had been launched at Israel.
The explosions heard by AFP journalists in Jerusalem around 7:10 am (0410 GMT), when air defences activated, were the loudest since the conflict with Iran began on Friday.
Sirens sounded twice in Tel Aviv in the morning, while an all-clear message was given around half an hour after the first one.

US President Donald Trump acknowledged that leaders of India and Pakistan chose to end hostilities themselves, without crediting American intervention for the first time in weeks.

Donald Trump makes a U-turn, says 'two leaders of India-Pakistan' decided to stop conflict

US President Donald Trump acknowledged that leaders of India and Pakistan chose to end hostilities themselves, without crediting American intervention for the first time in weeks.

US President Donald Trump said the two &ldquo;very smart&rdquo; leaders of India and Pakistan &ldquo;decided&rdquo; not to continue a war that could have turned nuclear, the first time in weeks he did not credit himself for stopping of hostilities between the two neighbouring nations.
Trump made the remarks while speaking to the media in the Oval Office after hosting Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, Asim Munir, for lunch at the White House on Wednesday.
Trump said he was &ldquo;honoured" to meet Munir.
When asked if Iran was discussed in his meeting with Munir, Trump said: &ldquo;Well, they know Iran very well, better than most, and they're not happy about anything. It's not that they're bad with Israel. They know them both, actually, but they probably, maybe they know Iran better, but they see what's going on, and he agreed with me." &ldquo;The reason I had him here, I want to thank him for not going into the war, ending the war. And I want to thank, as you know, Prime Minister Modi just left a little while ago, and we're working on a trade deal with India. We're working on a trade deal with Pakistan," the president said.
&ldquo;They were both here, but I was with Modi a few weeks ago. He was here actually, but now we speak to him. And I'm so happy that two smart people, plus you know, people on their staff too, but two smart people, two very smart people decided not to keep going with that war. That could have been a nuclear war. Those are two nuclear powers, big ones, big, big nuclear powers, and they decided that.&rdquo; This is the first time in weeks when Trump did not take credit for stopping the military conflict between India and Pakistan.
Since May 10, when India and Pakistan decided to stop the military conflict, Trump has repeatedly claimed on multiple occasions that he &ldquo;helped settle&rdquo; tensions between the two countries and that he told the nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours that America would do a &ldquo;lot of trade&rdquo; with them if they stopped the conflict.
Modi and Trump were scheduled to meet on the sidelines of the G7 Leaders&rsquo; Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, but the American president returned to Washington early.
Before departing Kananaskis and wrapping up his first visit to Canada in a decade, Modi had a 35-minute phone conversation with Trump.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, in a video message from Kananaskis, said Modi conveyed to Trump that at &ldquo;no point&rdquo; during Operation Sindoor was there any discussion, at any level, on an India-US trade deal or any proposal for mediation by the US between India and Pakistan.
The discussion to cease military action took place directly between India and Pakistan through the existing channels of communication between the two armed forces, and it was initiated at Islamabad's request.
Modi firmly said India will never accept the mediation of a third party, and there is complete political consensus in India on this matter, Misri said.
Misri also noted that following the April 22 Pahalgam attack, Trump expressed his condolences to Modi over a phone call and expressed his support against terrorism.
The phone call on Tuesday in Kananaskis was the &ldquo;first conversation&rdquo; between the two leaders since April.
Misri said Trump listened carefully to the points conveyed by the prime minister and expressed his support towards India&rsquo;s fight against terrorism.
Modi conveyed that India no longer views terrorism as a proxy war, but as a war itself, and that Operation Sindoor is still ongoing.
Trump enquired if Modi could stop over in the US on his way back from Canada, but the prime minister was scheduled to depart for Croatia, the last leg of his three-nation tour that began in Cyprus.
Misri said that due to prior commitments, Modi expressed his inability to visit Washington, and both leaders agreed to make efforts to meet soon.
Earlier in the day, Trump said he spoke to Modi, &ldquo;a fantastic man&rdquo;, and stressed the two countries will have a trade deal while repeating his claim that he stopped a war between India and Pakistan.
"Well, I stopped the war. I love Pakistan. I think Modi is a fantastic man. I spoke to him last night. We're going to make a trade deal with Modi of India. But I stopped the war between Pakistan and India,&rdquo; Trump said on Wednesday.
Trump was asked what he was looking to achieve diplomatically from the meeting with Munir. &ldquo;This man was extremely influential in stopping it from the Pakistan side,&rdquo; Trump said, referring to the army chief.
&ldquo;Modi, from the Indian side, and others. They were going at it, and they're both nuclear countries. I got it stopped. I don't think I had one story. Did I have one story written? I stopped the war between two major nations, major nuclear nations. I don't think I had a story written about it,&rdquo; he said, adding that the people know.
About two weeks after the April 22 terror attack, which claimed 26 lives, India launched Operation Sindoor targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
India and Pakistan reached an understanding on May 10 to end the conflict after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes.
Sources in New Delhi have since maintained that the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan reached an understanding to stop the military action with immediate effect. They said no third party was involved.&nbsp;

President Trump signals possible US intervention as Israel continues deadly airstrikes on Iran, prompting global calls for urgent de-escalation.

Trump weighs involvement as Israel launches fresh strikes on Iran

President Trump signals possible US intervention as Israel continues deadly airstrikes on Iran, prompting global calls for urgent de-escalation.

President Donald Trump warned he was weighing US military action against Iran, as Israel launched fresh strikes against Tehran on Thursday.
As the war entered its seventh day, Israel's military said it was striking Tehran and other parts of Iran, but all eyes were on whether Washington would enter the fray.
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei meanwhile rejected Trump's demand for an "unconditional surrender", despite claims from the US leader that "Iran's got a lot of trouble and they want to negotiate".
Trump has left his intentions on joining the conflict deliberately ambiguous, saying Wednesday: "I may do it, I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do."
"The next week is going to be very big," he added, without further details.
The White House said Trump would receive an intelligence briefing on Thursday, a US holiday. Top US diplomat Marco Rubio meanwhile will meet his UK counterpart for talks expected to focus on the conflict.
"I have ideas as to what to do, but I haven't made a final (decision)," Trump said. "I like to make the final decision one second before it's due, because things change. Especially with war."
The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump had told aides on Tuesday he had approved attack plans but was holding off to see if Iran would give up its nuclear programme.
Trump told reporters that Iranian officials "want to come to the White House", a claim denied by Tehran.
The US president had favoured a diplomatic route to end Iran's nuclear programme, seeking a deal to replace the agreement he tore up in his first term.
But since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unleashed the campaign against Iran one week ago, Trump has stood behind the key US ally.
The United States is the only country with the "bunker buster" bombs needed to destroy Iran's Fordow nuclear plant, but US military action is deeply unpopular with parts of Trump's base.
Khamenei on Wednesday insisted Iran "will never surrender," and called Trump's ultimatum "unacceptable".
"America should know that any military intervention will undoubtedly result in irreparable damage," Khamenei added.
 - Dozens of civilians killed -
A week of strikes has significantly degraded Iran's nuclear and military installations, including buildings making and testing centrifuge components in Karaj and Tehran.
Centrifuges are vital for uranium enrichment, the sensitive process that can produce fuel for reactors or, in highly extended form, the core of a nuclear warhead.
Iranian strikes have also caused damage in Israel, where at least 24 people have been killed and hundreds wounded, according to Netanyahu's office.
Iran said Sunday that Israeli strikes had killed at least 224 people, including military commanders, nuclear scientists and civilians. It has not issued an updated toll since then.
On Thursday morning, Israel said it was carrying out fresh strikes on Tehran and other parts of Iran, and warned civilians in two villages, Arak and Khondab, to leave ahead of new attacks.
Those strikes came after Israel said it had destroyed Iran's internal security headquarters in Tehran, and Iran unleashed Fattah hypersonic missiles and so-called super-heavy, long-range missiles.
An Israeli military official, who asked not to be named, said Wednesday that Iran had fired around 400 ballistic missiles and 1,000 drones since the conflict began on Friday.
About 20 missiles had struck civilian areas in Israel, the official added.
Israel says its surprise air campaign is aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Iran theoretically has enough near-weapons-grade material, if further refined, for more than nine bombs, but it denies seeking nuclear weapons.
Israel has maintained ambiguity on its own atomic activities, but the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute says it has 90 nuclear warheads.
 - 'Immediate de-escalation' -
Israel's strikes have prompted mass evacuations and food and fuel shortages in Iran.
"There are shortages of rice, bread, sugar and tea," a 40-year-old Iranian driver told AFP at the Iraqi border crossing of Bashmakh, seeking anonymity for fear of reprisals.
"People are shocked and distraught, they don't know what they should do," said a car dealer in the Iranian city of Bukan who also asked not to be identified by his real name.
There was also a "near-total national internet blackout" in Iran on Wednesday, a London-based watchdog said, with Iran's Fars news agency confirming heavier internet restrictions after initial curbs imposed last week.
The military campaign has sparked calls for a return to diplomacy, with UN chief Antonio Guterres on Thursday urging an "immediate de-escalation" and efforts to avoid "further internationalisation of the conflict."
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that a deal to guarantee both Israel's security and Iran's desire for a civilian nuclear programme was possible.
"I believe it would be good for all of us together to look for ways to stop the fighting and seek ways for the participants in the conflict to find an agreement," he told foreign journalists at a televised event.
He said Iran had not asked Russia for military help.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said his country remains committed to diplomacy, noting Iran "has so far only retaliated against the Israeli regime and not those who are aiding and abetting it".
But there were lingering questions about how the conflict could evolve, with Trump telling reporters that a change in Iran's government "could happen", a day after he had boasted that Washington could assassinate Khamenei, but would not, "at least not for now".

Imran Khan faces legal charges over a Lahore incident causing significant damage. His bail application was delayed, with hearings rescheduled.

Legal Battles of Imran Khan Over Lahore Incident

Former PM, Imran Khan, faces legal challenges due to an alleged incident in Lahore. Accusations include inciting violence, with court hearings postponed.

Imran Khan faces charges over an alleged Lahore incident causing PKR 520 million damage. His bail application was not granted, pending further hearings.

Pakistani police have accused incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan and his party members of causing a loss of over PKR 500 million to the state during an attack on a senior army officer's residence in Lahore two years ago, an official said on Wednesday.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder is booked in several cases in Lahore in connection with the May 9, 2023, violence, including for allegedly inciting his supporters to attack government and military buildings, which erupted after his arrest by paramilitary Rangers from the Islamabad High Court premises.
"A prosecutor in the May 9, 2023, riot cases against Mr Khan and some other members of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) told the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday that the state has suffered a PKR 520 million loss during an attack on the Lahore Corps Commander House," the court official said.
The prosecutor was giving arguments regarding post-arrest bail petitions of Imran Khan in eight cases of the May 9 riots.
Lahore's anti-terrorism court in November last year had denied bail to the PTI founder in these eight cases.
"The prosecutor argued that Imran Khan ignored the trial court&rsquo;s directions and refused to undergo polygraph and photogrammetric tests, therefore, his bail petitions should be dismissed for defying the trial court&rsquo;s orders," he said.
The prosecutor said those who abetted the crime were equally liable to punishment, and since being ousted from power, Khan had been inciting the public against state institutions, including the armed forces.
Khan's counsel, Barrister Salman Safdar, told the LHC that the prosecution failed to establish the petitioner's association with the "unfortunate occurrences" narrated in the FIRs.
"Imran Khan has been implicated in the May 9 cases as a result of a well-orchestrated plan merely to harass and humiliate him for political reasons, even though admittedly he was in the custody of the National Accountability Bureau at the time of riots," Safdar said and argued that the sole allegation against the petitioner in the cases is of "abetment, which has been supplemented by the prosecution most vaguely".
"The trial judge overlooked the fact that frivolous and baseless allegations related to the May 9 events have already been rejected due to inconsistencies in the story of the investigating agency," Khan's counsel said and urged the LHC to set aside the trial court's decision and grant bail to the former premier in these eight cases.
LHC Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi remarked that the court "doesn't want to rush into a judgment" and adjourned the hearing for June 19.
The 72-year-old cricketer-turned-politician has been behind bars since August 2023 after he was booked in multiple cases ranging from corruption to terrorism since his ouster from power via the opposition's no-trust motion in April 2022.

Iran and Israel exchange deadly long-range strikes amid rising tensions, with Trump demanding Iran’s unconditional surrender and hinting at military intervention as nuclear facilities and civilians are hit.

Iran says hypersonic missiles fired at Israel as Trump demands 'unconditional surrender'

Iran and Israel exchange deadly long-range strikes amid rising tensions, with Trump demanding Iran&rsquo;s unconditional surrender and hinting at military intervention as nuclear facilities and civilians are hit.

Israel said it struck a nuclear site near Tehran on Wednesday, while Iran said it fired hypersonic missiles as the arch foes traded fire for a sixth day.
Hours after US President Donald Trump demanded Iran's surrender, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed his country would show "no mercy" towards Israel's leadership.
Trump insists the United States has played no part in ally Israel's bombing campaign, but also warned his patience was wearing thin.
The long-range blitz began Friday, when Israel launched a massive bombing campaign that prompted Iran to respond with missiles and drones.
After the Israeli military issued a warning for civilians to leave one district of Tehran for their safety, Israeli warplanes hit the capital early Wednesday.
"More than 50 Israeli Air Force fighter jets... carried out a series of air strikes in the Tehran area over the past few hours," the Israeli military said, adding that several weapons manufacturing facilities were hit.
"As part of the broad effort to disrupt Iran's nuclear weapons development programme, a centrifuge production facility in Tehran was targeted."
Centrifuges are vital for uranium enrichment, the sensitive process that can produce fuel for nuclear reactors or, in highly extended form, the core of a nuclear reactor.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had launched hypersonic Fattah-1 missiles at Tel Aviv.
"The 11th wave of the proud Operation Honest Promise 3 using Fattah-1 missiles" was carried out, the Guards said in a statement broadcast on state television.
Hypersonic missiles travel at more than five times the speed of sound and can manoeuvre mid-flight, making them harder to track and intercept.
No missile struck Tel Aviv overnight, despite Iran's claims that its attacks were "repeatedly shaking the shelters", though AFP photos showed Israel's air defence systems activated to intercept missiles over the commercial hub.
Iran also sent a "swarm of drones" towards Israel, while the Israeli military said it had intercepted a total of 10 drones launched from Iran.
It said one of its own drones had been shot down over Iran.
&nbsp;
- 'Unconditional surrender' - &nbsp;
Trump fuelled speculation about US intervention when he made a hasty exit from the G7 summit in Canada, where the leaders of the club of wealthy democracies called for de-escalation but backed Israel's "right to defend itself".
Back in Washington on Tuesday, Trump demanded the Islamic republic's "unconditional surrender".
He also boasted that the United States could easily assassinate Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
"We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding. He is an easy target, but is safe there -- We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
Trump met with his National Security Council to discuss the conflict. There was no immediate public statement after the hour and 20 minute meeting.
US officials stressed Trump has not yet made a decision about any intervention.
Hours later, Khamenei responded with a post on X, saying: "We must give a strong response to the terrorist Zionist regime. We will show the Zionists no mercy."
&nbsp;
- Evacuations - &nbsp;
Israel's attacks have hit nuclear and military facilities around Iran, as well as residential areas.
Residential areas in Israel have also been hit, and foreign governments have scrambled to evacuate their citizens from both countries.
Since Friday, at least 24 people have been killed in Israel and hundreds wounded, according to Netanyahu's office.
Iran said on Sunday that Israeli strikes had killed at least 224 people, including military commanders, nuclear scientists and civilians. It has not issued an updated toll since then.
More than 700 foreigners living in Iran have crossed into neighbouring Azerbaijan and Armenia since Israel launched its campaign, according to government figures.
On Tuesday in Tehran, long queues stretched outside bakeries and petrol stations as people rushed to stock up on fuel and basic supplies.
Iran's ISNA and Tasnim news agencies on Wednesday reported that five suspected agents of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency had been detained, on charges of tarnishing the country's image online.
With air raid sirens regularly blaring in Tel Aviv, some people relocated to an underground parking lot below a shopping mall.
"We've decided to permanently set camp here until it's all clear, I guess," Mali Papirany, 30, told AFP.
&nbsp;
- Nuclear facilities - &nbsp;
After a prolonged shadow war, Israel said its surprise air campaign was aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons -- an ambition Tehran denies.
The UN nuclear watchdog said there appeared to have been "direct impacts on the underground enrichment halls" at Iran's Natanz facility.
Israel has maintained ambiguity regarding its own atomic activities, but the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) says it has 90 nuclear warheads.
The conflict derailed a running series of nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington, with Iran saying after the start of Israel's campaign that it would not negotiate with the United States while under attack.
French President Emmanuel Macron said Trump had a critical role to play in restarting diplomacy with Iran, where any attempts at "regime change" would bring "chaos".

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Jaishankar, speaking in Brussels, urged viewing terrorism as a global issue, citing Pakistan's terror links. He criticized media framing of terrorism as India-Pakistan specific, following tensions post the Pahalgam attack and subsequent Indian precision strikes.

Terrorism: A Global Concern, Urges Jaishankar to EU Leaders

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Brussels emphasized that terrorism is a global concern, urging against treating it as merely an India-Pakistan issue, referencing Pakistan's history of engaging in terrorism. Post Pahalgam attack, India took decisive steps.

Jaishankar: Terrorism Needs Global Attention

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Brussels emphasized terrorism as a global issue, not limited to India-Pakistan conflicts, pointing out Pakistan's historical terrorism links. He stressed the need for global acknowledgment post the Pahalgam attack against Indian precision strikes.

Brussels, June 10 ( 
 (Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Israel faces another wave of Iranian missile attacks, with sirens blaring in the north and emergency services responding to multiple impact sites amid escalating tensions between the two nations.

Fresh sirens in north Israel warning of Iran missiles: army

Israel faces another wave of Iranian missile attacks, with sirens blaring in the north and emergency services responding to multiple impact sites amid escalating tensions between the two nations.

Sirens sounded in several areas of northern Israel on Monday, after the army reported a fresh barrage of Iranian missiles, at least the third salvo in less than two hours.
"A short while ago, sirens sounded in several areas in northern Israel following the identification of missiles launched from Iran toward the State of Israel," a military statement said, adding in another statement about 10 minutes later that people were allowed to leave shelters.
Earlier on Monday, sirens wailed across Israel for over 30 minutes as the military warned of multiple missile barrages launched from its arch-foe.
"Search and rescue forces are operating in several locations across the country in which reports of fallen projectiles were received," the military added.
Following the first wave, Israel's Magen David Adom rescue service reported no casualties "except a number of anxiety cases and people injured while seeking shelter".
Israeli media reported an impact in the area of Ashdod in the south.
The full extent of the damage in Israel after 11 days of war with Iran is not known due to military censorship rules, but at least 50 impacts have been acknowledged nationwide and 24 people have died, according to official figures.
Israel launched large-scale attacks on Iran on June 13 targeting its missile and nuclear facilities, as well as military leaders and security services.
Aerial assaults raged between the two foes early Monday, while Tehran vowed retaliation over the bunker-buster bombs American warplanes unleashed at the weekend on three nuclear sites.

Iran declares its military will dictate the response to recent US strikes on its nuclear facilities, seen as damaging to diplomatic relations.

Iran says its military will decide timing, nature and scale of its response to US attacks

Iran asserts its military will lead response to US actions on nuclear sites, calling US moves a diplomatic breach. Tensions rise at the UN.

Iran will decide its response to US military actions on its nuclear sites, amid accusations that diplomacy has been disregarded.

Iran has said that the US "decided to destroy diplomacy" with its strikes on the country's nuclear programme and that the Iranian military will decide the "timing, nature and scale of Iran's proportionate response".
 Iran's UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani on Sunday told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council that it called after US strikes on three of its nuclear facilities that "Iran had repeatedly warned the warmongering US regime to refrain from stumbling into this quagmire".
The US "decided to destroy diplomacy" with its strikes on Iran's nuclear sites and the Iranian military will decide the "timing, nature and scale of Iran's proportionate response", he said.
"We will take all measures necessary," the envoy told the meeting.
Iravani accused Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of succeeding in getting US President Donald Trump to do the West's "dirty work" and hijack US foreign policy, "dragging the United States into yet another costly and baseless war."
He called US and Israeli aggression against Iran "a clear and flagrant breach of international law".
Iravani said that as Iran's foreign minister held talks this week with several European counterparts, "the United States decided to destroy that diplomacy."
"What conclusion can be drawn from this situation?," he asked. "From the perspective of Western countries, Iran must 'return to the negotiating table'. But, as Iran's foreign minister mentioned, 'how can Iran return to something it never left -- let alone'."
&nbsp;

“If peace does not come quickly,” Trump cautioned, “remember, there are many targets left. Tonight was the most difficult of them all by far, and perhaps the most lethal.”


US strikes Iran targets in historic escalation

&ldquo;If peace does not come quickly,&rdquo; Trump cautioned, &ldquo;remember, there are many targets left. Tonight was the most difficult of them all by far, and perhaps the most lethal.&rdquo;

President Donald Trump hailed the U.S. airstrikes on three nuclear facilities in Iran as a &ldquo;spectacular military success,&rdquo; asserting that the mission had &ldquo;completely and totally obliterated&rdquo; key nuclear enrichment sites. The strikes marked the first direct U.S. military action on Iranian soil since the 1979 Iranian Revolution.
Delivering a nationally televised address from the White House, Trump issued a stern ultimatum to Iran: pursue peace swiftly or face further, more devastating attacks. &ldquo;There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran, far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days,&rdquo; he warned.
Standing alongside Vice-President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump reaffirmed that the targets&mdash;Fordo, Natanz, and Esfahan&mdash;had been the most fortified and difficult to strike, describing the operation as precise and highly effective.
&ldquo;If peace does not come quickly,&rdquo; Trump cautioned, &ldquo;remember, there are many targets left. Tonight was the most difficult of them all by far, and perhaps the most lethal.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
&lt;blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"&gt;&lt;p lang="en" dir="ltr"&gt;President Donald J. Trump Delivers Address to the Nation, June 21, 2025 &lt;a href="https://t.co/yutRDvtWv0"&gt;https://t.co/yutRDvtWv0&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&amp;mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1936602999553433965?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;June 22, 2025&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt; &lt;script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"&gt;&lt;/script&gt;
&nbsp;
The Pentagon confirmed the use of GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrators, also known as "bunker busters," to hit deeply buried nuclear facilities. The strikes were conducted under complete radio silence and reportedly avoided any U.S. casualties.
Although Iranian officials have not confirmed the full extent of the damage, early intelligence suggests significant destruction of nuclear infrastructure. Trump stressed that regime change is not the objective, and that Saturday&rsquo;s strikes were &ldquo;all we plan to do&rdquo;&mdash;a message communicated to Tehran via diplomatic channels shortly after the operation concluded.
Reacting to the strikes, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed full support, stating that the U.S. had given Israel advance notice. "President Trump and I often say: 'Peace through strength.' First comes strength, then comes peace,&rdquo; Netanyahu said. &ldquo;And tonight, President Trump and the United States acted with a lot of strength.&rdquo;
The conflict began on June 13, when Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran&rsquo;s nuclear and military sites, aiming to cripple its nuclear ambitions. In response, Iran fired hundreds of rockets and drones at Israel, killing at least 24 people.
According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), a Washington-based rights group monitoring the situation, at least 657 people have been killed in the broader regional conflict so far.
Trump, who had earlier urged restraint and pursued direct negotiations with Iran, reversed course under pressure from Israeli allies and some Republican lawmakers. Two prior Israeli strikes had been delayed at Trump's request to allow diplomatic efforts to unfold.
However, in his address, Trump made clear that further inaction was no longer an option: &ldquo;Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks would be far greater and a lot easier.&rdquo;

There was no immediate acknowledgment from Iran of any strikes being carried out.

Trump confirms US airstrikes on Iran nuclear sites

There was no immediate acknowledgment from Iran of any strikes being carried out.

The US military struck three sites in Iran early Sunday, inserting itself into Israel's war aimed at destroying the country's nuclear programme in a risky gambit to weaken a longtime foe amid Tehran's threat of reprisals that could spark a wider regional conflict.
President Donald Trump said Iran's key nuclear sites were &ldquo;completely and fully obliterated,&rdquo; and he warned Iran against carrying out retaliatory attacks, saying the US could hit more targets &ldquo;with precision, speed and skill.&rdquo; &ldquo;There will either be peace or there will be tragedy for Iran, far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days,&rdquo; Trump said in an address to the nation from the White House.
The Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran confirmed that attacks took place on its Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz sites, but it insisted that its work will not be stopped.
The decision to directly involve the US in the war comes after more than a week of strikes by Israel on Iran that aimed to systematically eradicate the country's air defences and offensive missile capabilities, while damaging its nuclear enrichment facilities.
But US and Israeli officials have said that American stealth bombers and the 30,000-pound (13,500-kilogramme) bunker buster bomb they alone can carry offered the best chance of destroying heavily fortified sites connected to the Iranian nuclear programme buried deep underground.
&ldquo;We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan," Trump said in a post on social media. "All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home.&rdquo; Trump added in a later post: &ldquo;This is an HISTORIC MOMENT FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ISRAEL, AND THE WORLD. IRAN MUST NOW AGREE TO END THIS WAR. THANK YOU!&rdquo; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump's decision to attack in a video message directed at the American president.
&ldquo;Your bold decision to target Iran's nuclear facilities, with the awesome and righteous might of the United States, will change history,&rdquo; he said. Netanyahu said the US &ldquo;has done what no other country on earth could do.&rdquo; The White House and Pentagon did not immediately elaborate on the operation. But Fox News host Sean Hannity said shortly after 9 p.m. Eastern that he had spoken with Trump and that six bunker buster bombs were used on the Fordo facility. Hannity said 30 Tomahawk missiles fired by U.S. submarines 400 miles away struck the Iranian nuclear sites of Natanz and Isfahan.
The strikes are a perilous decision, as Iran has pledged to retaliate if the U.S. joined the Israeli assault, and for Trump personally. He won the White House on the promise of keeping America out of costly foreign conflicts and scoffed at the value of American interventionism.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that he was &ldquo;gravely alarmed&rdquo; by the &ldquo;dangerous escalation&rdquo; of American strikes.
&ldquo;There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control &mdash; with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world,&rdquo; he said in a statement.
Trump told reporters Friday that he was not interested in sending ground forces into Iran, saying it's &ldquo;the last thing you want to do.&rdquo; He had previously indicated that he would make a final choice over the course of two weeks.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned the United States on Wednesday that strikes targeting the Islamic Republic will &ldquo;result in irreparable damage for them.&rdquo; And Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei declared &ldquo;any American intervention would be a recipe for an all-out war in the region." Trump has vowed that he would not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon, and he had initially hoped that the threat of force would bring the country's leaders to give up its nuclear programme peacefully.
The Israeli military said Saturday it was preparing for the possibility of a lengthy war, while Iran's foreign minister warned before the U.S. attack that American military involvement &ldquo;would be very, very dangerous for everyone.&rdquo; The prospect of a wider war loomed. Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen said they would resume attacks on US vessels in the Red Sea if the Trump administration joined Israel's military campaign. The Houthis paused such attacks in May under a deal with the US.
The US ambassador to Israel announced that the US had begun &ldquo;assisted departure flights,&rdquo; the first from Israel since the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, 2023, that sparked the war in Gaza.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday that Trump planned to make his decision on the strikes within two weeks. Instead, he struck just two days later.
Trump appears to have made the calculation &mdash; at the prodding of Israeli officials and many Republican lawmakers &mdash; that Israel's operation had softened the ground and presented a perhaps unparalleled opportunity to set back Iran's nuclear programme, perhaps permanently.
The Israelis say their offensive has already crippled Iran's air defences, allowing them to already significantly degrade multiple Iranian nuclear sites.
But to destroy the Fordo nuclear fuel enrichment plant, Israel appealed to Trump for the bunker-busting American bomb known as the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, which uses its weight and sheer kinetic force to reach deeply buried targets and then explode. The bomb is currently delivered only by the B-2 stealth bomber, which is only found in the American arsenal.
If deployed in the attack, it would be the first combat use of the weapon.
The bomb carries a conventional warhead, and is believed to be able to penetrate about 200 feet (61 meters) below the surface before exploding, and the bombs can be dropped one after another, effectively drilling deeper and deeper with each successive blast.
The International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed that Iran is producing highly enriched uranium at Fordo, raising the possibility that nuclear material could be released into the area if the GBU-57 A/B were used to hit the facility.
Previous Israeli strikes at another Iranian nuclear site, Natanz, on a centrifuge site have caused contamination only at the site itself, not the surrounding area, the IAEA has said.
Trump's decision for direct U.S. military intervention comes after his administration made an unsuccessful two-month push &mdash; including with high-level, direct negotiations with the Iranians &mdash; aimed at persuading Tehran to curb its nuclear programme.
For months, Trump said he was dedicated to a diplomatic push to persuade Iran to give up its nuclear ambitions. And he twice &mdash; in April and again in late May &mdash; persuaded Netanyahu to hold off on military action against Iran and give diplomacy more time.
The US in recent days has been shifting military aircraft and warships into and around the Middle East to protect Israel and US bases from Iranian attacks.
All the while, Trump has gone from publicly expressing hope that the moment could be a &ldquo;second chance&rdquo; for Iran to make a deal to delivering explicit threats on Khamenei and making calls for Tehran's unconditional surrender.
&ldquo;We know exactly where the so-called Supreme Leader' is hiding,&rdquo; Trump said in a social media posting. &ldquo;He is an easy target, but is safe there - We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now.&rdquo; The military showdown with Iran comes seven years after Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Obama-administration brokered agreement in 2018, calling it the &ldquo;worst deal ever.&rdquo; The 2015 deal, signed by Iran, U.S. and other world powers, created a long-term, comprehensive nuclear agreement that limited Tehran's enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.
Trump decried the Obama-era deal for giving Iran too much in return for too little, because the agreement did not cover Iran's non-nuclear malign behavior.
Trump has bristled at criticism from some of his MAGA faithful, including conservative pundit Tucker Carlson, who have suggested that further US involvement would be a betrayal to supporters who were drawn to his promise to end US involvement in expensive and endless wars.

Raila Odinga criticizes the cancellation of a major $2 billion infrastructure deal with Adani for JKIA's expansion, highlighting political interference.

Raila Odinga on Canceled JKIA Deal of Adani

Raila Odinga laments the lost opportunity for Nairobi's economic growth due to the canceled Adani deal for JKIA, stressing political interference issues.

Raila Odinga expresses regret over the canceled $2 billion Adani deal for JKIA expansion, citing political interference.

Kenya's former prime minister Raila Odinga has said that he was disappointed when the Adani deal to expand and manage the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) collapsed, according to a media report on Friday.
Odinga, while speaking on the second day of the National Executive Retreat in Karen in Nairobi, also said that the deal was politicised, resulting in its cancellation, The Star newspaper reported.
"I was very disappointed when we were not able to move on with the airport contract that was very unfortunate,&rdquo; he was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
The leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) said should the deal have proceeded, it would have elevated Nairobi into a regional economic hub.
He said that the first expansion contract for JKIA was awarded during his tenure as the Prime Minister but was later on cancelled after the grand coalition government left office.
&ldquo;We had awarded the Greenfield airport contract before we left government with Mwai Kibaki in 2012. That contract was cancelled, then it was given to the same contractor but then again cancelled because of disagreements. When we got to Adani, they (the political rivals) brought politics and the contract was cancelled," he said.
&ldquo;If that is not done, Nairobi will just become dormant. Look at Addis Ababa, they are going and now putting up a new big airport and it's going to be the hub around,&rdquo; he added.
Under the proposed airport deal worth nearly USD 2 billion, the conglomerate was to add a second runway at JKIA and upgrade the passenger terminal. It was also to operate it on a 30-year lease.
Odinga said if the airport construction is done, it has the potential to become Africa&rsquo;s top airline.

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