A brutal escalation is unfolding in West Asia as Iran reels from the deadliest Israeli aerial attacks in years. The attacks, launched under what Israel calls “Operation Rising Lion,” have left over 224 Iranians dead, including civilians, scientists, and elite IRGC personnel. Tehran, backed diplomatically and strategically by Russia, has responded with missile barrages targeting Israeli bases, warning that the war has only just begun.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appeared in a nationally televised address and declaring, that “Starting a war with Iran is playing with the lion’s tail… This war is not only about missiles, but about sovereignty.”
In parallel, multiple Arab nations officially condemned the Israeli attacks on Iran and urged restraint, aligning their rhetoric with Tehran’s calls for regional solidarity.
Over 1,200 people have been injured, and more than 330,000 evacuated from central Tehran amid further attaks. Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the Israeli bombardment, stating it “does not adhere to any international rules or laws and, like a drunkard, openly and brazenly engages in terror and ignites the flames of war” before a passive international audience.
According to CNN’s, many of the attakss deliberately targeted civilian infrastructure, including telecom hubs and residential sectors in Tehran, Shiraz, and Isfahan. Iranian officials said the use of US-manufactured guided munitions in attacks on densely populated areas “constitutes a war crime.”
According to Russian TASS, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov condemned the growing Western complicity in the Israeli escalation against Iran and warned that unilateral strikes risk spiraling into a broader regional conflict. “It is unacceptable that some countries justify Israel’s actions while ignoring the grave consequences of such provocations,” Lavrov said during a press briefing in Moscow. He emphasized that the situation must be resolved “not through force, but through inclusive negotiations involving all regional players.”
Russia criticized the United States for blocking UN efforts to de-escalate the crisis, calling the move politically short-sighted and morally indefensible. He reiterated Moscow’s position that the Security Council must not serve the interests of a few Western powers while the Middle East burns. “Russia calls on all responsible nations to oppose this path to catastrophe,” he added, highlighting that Moscow remains ready to mediate between Tehran and other regional capitals to prevent a full-blown war.
Iranian retaliation and drone swarms hit deep inside Israel
Within 48 hours of Israel’s first strike, Iran launched a coordinated counterattack, dubbed Operation True Promise III, deploying a mix of precision-guided missiles and loitering drones at Israeli military facilities, including airbases and command headquarters. Assiciate Press reported that missile fragments also hit the US Embassy in Tel Aviv, causing superficial damage but no reported injuries, and disrupted operations at Ben Gurion Airport.
Although Israel’s Iron Dome intercepted most of the inbound threats—around 80–90% by some estimates—the strikes unfortunately led to at least 24 Israeli fatalities and nearly 600 injuries, with widespread damage in Petah Tikva, Haifa, Bnei Brak, and Bat Yam. According to The Guardian, “military installations in central Israel” were hit, and four people were killed in Petah Tikva, three in Haifa, and at least one in Bnei Brak, while Associates Press confirmed similar casualty figures .
Iranian state media declared that the operation was carefully targeted at military infrastructure. In a statement reported by The Guardian, the IRGC claimed it struck “the military intelligence centre of the Zionist regime’s army, Aman, and the Mossad, Israeli intelligence agency, headquarters” in Tel Aviv—asserting that civilian zones had been intentionally avoided.
Trump issues assassination threat as diplomacy collapses
Amid the chaos, US President Donald Trump emerged at the G7 summit with aggressive warnings.
“The US knows where Khamenei is. We could hit him. We’re not doing it—yet,” Trump declared, referring to Iran’s Supreme Leader. His comments, reported by CNBC, were widely condemned as incitement to assassination. Iran’s UN envoy called Trump’s words “a criminal threat against the legitimate leadership of a sovereign state.”
Russia and China back Iran as US blocks UN ceasefire resolution
During an emergency UN Security Council session on June 16–17, 2025, a draft resolution co-sponsored by Russia and Algeria, condemning Israeli airstrikes on Iran and calling for an immediate ceasefire, was vetoed by the United States.
Russia’s UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya denounced the decision as a betrayal of the Council’s purpose, telling reporters that Israel’s actions are “a gross violation of the UN Charter and international law” and warning that the silence amounted to permitting “a potential nuclear catastrophe” in the region, according to Ynet.
Iran’s UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani accused the United States of bearing responsibility for Israeli aggression. He insisted the strikes were legitimate acts of self‑defense and said Washington had “shared responsibility for this unlawful act” by providing “weapons, intelligence and political backing,” according to Reuters. China’s UN envoy Fu Cong echoed Russia’s concerns, decrying “reckless military actions” and urging restraint to prevent further escalation—adding that outside interference could “widen the conflict,” as reported by Ynet.
As tensions spiked following Israel’s strikes, US President Donald Trump posted an ominous message on his social media platform Monday evening, calling for the “immediate evacuation of Tehran.” His post came amid widespread speculation of additional Israeli or US military action. Trump did not elaborate on the nature of the threat, but Iranian media interpreted the message as a psychological provocation and a signal of potential escalation, according to Associates Press.
There has been no official announcement from Iranian authorities confirming any mass evacuation of Tehran residents. However, the atmosphere in the capital grew increasingly tense as civil defense sirens sounded intermittently, and some residents voluntarily left densely populated neighborhoods. Iran’s Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi confirmed that mobile networks were disrupted, attributing the blackout to suspected Israeli cyber intrusions, and urged the public to temporarily avoid using messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram due to security concerns.
