Israel strikes Iran’s capital Tehran, says targetted nuclear, military sites

Vartha Bharati | 13-06-2025 | 07:12:00 IST

Tehran: Explosions rocked Tehran early Friday morning as Israel launched airstrikes targeting suspected Iranian nuclear and military facilities. The unprecedented escalation comes just a day after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) censured Iran for non-cooperation with nuclear inspectors, the first such move in two decades.

In response, Iran announced the creation of a third uranium enrichment facility and a plan to replace older centrifuges with more advanced models. Iranian officials reiterated that the country has no intent to develop nuclear weapons but warned that it retains the capability if necessary.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the nation via YouTube, stating that the strikes would continue “for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.” Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed Israel’s involvement, warning that retaliatory drone and missile attacks from Iran were expected. A special emergency order was declared for Israeli civilians.

The United States distanced itself from the offensive. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that Washington had been notified but did not participate in the strikes. “Our top priority is protecting American personnel in the region,” Rubio stated, adding that the U.S. had already withdrawn some diplomats from Iraq and offered voluntary evacuations for families of service members.

Smoke was seen rising from Tehran’s western Chitgar neighborhood. While no known nuclear facilities are located there, the broader scope of the operation remains unclear. Both Iranian and Israeli airspaces were temporarily closed.

Meanwhile, global markets reacted immediately, Brent crude prices spiked nearly 5% following news of the attack.

In a separate statement, U.S. President Donald Trump revealed he had urged Netanyahu to delay military action, warning that a diplomatic resolution might still be possible. However, at the time of the strike, Trump was seen mingling with lawmakers on the White House lawn and reportedly continued interactions despite the unfolding crisis.

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Iran''''s Mexico Embassy says Iran is negotiating with FIFA to move World Cup matches

17-03-2026 ¦ 17-03-2026 IST

Image Credit: X

Mexico City (AP): Iran's Embassy in Mexico on Tuesday said the country is negotiating with FIFA to move Iran's World Cup matches from the U.S. to Mexico after President Donald Trump discouraged the team from attending the tournament, citing safety concerns.

It was unclear whether such talks are happening with FIFA, which did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Iranian officials have previously said it is up to FIFA and the U.S. to keep the team safe during the World Cup.

The Embassy posted a statement attributed to Iranian soccer federation president Mehdi Taj saying Iran wants to move its group stage matches to Mexico to ensure the safety of players and officials.

“When Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America,” the statement said. “We are currently negotiating with FIFA to hold Iran's matches in the World Cup in Mexico.”

The World Cup is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Iran is scheduled to play against New Zealand on June 16 and Belgium on June 21 in Inglewood, California, before finishing group play in Seattle against Egypt on June 26.

Moving the games would be unprecedented less than three months before the start of the World Cup.

Trump said last week that the Iran team was welcome at the World Cup despite the ongoing war in the Middle East but “I really don't believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety.”

Iran has sent mixed signals about its participation in the tournament after the U.S. and Israel launched attacks that killed the Islamic republic's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens of other senior figures.

Sports minister Ahmad Donyamali told state TV last week that it was not possible to play "due to the wicked acts they have done against Iran.”

But after Trump's post the national team said on Instagram that “no one can exclude” it from the tournament and a government spokesman in Tehran stressed in it was the responsibility of FIFA and the U.S. as a co-host nation to keep players safe and secure.

“FIFA is the organizer of the World Cup,” Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said. “When warnings are issued at the highest level about the environment being unsafe for Iranian football players, this indicates that the host country apparently lacks the capacity and ability to provide security for such an important sporting event.”

Soccer is followed passionately in Iran, a nation of more than 90 million people which has qualified for seven men's World Cups and each of the past four editions. The team is ranked No. 20 in the world by FIFA and behind only Japan from Asia.

FIFA has not commented in recent days beyond an Instagram post by president Gianni Infantino last week that he'd received assurances from Trump that Iran was welcome at the tournament.