Iran has confirmed that the United States and Israel carried out a joint strike on its Natanz nuclear facility earlier today. The Iranian Atomic Energy Organisation says the site was hit but that there has been no radioactive leakage.
Iran has signalled limited flexibility, indicating it may allow some merchant shipping through the Strait of Hormuz to avoid a complete disruption of global energy supplies.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, meanwhile, reached out directly to the region’s Muslim-majority nations, saying Tehran considers them brothers with no dispute between them and that the only party benefiting from their differences is Israel. More from our West Asia
The conflict in West Asia is entering a more dangerous phase, following the joint United States-Israel strike on Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility.
Tehran says the site was hit but confirms there has been no radioactive leakage. In Washington, Donald Trump says military objectives are close to being achieved and has hinted at a possible drawdown of operations. At the same time, he has indicated the United States may step back from securing the Strait of Hormuz, calling on other major economies to take on a greater role, a move that could reshape regional security dynamics.
Earlier, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian had said Tehran is not seeking war with its neighbours, instead blaming the United States and Israel for escalating tensions. On the ground, the conflict is widening. Along the Israel-Lebanon border, exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah are intensifying, raising the risk of a broader confrontation. The spillover is also becoming clearer, with a drone strike targeting Iraq’s intelligence headquarters in Baghdad and Israeli strikes in southern Syria drawing criticism from regional countries over violations of sovereignty.
In southern Lebanon, Israeli strikes have intensified over the past few hours, with reports of attacks hitting the same locations twice, including areas where first responders were working. Lebanese health authorities say at least forty healthcare workers have been killed since this phase of the conflict began. Hezbollah says it has responded with coordinated drone and rocket attacks on Israeli military positions near Safed and other northern areas. In northern Israel, two buildings were damaged by rocket debris following an attack launched from Lebanon, as cross-border fire continues to escalate.
In the United Arab Emirates, the Ministry of Defence confirmed within the last hour that air defence systems intercepted three ballistic missiles and eight drones targeting the country. Authorities say no injuries have been reported and the situation is under control, despite explosions being heard over key areas.
