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Iran on Saturday launched multiple waves of drone attacks targeting Israel, according to state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), which reported that the seventh and eighth stages of drone launches have been carried out. “Information received indicates that most of the drones hit the intended targets,” IRNA said, without specifying the nature of the targets or the extent of the damage. At the same time, Al Jazeera reported that the Israeli army as saying it had intercepted approximately 40 drones launched from Iran on Saturday. Despite the interceptions, one drone is believed to have breached Israeli air defences. Since the onset of the current conflict, Israel claims around 450 ballistic missiles and more than 400 drones have been launched from Iran. 2nd week of Israel-Iran war begins with fresh strikes Meanwhile, videos verified by Al Jazeera show large plumes of smoke rising over the southwestern Iranian city of Ahvaz following what appears to be an Israeli strike. Ahvaz, situated in oil-rich Khuzestan province, is Iran’s primary oil-producing region. The Israeli military has stated that it has numerous targets yet to strike and appears determined to continue its operations. The campaign now appears to extend beyond military sites, encompassing scientific advisers and missile infrastructure. Israel's stated objective remains halting Iran’s uranium enrichment, which it claims is aimed at developing a nuclear weapon. Officials have also expressed interest in acquiring the American bunker-busting bomb capable of destroying Iran’s heavily fortified Fordow nuclear facility.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday issued a stern warning against the emergence of a “new Sykes-Picot order” in the Middle East, cautioning against redrawing borders through violence. “We will not allow the establishment of a new Sykes-Picot order in our region with borders to be drawn in blood,” Erdogan said during a summit of Islamic countries held in Istanbul, according to Al Jazeera. The original Sykes-Picot Agreement, signed in 1916 between Britain and France during World War I, was a secret pact that aimed to divide the Ottoman Empire’s Arab provinces into zones of British and French control and influence following the empire's collapse. Erdogan also voiced support for Iran amid ongoing regional tensions, expressing optimism about the country's ability to weather current challenges. “We have no doubt the Iranian people, with their solidarity in the face of difficulties and strong state experience, will hopefully overcome these days,” he said. Israel orders evacuation of 300,000 in Tehran as Trump issues wrgent warning Meanwhile, the Israeli military has released footage and photographs claiming to show a strike on Iran’s Isfahan nuclear facility. “This is what the nuclear facility in Isfahan looks like, which is used to convert uranium, which is the stage that follows the enrichment stage on the way to producing nuclear weapons,” said Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee in a statement. “The air force struck the central facility along with buildings used to produce centrifuges. We continue to strike the Iranian nuclear project,” he added.

More than 400 Iranians have been killed and at least 3,056 injured in a series of Israeli attacks over the past nine days, according to Iran’s Health Ministry. Most of the casualties are civilians, as tensions between the two regional powers intensify to a level unseen since the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s. In a statement shared on social media Saturday, Hossein Kermanpour, head of public relations at Iran’s Health Ministry, said, “Nine days of attacks have killed more than 400 Iranians, including 54 women and children and wounded 3,056 others.” He added, “Most of the casualties have been civilians.” Providing further details, Kermanpour said, “Among the injured, 2,220 have been treated and discharged from Ministry of Health hospitals, while 232 received outpatient care at the scene of the attacks. During this period, our dedicated medical teams across the country have performed 457 surgeries on the wounded.” The Israeli military, meanwhile, confirmed it had struck a nuclear research facility in Iran overnight and claimed responsibility for killing three senior Iranian commanders in targeted attacks. The Israeli military warned that it was preparing for the possibility of a drawn-out conflict, reports Al Jazeera. No evidence Iran seeks nuclear weapons: Putin On Saturday morning, plumes of smoke were seen rising from a mountainous area in Isfahan, where local officials reported an Israeli airstrike on the city’s nuclear research facility. The attack reportedly came in two waves and targeted two centrifuge production sites. This marked the second Israeli assault on Isfahan since the conflict began, part of what appears to be a broader Israeli effort to dismantle Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Akbar Salehi, Isfahan province's deputy governor for security affairs, confirmed that the Israeli strikes had caused damage to the facility but stated there were no human casualties in this particular incident.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated that Moscow has seen no evidence suggesting Iran is seeking to develop nuclear weapons, according to remarks published by Sky News Arabia on Saturday. In an interview cited by the outlet, Putin said that both Russia and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have never had any proof that Iran is preparing to obtain nuclear arms. “Russia, as well as the IAEA, has never had any evidence that Iran is preparing to obtain nuclear weapons, as we have repeatedly put the Israeli leadership on notice,” Sky News Arabia quoted Putin as saying. The Russian president went on to state that Moscow is ready to support Tehran in pursuing a peaceful nuclear programme, asserting Iran’s right to do so under international law. Putin’s comments come amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, particularly in the context of the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict. Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on Friday, the Russian leader also said Moscow is actively sharing its proposals with both Iran and Israel in an effort to halt the escalating violence. However, he did not disclose the nature or content of these proposals. This development underscores Russia’s continued involvement in Middle Eastern diplomacy and its strategic alignment with Iran, especially as Western concerns about Iran’s nuclear ambitions persist.

In a dramatic escalation of tensions in the Middle East, Israel has reportedly launched airstrikes targeting Iran’s Isfahan, a city that houses a key nuclear research centre. In response, Iran fired a series of missiles early in the morning aimed at central Israel, igniting a fire in the city of Holon. 2nd week of Israel-Iran war begins with fresh strikes The exchange marks a significant intensification in hostilities between the two nations. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reaffirmed that Iran’s nuclear programme remains peaceful and that the country is still open to diplomatic efforts. He, however, stressed that Israel’s attacks must cease before any meaningful dialogue can proceed. #With inputs from news agencies

The second week of the Israel-Iran conflict began with fresh rounds of strikes despite ongoing talks between European ministers and Iran’s top diplomat. Friday’s four-hour discussions in Geneva aimed to ease tensions between the two rivals but ended without any significant progress. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump continued to consider the extent of American military involvement, as fears grew over possible attacks on nuclear reactors. Nonetheless, European officials remained optimistic about future negotiations. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi expressed willingness to continue dialogue but emphasized that Tehran was unwilling to negotiate with the U.S. as long as Israel’s attacks persisted. IAEA chief warns of nuclear fallout from Israeli attacks on Iran Tehran vows to make Grossi ‘pay’ A senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, declared on social media Saturday that the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi, will “pay” once the conflict with Israel ends. The threat from Ali Larijani comes amid growing criticism from Iranian officials who accuse Grossi of provoking the recent Israeli surprise attack through his contradictory statements regarding Iran’s nuclear program. Last Friday, Grossi told the United Nations Security Council that although Iran possesses the materials necessary to develop a nuclear weapon, it currently appears that the country has no intention of doing so.

The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog has issued a grave warning over the potential consequences of Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, citing the risk of nuclear contamination and long-term damage to global non-proliferation efforts. Speaking at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council in New York, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi said the recent attacks have caused a "sharp degradation" in nuclear safety and security in Iran. While no radiological release has yet affected the public, Grossi warned that the risk remains dangerously high. In particular, he raised concerns about the Israeli strike on the Natanz nuclear site. Although radiation levels outside the facility remain within normal limits, there is confirmed radiological and chemical contamination inside. Life gradually returning to normal in Tehran despite tensions “The radiation, primarily consisting of alpha particles, poses a significant danger if inhaled or ingested,” said Grossi. “This risk can be effectively managed with appropriate protective measures, such as respiratory protection. However, the main concern inside the facility is chemical toxicity.” At the Esfahan nuclear site, where four buildings were damaged in the 13 June attack, there was no increase in off-site radiation, but similar concerns over chemical contamination persist. The IAEA reported no known damage at the Fordow enrichment facility, Iran’s main site for uranium enrichment to 60 per cent. Grossi issued a particularly strong warning about the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, which remains operational and contains thousands of kilograms of nuclear material. “In case of an attack on the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, a direct hit could result in a very high release of radioactivity to the environment,” he cautioned. He explained that even a strike that disables the plant’s two external power lines could lead to a meltdown of the reactor’s core, potentially requiring mass evacuations, sheltering measures, the distribution of stable iodine, and extensive food restrictions across areas spanning hundreds of kilometres. The IAEA chief also raised alarm over the potential consequences of any attack on the Tehran Nuclear Research Reactor, saying it could have “severe consequences, potentially for large areas of the city and its inhabitants.” “Armed attacks on nuclear facilities should never take place,” Grossi said, calling for restraint and a return to diplomacy. “Military escalation threatens lives and delays indispensable work toward a diplomatic solution for the long-term assurance that Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon.” He reiterated that a diplomatic resolution remains possible. “Elements for an agreement have been discussed,” Grossi noted. “The IAEA can guarantee, through a watertight inspections system, that nuclear weapons will not be developed in Iran. This can form the basis of a durable agreement that brings peace and avoids a nuclear crisis in the Middle East,” Grossi said. Israel claims killing of Quds Palestinian Corps commander in Qom strike Grossi warned that failure to reach a political solution could have far-reaching consequences, including a protracted conflict and an erosion of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime. “The alternative,” he said, “is a looming threat of nuclear proliferation that would not only emanate from the Middle East but could unravel the Non-Proliferation Treaty itself.” # With inputs from agencies

Iran has denounced a recent Israeli attack on its territory, describing it as an act conducted under “false pretences” and drawing parallels to the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq. Government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani told Al Jazeera that the Israeli assault was unjustified and part of a broader pattern of using unsubstantiated claims to justify military aggression. “Iran has repeatedly said that if the problem is the global issue of nuclear weapons … we have said again and again that we have no intention of pursuing them,” Mohajerani said. She questioned the legitimacy of the accusations being levelled at Iran, suggesting they echoed the pretexts used by the United States two decades ago. “Everyone knows that this path has been tried repeatedly over recent decades. Wasn’t Iraq invaded under similar pretexts? And after all these years, did they ever find chemical weapons?” Mohajerani went on to frame Iran’s military response to the Israeli attack as an act of “lawful defence”. “Over the past 200 years, Iran has not initiated any war. We have no interest in starting one and deliberately avoid it,” she stated. “What we are witnessing today is a legitimate act of self-defence, which is clearly recognised as Iran’s right under all international protocols.” Israel claims killing of Quds Palestinian Corps commander in Qom strike The comments come amid heightened tensions in the region, as fears grow of a broader conflict involving multiple regional powers. Both Israel and Iran have long accused each other of destabilising actions, but direct confrontations have been rare until recent months. While Israel has yet to officially confirm the details of the latest strike, it maintains that Iran’s military infrastructure poses a serious threat. Tehran has consistently denied developing nuclear weapons, insisting its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes. International reaction to the escalation has been mixed, with calls from some global powers urging restraint on both sides. The United Nations has not yet issued a formal statement on the incident. As the situation continues to unfold, analysts warn that the rhetoric and retaliatory actions risk dragging the Middle East into a deeper and more dangerous phase of conflict. # With inputs from Al Jazeera  

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has announced that Saeed Izadi, the commander of the Palestinian Corps in Iran’s Quds Force, was assassinated in an Israeli attack on an apartment in the Iranian city of Qom. Earlier reports stated that an Israeli airstrike targeted an apartment in Qom, located about 140km (87 miles) south of Tehran, resulting in the death of a 16-year-old. It remains unclear whether the teenager and Izadi were killed in the same incident. Life gradually returning to normal in Tehran despite tensions Katz, confirming Izadi’s death, said he had “funded and armed Hamas ahead of the October 7 massacre”. “[Izadi’s assassination is] a huge achievement for Israeli intelligence and air force, justice for the murdered and kidnapped. Israel’s long arm will reach all its enemies,” he said. Source: Al Jazeera

Life in the Iranian capital is slowly returning to normal following days of heightened tension caused by Israel’s bombing campaign and a warning from former US President Donald Trump urging residents to flee the city. Although the recent strikes appear to have been limited in scale, Iran’s air defence systems remain active over Tehran, particularly during the night. The lingering threat has left many residents wary, but signs of recovery are becoming visible. The streets, while still noticeably quieter than usual, are seeing more movement. An increasing number of shops and even some restaurants have reopened. Traffic on the roads is also picking up, with the city witnessing its first traffic jam since mid-week. Sirens sound in Beersheba as Iranian missiles strike Despite concerns over potential shortages, there appears to be no disruption in the supply of essentials. Supermarkets are open and well stocked with food, and fuel stations across the city are operating normally with no queues reported at the pumps. The gradual return to routine comes as a sign of resilience among Tehran’s residents, even as the situation remains uncertain. # With inputs from CNN