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Tehran’s streets have been largely deserted with people sheltering during airstrikes. The paramilitary Basij force, which has played a central role in crushing recent nationwide protests, set up checkpoints across the city, according to witnesses. In the northern Iranian city of Babol, a student, speaking anonymously over concerns of retribution, told the AP that armed riot police were on the streets Saturday night and into the early hours of Sunday after the death of Khamenei. “We don’t know whether to be happy about the elimination of the criminals who oppress us or to remain silent in the face of the U.S. and Israel’s war against the country and its interests and the terror that is taking place,” he said. Meanwhile, the war in the Middle East spiraled further Monday as Israel and the U.S. pounded Iran. Tehran and its allies hit back against Israel, neighboring Gulf states, and targets critical to the world’s production of oil and natural gas.

Iran’s Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Reza Najafi, on Monday accused the United States and Israel of carrying out airstrikes on the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility in Iran. His claim contradicts IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi, who said the agency has “no indication” that any Iranian nuclear sites have been hit. Speaking at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna during a special Board of Governors session requested by Russia, Najafi said, “Again they attacked Iran’s peaceful safeguarded nuclear facilities yesterday. Their justification that Iran wants to develop nuclear weapons is simply a big lie.” When asked about the targeted site, he identified Natanz, located roughly 220 kilometers south of Tehran. The site houses both above- and below-ground laboratories and was central to Iran’s uranium enrichment program, including advanced centrifuges capable of enriching uranium up to 60%, close to weapons-grade levels. US Jets downed in Kuwait as Iran strikes region Israel previously struck Natanz’s above-ground Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant on June 13, leaving it “functionally destroyed,” and damaged underground halls holding centrifuge cascades. A follow-up U.S. strike on June 22 further hit the underground facilities. Grossi, addressing the Board, reiterated that “up to now” no nuclear installations, including the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant or Tehran Research Reactor, show signs of damage. The IAEA continues trying to contact Iranian authorities but has received no response due to communication constraints. He warned that military actions in the region raise nuclear safety risks, though radiation levels in neighboring countries remain normal. Najafi also criticized the U.S., accusing former President Donald Trump of using “deception and disinformation” to justify military actions. He called the strikes “unlawful, criminal and brutal” and urged the IAEA board members to “categorically condemn” them.

Fire and smoke were seen rising from the U.S. Embassy compound in Kuwait following an Iranian attack on the country on Monday. Video obtained by The Associated Press showed thick smoke and alarms ringing inside the embassy. The U.S. government earlier warned its citizens in Kuwait to take cover and stay indoors. It also advised people not to visit the embassy, without giving further details.

Iran has dismissed reports of renewed nuclear negotiations with the United States as Israeli strikes continue across Lebanon and Iran. Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s National Security Council, denied claims in US media that Tehran had made a fresh push for talks. He said Iran will not negotiate with the US at present as the country is defending itself and that its armed forces did not initiate the conflict. Trump, who a day earlier had encouraged Iranians to “take over” their government, signaled Sunday that he was open to dialogue with Iran’s new leadership, reports AP. A spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry told Al Jazeera that the country attempted diplomatic engagement twice: during the interrupted 2025 negotiations and again now, while facing renewed US-Israeli attacks. Iranian retaliatory strikes have hit Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Beit Shemesh, killing at least nine in central Israel. Israel announces ‘offensive campaign against Hezbollah’ The Israeli army’s chief of staff, Eyal Zamir, said in a meeting following Hezbollah rocket fire on Israel, “We have launched an offensive campaign against Hezbollah.” Lebanese authorities reported that Israeli air attacks on the country have so far killed at least 31 people and wounded 149 others. According to Lebanon’s National News Agency, Israeli air attacks hit the southern suburbs of Beirut and southern Lebanon, leaving 20 dead and 91 wounded in the capital’s suburbs and 11 dead and 58 wounded in the south. Israel launched the strikes after Hezbollah fired rockets at northern Israel, widening the conflict triggered by joint US-Israel attacks on Iran. Forced displacement threats from Israel have caused hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes in southern Lebanon. Trump said US attacks on Iran will continue until all Washington’s objectives are achieved and vowed to avenge the deaths of three American soldiers. Iran has continued strikes on US assets across the Gulf, killing one person in Bahrain, with Iraq and Kuwait also reporting Iranian raids following the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and up to 40 top officials. US embassy in Kuwait warns of ongoing missile and drone threats The US embassy in Kuwait said there is a “continuing threat of missile and UAV attacks” over the country. “The US Embassy in Kuwait urges US citizens in Kuwait to shelter in place, review security plans in the event of an attack, and to stay alert in case of additional future attacks,” it said in a statement, adding that embassy personnel are sheltering in place. Two killed in US-Israeli attacks on Iran’s Sanandaj The Iranian Fars news agency reported that at least two people were killed in an “enemy attack” on the central city of Sanandaj. It said the city was targeted by enemy missiles, destroying several residential buildings near the police station. The Tasnim news agency said US and Israeli forces dropped six missiles on different parts of the city, including densely populated neighbourhoods. Footage verified by Al Jazeera showed fire and huge clouds of smoke in the sky during one attack. Trump has turned ‘America First’ to ‘Israel First’, Larijani says Larijani said in a post on X that Trump has plunged the Middle East into chaos with his “delusional fantasies and now fears more American casualties.” He added, “He turned his self-made ‘America First’ slogan into ‘Israel First’ and sacrificed American soldiers for Israel’s power-hungry ambitions.” He said it is American soldiers and their families who will pay the cost, adding that Iran will continue to defend itself. Oil prices soar, stock markets fall amid regional conflict Crude oil prices rose sharply while stocks fell as investors weighed the fallout from US-Israeli attacks on Iran. Brent crude rose as much as 13 percent in Asia on Monday morning before stabilising, with the international benchmark up by about 5 percent at $76.48 per barrel as of midday Tokyo time. Asian stock markets opened lower, with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index and Japan’s Nikkei 225 down about 2 percent and 1.5 percent, respectively. In the US, stock futures fell significantly outside regular market hours, with futures tracking the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite both down about 0.7 percent, signalling a volatile day ahead on Wall Street.

Israeli jets struck Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, after Hezbollah launched rockets and drones on a military base near Haifa in northern Israel. Hezbollah said the attack was in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The group described it as a move to defend Lebanon and its people. The Israeli military responded with air strikes across southern Beirut, southern villages, and the Bekaa Valley. It said it targeted senior Hezbollah members and warned residents in more than 50 areas to evacuate. Lebanese authorities have expressed concern over rising tensions. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called the Hezbollah attack “irresponsible” and said it puts Lebanon’s security at risk. Hezbollah operates independently from the Lebanese government and has been weakened by a 2024 war with Israel. Experts say it is unclear how much damage the group can inflict on Israel now. The escalation comes amid ongoing regional tensions involving the United States, Israel, Iran, and their allies.   With inputs from BBC

At least 153 people, including children, were killed after a reported missile strike hit a girls’ school in southern Iran, Iranian authorities said, blaming the United States and Israel for the attack. According to Iranian officials, the strike hit a school in the town of Minab, located near a base of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has been targeted in previous attacks. The US military’s United States Central Command said it was reviewing reports of the incident, while Israel’s military said it was not aware of any Israeli operations in the area. Iran’s Red Crescent said at least 201 people have been killed and 747 injured in air strikes across Iran since Saturday. Red Cross and Red Crescent officials in Geneva said emergency response teams were dispatched to the school following the incident. An official said the school in Hormozgan province was struck by three missiles and is located about 600 metres from the IRGC base. The BBC has verified videos from the scene showing smoke rising from a damaged building as crowds gathered and people screamed in panic. However, the death toll could not be independently confirmed, as international media face severe restrictions on access to Iran. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned the incident, calling it a “barbaric act” and accusing the attackers of adding “another black page” to their record. In a statement carried by US media, Centcom spokesman Tim Hawkins said the protection of civilians was a top priority and that all possible precautions were being taken to minimise unintended harm. Iranian social media users reacted with anger, with some blaming foreign powers for the strike, while others held the Iranian authorities responsible, citing the lack of air raid warnings, shelters and internet access. The attack came amid sustained US and Israeli air strikes on multiple Iranian cities, which continued into Sunday following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several senior commanders, sharply escalating tensions across the Middle East.   With inputs from BBC

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei has said that the Iranian state “does not rely on one individual,” rejecting what he described as a narrative promoted by Tehran’s adversaries. His remarks came a day after Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had been in office since 1989, was killed during the ongoing US-Israeli bombing campaign. In an interview with the Al-Mayadeen Network, Baghaei said Iran was “defending the entire region, not just Iran,” and described Khamenei’s killing as “an international crime and a war against Iran.” He said Iran has mobilised all available capabilities to protect its sovereignty, adding that decisions regarding weapons and targets are made by the armed forces. Baghaei also stressed that Iran maintains respect for neighbouring countries, saying Tehran has no issues with nations in the region and values its relations with them.   #From AlJazeera

A statement by the IRGC says three US and UK oil tankers have been hit by missiles in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. It also claimed that the tankers were on fire after the strikes. In its daily update issued at 17:22 GMT, UK Maritime Trade Operations said multiple maritime security incidents were reported in the region. It said two vessels were hit by an “unknown projectile,” triggering fires on board, though it did not specify the nationality or registration of the ships. The reported strikes occurred in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, which has since been closed. The strait is regarded as one of the world’s most critical maritime trade routes and a major chokepoint for global oil transportation. #From Agencies

US President Donald Trump has given updates on the ongoing military operation in Iran during interviews with several US media outlets. Speaking to Fox News, Trump said that “48 [Iranian] leaders are gone in one shot” and described the operation as “moving along rapidly.” In a separate interview with CNBC, he said the US campaign was progressing “very well — ahead of schedule” and added, “We’re doing our job not just for us but for the world.” During an interview with MS NOW, Trump said he had witnessed celebrations among the Iranian diaspora in the US following the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, particularly in Los Angeles. “I think it’s fantastic,” he commented. In a conversation with The Atlantic, Trump stated that current Iranian leaders had indicated a willingness to resume negotiations that were abandoned late last week. “They want to talk, and I have agreed to talk, so I will be talking to them,” he said, adding that Tehran should have acted sooner on what he described as practical and straightforward measures. #From Agencies

Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates said their air defence systems have intercepted hundreds of missiles and drones launched by Iran, as the regional escalation claimed at least four lives and injured dozens more. The Kuwait Ministry of Defence said the country’s air force has intercepted and destroyed 97 ballistic missiles and 283 drones since Iran began striking Kuwait, according to the official Kuwait News Agency. Citing the Kuwait Ministry of Health, the agency reported that one person was killed and 32 others were injured “amid ongoing regional developments”. Meanwhile, the UAE Ministry of Defence said three people have been killed in Iranian attacks since yesterday. In a statement, the ministry said it has dealt with 167 missiles and 541 Iranian drones so far. Of the drones intercepted, 35 fell within UAE territory, resulting in three deaths, 58 minor injuries and material damage. The ministry added that the UAE remains on high alert and is ready to respond to any threats. #From BBC