Israel and Iran clash for third day as death toll mounts: LIVE UPDATES
Israel and Iran engaged in a third consecutive day of intense, open warfare on Saturday and into Sunday, with both nations launching devastating attacks.
According to Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service, Iranian strikes killed at least ten people, raising the total death toll to 13. Israel’s main international airport and airspace have remained closed for a third day. In Iran, Israeli strikes have resulted in at least 406 deaths and 654 injuries, as reported by Washington-based Human Rights Activists, though Iran’s government has not released official casualty figures.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) targeted critical energy infrastructure in Iran, striking a refinery in the South Pars gas field – the world’s largest – and an oil depot in Tehran. In retaliation, Iran fired a barrage of missiles at Tel Aviv, hitting residential apartment blocks, and struck an oil refinery in Haifa.
On Friday, Israeli jets bombed multiple targets across Iran, including a uranium enrichment center in Natanz, and carried out targeted assassinations of several senior military commanders and scientists. Iran retaliated by firing dozens of ballistic missiles into Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strikes, dubbed Operation Rising Lion, aimed to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Iran condemned the attack as unprovoked and suspended nuclear talks with the US, with the latest round of negotiations scheduled for Sunday.
Israel launched its strikes one day after the international nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, accused Iran of violating its non-proliferation obligations. Iran rejected the allegations as politically motivated.
Although the US insisted it was not involved, President Donald Trump endorsed the Israeli operation. Russia condemned Israel and called for de-escalation.
Russian President Vladimir Putin had a phone call with Trump on Saturday, during which they agreed on the possibility of restarting negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, according to Putin’s foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov.
15 June 2025
17:35 GMTPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied reports that US President Donald Trump ‘vetoed’ an Israeli plan to kill Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during an interview with Fox News.
“There are so many false reports about conversations that never happened – I’m not going to get into it.”
Israeli National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi has called the reports “fake news of the highest order,” as quoted by the Times of Israel.
- 16:42 GMT
US President Donald Trump has ‘vetoed’ an Israeli proposal to assassinate Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, two US officials told Reuters on Sunday.
- 15:41 GMT
The consular section of the Russian embassy in Iran is temporarily suspending its work “due to the current situation” in the region, according to a statement.
- 15:37 GMT
The death toll in an Iranian strike on an apartment block in Bat Yam, near Tel Aviv, has risen to seven after rescuers recovered another body from under the rubble. Three others are still feared missing, according to the Times of Israel.
Earlier on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the scene.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Bat Yam attack site in Israel. Bat Yam is a city on Israel's Mediterranean Sea coast, just south of Tel Aviv #TelAviv#iranisraelwarpic.twitter.com/6ObX52ZDC4
— Neha Khanna (@nehakhanna_07) June 15, 2025 - 14:49 GMT
Videos circulating on social media appear to show large-scale sewage and water pipe explosions across Tehran, according to The Times of Israel.
#Iran: Israeli strikes busted a pipe near Tajrish Square in #Tehran, causing sewage water to flood into the streets. pic.twitter.com/GqskoScmwT
— Thomas van Linge (@ThomasVLinge) June 15, 2025 - 14:47 GMT
US President Donald Trump has expressed his openness to Russian President Vladimir Putin serving as a mediator in the conflict. “He is ready. He called me about it, and we had an extensive conversation,” Trump told ABC News on Sunday.
However, he also claimed that “it's possible” that the US “could get involved” in the ongoing conflict between West Jerusalem and Tehran.
- 14:37 GMT
US President Donald Trump has called on West Jerusalem and Tehran to stop the fighting and make a deal, adding that “many calls and meetings” are already being made between Iranian, Israeli and American representatives.
I do a lot, and never get credit for anything, but that’s OK, the PEOPLE understand. MAKE THE MIDDLE EAST GREAT AGAIN!
- 14:06 GMT
At least 14 Iranian scientists have been killed in Israeli attacks since Friday, including in car bombs, Reuters wrote, citing two sources from the Gulf states.
- 13:52 GMT
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan have discussed the escalation between West Jerusalem and Tehran over the phone.
Türkiye “commended Russia’s consistent willingness to undertake mediation efforts,” especially those related to Iran’s nuclear program, RIA Novosti cited Moscow's Foreign Ministry as saying.
- 13:44 GMT
Moscow’s embassy in Tehran is coordinating the evacuation of Russian citizens by land from Iran due to Israeli strikes, according to RIA Novosti.
