Good morning – Jane Moore here. Welcome to our coverage of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. 

The situation has escalated since the United States bombed three of Iran’s nuclear sites – Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan on Saturday.

Iran’s foreign minister said the US had decided to ‘blow up’ diplomacy efforts by entering the war, with the country vowing to retaliate against the attacks.

Strikes are continuing between Israel and Iran this morning, with meetings in the EU taking place to discuss Europe’s response to the conflict, and Iran’s foreign minister meeting Vladimir Putin in Moscow. 

We’ll be bringing you all the latest developments over the course of the day. 

If you need a recap of the escalation in the conflict, here’s what has happened over the last couple of days:

• The US attacked three Iranian nuclear sites on Saturday. 
• The extent of the damage caused to the sites has yet to be fully determined. 
• Iran’s foreign minister said the US decided to ‘blow up’ diplomacy efforts by striking the nuclear sites.
• The UN’s nuclear watchdog said there was no increase in radiation levels in Iran on Sunday.
• Iran has promised retaliation against the US for the attack.

Last night, US President Donald Trump raised the idea of regime change in Iran – even after the Pentagon stressed that the goal of American intervention was not to topple the Iranian government.

“It’s not politically correct to use the term, ‘Regime Change,’ Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. “But if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!”

Hours later he doubled down on emphasising the success of his strikes.

“Monumental Damage was done to all Nuclear sites in Iran, as shown by satellite images. Obliteration is an accurate term!” Trump wrote, without sharing the images he was referencing.

“The biggest damage took place far below ground level. Bullseye!!!” he added.

Israel’s Defence Ministry has said the IDF is striking Iranian ‘government targets’ in Tehran this morning, including the Evin Prison in the Iranian capital.

Other targets include the security headquarters of the Revolutionary Guards, the city’s Palestine Square, and the paramilitary Basij volunteer corps building – which is a part of the Revolutionary Guard.

“The Iranian dictator will be punished with full force for attacking the Israeli home front,” the ministry said.

The notorious Evin jail in the North eastern suburbs of Tehran, Iran. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Iran has confirmed that sections of Evin Prison have been damaged in the strikes. 

“In the latest attack by the Zionist regime on Tehran, projectiles unfortunately struck Evin prison, causing damage to parts of the facility,” said the judiciary’s Mizan Online website.

It added that all resources had been deployed to manage the complex and the situation remained “under control”.

The notorious prison has been known for holding western detainees, including journalists. British-Iranian woman Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was detained there for six years after being accused of spying by Iran.  

Russian President Vladimir Putin has condemned strikes on Tehran as “unprovoked aggression” and said Moscow was trying to help the Iranian people – though he did not single out US strikes specifically. 

Putin is hosting Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Moscow for talks. 

— Press TV ? (@PressTV) June 23, 2025

During the meeting, for which cameras were allowed in, Putin told Araghchi: “This is an absolutely unprovoked aggression against Iran.”

He called the strikes “unjustified” and said that Russia was “making efforts to provide assistance to the Iranian people.”

While Putin did not single out the US attacks, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters before the meeting that Russia regrets the US strikes. 

“There has been a new escalation of tensions in the region, and, of course, we condemn this and express our deep regret in this regard,” Peskov said. 

Since Israel launched its wave of strikes on Iran on 13 June, Russia has not publicly offered military help to Tehran.

Putin and other officials have also downplayed Moscow’s obligations under a sweeping strategic partnership agreement signed with Tehran just months ago, highlighting that it is not a mutual defence pact.

Asked what specific support Russia might offer, Peskov told reporters: “It all depends on what Iran needs. We have offered our mediation services.”

Putin said last week that Iran had not requested any support.

European foreign ministers speaking ahead of a meeting at the European Council building in Brussels. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

The weekend’s US bombing of nuclear sites in Iran will likely dominate a meeting of European foreign ministers in Brussels today. 

Following Israel’s attack on Iran on 13 June and Iran’s retaliation, several European leaders have said that Israel has a “right to defend itself”.

Many European countries have also echoed Israeli and American claims about Iran’s nuclear programme, saying Tehran is trying to build nuclear weapons, despite a recent US intelligence assessment that said the opposite was true. 

Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Harris is expected to update his fellow foreign ministers on a call he had with Iran’s deputy foreign minister yesterday, and urge the EU to use all channels to call for de-escalation and to attempt to salvage negotiations over Iran’s nuclear energy programme.

We’ll bring you more from the meeting when we hear the latest.

Lack of clarity remains over the position of Keir Starmer’s UK Government in relation to the US strikes on three key Iranian nuclear sites at the weekend.

Starmer highlighted the necessity to “de-escalate”, insisting on a diplomatic resolution, and ensuring to reiterate that there was no UK military involvement in the attack.

UK foreign secretary David Lammy spoke about the conflict in an interview on BBC Radio where he offered neither support nor condemnation of the escalatory move by US President Donald Trump.

“Everyone is urging the Iranians to get serious about the negotiations with the E3 [UK, France and Germany] and the US,” Lammy said.

"This was not the UK's action. We were not involved."@JustinOnWeb asks Foreign Secretary David Lammy whether the UK has a position on whether the US strikes on Iran were legal under international law.#R4Today

— BBC Radio 4 Today (@BBCr4today) June 23, 2025

“Yes, they [the Iranians] can have a civil nuclear capability that is properly monitored that involves outsiders but they cannot continue to enrich to 60%,” he added.

Fellow Labour MP Luke Pollard was equally ambiguous when speaking about his party’s stance on the issue when asked on Sky News whether the UK is for or against the strikes on Iran.

“It’s not for me to comment on the particular US action,” he said.

The Conservative Party says the muddled responses to the US military action is evidence of “moral cowardice”, with its former leader Rishi Sunak lauding Israel and the US for acting “decisively” against the Iranian “threat to regional and global security”.

IAEA Director General @RafaelMGrossi addressed the Board of Governors this morning at an emergency meeting regarding the situation in Iran. pic.twitter.com/lqVr07Sqg7

— IAEA - International Atomic Energy Agency ⚛️ (@iaeaorg) June 23, 2025

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has called for its inspectors to be able to return to Iran’s nuclear sites in a bid to “account for” its highly enriched uranium stockpiles, following the attacks by the US and Israel. 

“Iran, Israel and the Middle East need peace,” Rafael Grossi told an emergency meeting of the organisation’s board of governors in Vienna this morning. 

“For that, we must take a number of steps,” he said.

“First of all, we must return to the negotiating table and for that allow IAEA inspectors – the guardians on our behalf of the NPT (nuclear non-proliferation treaty) – to go back to Iran’s nuclear sites and account for the stockpiles of uranium, including, most importantly, the 400 kilogrammes enriched to 60%.”

Grossi said Iran’s foreign minister had sent him a letter on 13 June announcing the implementation of “special measures to protect nuclear equipment and materials”.

“There needs to be a cessation of hostilities for the necessary safety and security conditions to prevail so that Iran can let IAEA teams into the sites to assess the situation,” he said.

Following the US strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites –  Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan – on Saturday, Grossi said craters “are now visible at the Fordo site, Iran’s main facility for enriching uranium at 60%, indicating the use of ground-penetrating munitions”. 

He added that “very significant damage” is expected to have occurred for the US bombing “given the explosive payload utilised and the extreme vibration-sensitive nature of centrifuges”.

“At this time, no-one including the IAEA, is in a position to have fully assessed the underground damage at Fordo,” he said.

Demonstrations took place in several US cities yesterday to protest against Donald Trump’s decision to strike three nuclear sites in Iran.

Here are some photos from the protests.

Demonstrators rally outside the White House in Washington. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Anti-war demonstrators hold signs outside the Wilshire Federal Building in Los Angeles. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Protesters carry signs during a protest against US strikes on Iran in New York. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Around 150-200 protestors gathered at the Stop The War On Iran! protest in Seattle. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Anti-war on Iran protesters march in Boston. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

The Israeli military has confirmed that it has launched air raids to “obstruct access routes” to Iran’s enriched uranium facility in Fordo, which was one of three sites bombed by the US at the weekend.

Earlier today, the IDF struck routes in order to obstruct access to the Fordow enrichment site.

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 23, 2025

A military statement said Israeli forces had “struck in order to obstruct access routes to the Fordo enrichment site”.

US President Donald Trump claimed that Fordo had been “totally obliterated” by the US strikes, though other officials have said it is too soon to determine how significantly Tehran’s nuclear programme has been impacted.

As reported by Al Jazeera, Iran’s deputy minister of foreign affairs for education and research, Saeed Khatibzadeh, has said that Tehran reserves the right to respond to US strikes on its nuclear facilities.

Speaking from Tehran, Khatibzadeh did not rule out the possibility of Iranian retaliation against US military bases in the region.

“Iran will decide on how, when and at which level to respond to [the] Americans,” he said.

He also described the recent US bombing of sites including Fordow as a “grave mistake” and a clear violation of international law.

Three empty oil and chemical tankers have diverted away from the Strait of Hormuz and changed course, The Times of Israel has reported.

Strait of Hormuz, a strait between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

About 20% of global oil and gas flows through this narrow shipping lane in the Gulf. Blocking it would have profound consequences for the global economy, disrupting international trade and ratcheting up oil prices.

It could also inflate the cost of goods and services worldwide, and hit some of the world’s biggest economies, including China, India and Japan, which are among the top importers of crude oil passing through the strait.

An Israeli airstrike on Evin prison in Tehran this morning has raised serious concerns for the safety of inmates, including French nationals Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris, said Cecile’s sister, Noemie Kohler.

Israel’s attack on Iran continued this morning with a series of massive strikes all across Tehran, including on Evin prison. Women political prisoners released a letter last week opposing Israel’s mendacious and murderous attack on the country. pic.twitter.com/psStSquC63

— Samira Mohyeddin سمیرا (@SMohyeddin) June 23, 2025

Held since May 2022 on espionage charges their families reject, the couple is among around 20 Europeans believed held by Iran, which some Western governments describe as a strategy of hostage-taking aimed at extracting concessions from the West.

Most are held in Evin, a large, heavily fortified complex notorious among activists for rights abuses.

Iran’s judiciary confirmed that the prison sustained damage, but said it remains under control.

Noemie Kohler condemned the strike as “completely irresponsible,” expressing fears for prisoners’ safety and potential chaos or riots.

The family’s lawyer called the strikes “illegal” and warned of possible reprisals and bloodshed.

A number of major airlines have moved to cancel flights across the Middle East again today due to the ongoing conflict.

Major carriers including British Airways, Lufthansa Group and Air France-KLM have cancelled services to destinations such as Dubai, Doha, and Riyadh, citing passenger safety concerns.

Finnair, which usually flies daily to Doha, said it is currently avoiding the airspace over Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Israel, and cancelled a number of flights.

Singapore Airlines, which described the situation as “fluid”, moved to cancel flights to Dubai through until at least tomorrow, having previously cancelled several flights on Sunday.

Vladimir Putin met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Moscow earlier, condemning the US strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites and pledging Russia’s efforts to assist the Iranian people.

Iran’s foreign minister also delivered a letter from Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei seeking stronger Russian support.

While details remain unclear, reports suggest Iran is dissatisfied with Russia’s current backing and wants Putin to take a firmer stance against Israel and the US.

Here are some photos from the meeting.

Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Iranian media is reporting that power supply has been restored to northern Tehran after outages caused by an Israeli air raid earlier in the day.

“The outages were completely resolved in northern Tehran,” Tasnim news agency said, citing the regional electricity company.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at a meeting of the CDU Federal Executive Committee. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said that there is “no reason to criticise” the US over its strikes on Iran.

“There is no reason to criticise what America did at the weekend. Yes, it is not without risk. But leaving things as they were was not an option either,” Merz said in a speech to the Federation of German Industries.

In case you missed it earlier, you won’t be surprised to hear that the escalation in the conflict between Israel and Iran dominated the front pages of the newspapers this morning in Ireland and abroad. 

Most of the papers led with Trump’s decision to bomb Iran and the country’s promise of retaliation. 

You can find a rundown of the headlines here. 

Nato secretary general Mark Rutte has said that allies “have long agreed that Iran must not develop a nuclear weapon”. 

He is currently speaking in The Hague to announce that Nato countries have committed to spending 5% of their GDP on defence. 

In a brief moment during his speech, Rutte said: “Let me now first say a word on Iran.

“When it comes to Nato’s stance on Iran’s nuclear program, allies have long agreed that Iran must not develop a nuclear weapon,” he said.

“Allies have repeatedly urged Iran to meet its obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty.”

The NPT is an international treaty aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology. Iran has been a party to the agreement since 1970, but has repeatedly been found in breach of it.

Last week, the Iranian government said it was preparing legislation to withdraw from the agreement. 

Israel is not a party to the NPT and has not accepted IAEA safeguards on some of its principle nuclear activities.

pic.twitter.com/afKZ2fdyct

— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 23, 2025

The White House has said that Donald Trump is still interested in engaging in a “peaceful diplomatic solution” with Iran.

Two days after the US bombed three nuclear sites in Iran, press secretary Karoline Leavitt also suggested that Trump believes the Iranian population should overthrow their government if it refuses to negotiate on its nuclear programme. 

Appearing on Fox News, Leavitt was asked about Trump’s posts to Truth Social last night speculating on regime change in Iran, which included the term ‘MIGA’ – a play on MAGA, for ‘Make Iran Great Again’. 

Trump’s post said: “If the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change?”

Leavitt said: “The president believes the Iranian people can control their own destiny, and what he said last night makes complete sense.

“If the Iranian regime refuses to come to a peaceful diplomatic solution – which the president is still interested and engaging in, by the way – why shouldn’t the Iranian people take away the power of this incredibly violent regime that has been suppressing them for decades?”

She continued: “Our military posture has not changed. These were decisive precision strikes that were successful on Saturday evening, but the president is just simply raising a good question that many people around the world are asking.”

Foreign oil firms, including giants BP and Total, have evacuated some foreign staff from southern Iraq amid regional tensions, Iran’s state-owned Basra Oil Company said. 

“Firms operating in the fields of the Basra Oil Company have temporarily evacuated some of their foreign personnel” including British BP, French Total and Italian firm ENI, the company said in a statement, adding that operations were not affected.

The evacuations are due to the “security situation” in the region, an official from the company told AFP.

The US embassy in Qatar has told its citizens there to shelter in place until further notice “out of an abundance of caution” amid the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. 

Qatar: Out of an abundance of caution we recommend American citizens shelter in place until further notice.
Full alert: https://t.co/CXUNdVRZoW pic.twitter.com/CJtuTgPUXV

— Travel - State Dept (@TravelGov) June 23, 2025

There was no further information to accompany the message. 

Dr Majed Al Ansari, Qatar’s official foreign ministry spokesperson, has said the advisory issued falls within “the general policies adopted by various countries regarding travel guidance and security updates for their citizens around the world”.

“These advisories do not necessarily reflect the existence of specific or credible threats,” Al Ansari said. 

We would like to reassure the public that the security situation in the State remains stable.

“The relevant authorities are closely monitoring the situation and remain fully prepared to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of citizens, residents, and visitors.”

The advisories issued by a number of embassies to their nationals to exercise caution or avoid certain locations in the State of Qatar fall within the general policies adopted by various countries regarding travel guidance & security updates for their citizens around the world.…

— د. ماجد محمد الأنصاري Dr. Majed Al Ansari (@majedalansari) June 23, 2025

Iran’s armed forces chief of staff Abdolrahim Mousavi has vowed that the country will take “firm action” in response to the US strikes on three of its nuclear sites.

“This crime and desecration will not go unanswered,” Mousavi said in a video statement published on state TV, adding that “we will take firm action against the American mistake”.

Donald Trump has called for oil prices to be kept down in a post on social media. 

There is speculation that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which the US President escalated with his decision to bomb Iran, could cause prices to spike. 

Today, US and European stocks retreated while Asian equities were mixed, with markets keeping a close eye on whether Iran will block the crucial Strait of Hormuz.

The shipping route connects the Gulf with the Indian Ocean and carries one-fifth of global oil output.

In the last hour, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: “EVERYONE, KEEP OIL PRICES DOWN. I’M WATCHING! YOU’RE PLAYING RIGHT INTO THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY. DON’T DO IT!” 

In a second post, he instructed the US Department of Energy to “DRILL, BABY, DRILL!!! And I mean NOW!!!”

We reported earlier on Nato secretary general Mark Rutte‘s remarks, when he said that allies “have long agreed that Iran must not develop a nuclear weapon”. 

When asked about the legality of the US strikes on Iran over the weekend, Rutte said: “I would not agree that this is against international law, what the US did.”

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte - US strikes on Iran did not violate international law: pic.twitter.com/KxDP394EWx

— Ben Downie (@Ben_Downie) June 23, 2025

Taoiseach Micheál Martin spoke to reporters at Dublin’s convention centre a short while ago, where he is attending the World Conference on Tobacco Control.

Martin was asked if he believes the US has breached international law by bombing Iranian nuclear facilities – twice he refused to answer yes or no.

Instead he said that Ireland “would have preferred dialogue and diplomacy”.

“What is required now is a complete de escalation, an ending of the war. And also we cannot forget Gaza. There’s a huge danger that Gaza will be sidelined and marginalized in terms of the international profile,” the Taoiseach said.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin at Dublin’s convention centre today. Jane Matthews Jane Matthews

The Israeli military has issued an “urgent” warning to residents of Tehran, saying it will continue striking targets in the city in the coming days.

In a message posted in Farsi on its official X account, the Israel Defense Forces urged people to avoid weapons manufacturing plants, military headquarters, and other security sites linked to the Iranian regime.

“For your safety, we ask you to stay away from military targets in the Tehran area,” the statement said.

? هشدار فوری با ساکنین تهران

⭕️ شهروندان عزیز تهران, در روزهای آینده، ارتش اسرائیل به حملات خود علیه اهداف نظامی در منطقه تهران ادامه خواهد داد.

⭕️ برای حفظ امنیت شخصی‌تان، از شما درخواست می‌کنیم که از مراکز تولید تسلیحات، مقرهای نظامی و نهادهای امنیتی وابسته به رژیم فاصله… pic.twitter.com/mBLYZ4jtZO

— ارتش دفاعی اسرائیل | IDF Farsi (@IDFFarsi) June 23, 2025

The UK embassy in Qatar has followed the US embassy’s lead and advised citizens to “shelter in place” until further notice, citing an “abundance of caution.”

— UK in Qatar ???? (@ukinqatar) June 23, 2025

Qatar’s foreign ministry responded by saying multiple embassies had issued similar alerts, but stressed that they do not reflect any specific threats and that the security situation in the country remains stable.

Officials added that the public would be informed of any developments requiring action.

Explosions have been heard in the city of Ahvaz in southwestern Iran, according to local reports.

Air defenses have been activated, Fars News Agency has said. The blasts were heard on the western outskirts of the city, which is the capital of Khuzestan province on the border with Iraq.

Qatar has now officially closed its airspace.

The Qatari foreign ministry said in a statement that the airspace was closed out of concern for “the safety of citizens, residents, and visitors”.

Israeli news has reported that police in Tel Aviv have arrested a 27-year-old resident on suspicion of spying for Iran.

According to Ynet, the man is being held until Thursday as part of an investigation into alleged intelligence-gathering activities on behalf of an Iranian official.

The suspect is accused of maintaining contact with the official for several months, during which he allegedly documented the homes of public figures and military sites.

Investigators also claim he was paid thousands of dollars in cryptocurrency for his efforts.

UN investigators have warned of the “extensive suffering” caused by Israeli strikes in Iran, expressing concern for detainees held near bombed sites.

In a joint statement, UN-appointed experts urged Israel to avoid non-military targets and called on Iran to move prisoners to safety.

They cited the recent strike on Tehran’s Evin prison and the targeting of media offices and scientists as likely violations of international humanitarian law.

The damaged headquarters of Iranian state television in Tehran, Iran. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Qatar temporarily suspended air traffic across the country today and some Western embassies advised their citizens there to shelter in place after Iran threatened retaliation for US strikes on its nuclear sites.

Qatar, which lies 190 kilometres south of Iran across the Gulf, is home to the United States’ largest military base in the region, Al Udeid.

In the past few minutes, journalists in Qatar have reported that explosions have been heard across Doha, the capital of Qatar.

Explosions could be heard across Doha on Monday evening, according to AFP journalists, shortly after Qatar closed its airspace, citing regional developments following US strikes on Iran.

The blasts could be heard in central Doha and in Lusail north of the Qatari capital, and projectiles could be seen moving across the night sky.

Iran has said that it attacked American forces stationed at Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base.

The announcement was made on state television as martial music played.

A caption on the screen called it “a mighty and successful response by the armed forces of Iran to America’s aggression”.

The attack came shortly after Qatar closed its airspace as a precaution amid threats from Iran.

Qatar has said the Iranian attack on a US base is a “flagrant violation” of its sovereignty.

It adds that it has “successfully intercepted” the missiles targeting the US base.

In the past, Iran has threatened American forces at Al Udeid Air Base, which hosts the forward headquarters of the US military’s Central Command.

Qatar, across the Persian Gulf from Iran, maintains diplomatic relations with Iran and shares a massive offshore natural gas field with Tehran.

Qatar has condemned an Iranian attack on the largest US military base in the region, calling it a “flagrant violation” of its sovereignty.

“We express the State of Qatar’s strong condemnation of the attack on Al Udeid Air Base by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, and consider it a flagrant violation of the State of Qatar’s sovereignty and airspace, as well as of international law,” foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said in a statement.

In the past 15 minutes, a series of explosions were heard in the north of Tehran, according an AFP journalist, just as Iran announced it was launching missiles at US bases in retaliation for American strikes on nuclear facilities.

The journalist reported yellow flashes typical of Iranian air defences in the sky over Tehran shortly before 9pm (6.30 Irish time).

Iran has said its attack “does not pose any threat to our friendly and brotherly country, Qatar”. 

“In response to the US aggressive and insolent action against Iran’s nuclear sites and facilities, a few hours ago, the powerful armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran struck the US air base in Al-Udeid, Qatar,” the council said in a statement.

It added that the number of missiles used “was the same as the number of bombs that the US had used in attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities”.

Qatar said it “reserved the right to respond” after Iran attacked the US Al Udeid base, the largest American military facility in the region.

“We affirm that the State of Qatar reserves the right to respond directly in a manner proportional to the nature and scale of this blatant aggression,” foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said in a statement, adding that the US base had been evacuated as a precaution ahead of the attack.