Israel-Iran Conflict Highlights: Over 400 dead, 3,500 injured in Iran since June 13, reports state media

At least 430 people were killed and 3,500 were wounded in Iran since the start of the Israeli-Iranian conflict on June 13, Iranian state-run Nour News reported on Saturday, citing the country’s health ministry.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned his counterparts from Muslim countries that Israel is dragging the entire region into a complete disaster with its repeated attacks on Iran.

Speaking urgently, Fidan urged unity among Muslim nations to counter this dangerous escalation and prevent further destabilisation across the Middle East.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards reported that five of their members were killed in Israeli attacks on Khorramabad on Saturday, according to Iranian media, further inflaming tensions between the two regional rivals.

Israel’s military announced it killed a senior commander in the Palestine corps of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards’ overseas wing, escalating regional tensions across the Middle East.

Chhattisgarh prisons department employee Kasim Raza, 60, is anxiously awaiting news from his daughter Eman, 29, who lives in Qom, Iran, with her husband and two young sons, reports Indian Express.

The family last spoke on Wednesday, when Eman tearfully told him she was scared and hoped to return to India amid the escalating Iran-Israel conflict. Since then, they have lost contact.

Her husband, Ejaz Zaidi, is pursuing maulviyat studies in Iran. Raza, who last saw his daughter during her visit in 2023, plans to petition the Indian government to facilitate their safe return as tensions rise in the region.

Two more evacuation flights from Mashhad are scheduled to arrive in Delhi today at Indira Gandhi International Airport, Terminal 3. The first flight is expected at 4:30 pm, followed by the second at 11:30 pm, as Indian authorities continue their repatriation efforts to ensure the safe return of citizens.

At the request of the Governments of Nepal and Sri Lanka, the Indian Embassy’s evacuation efforts in Iran will also extend to their citizens, ensuring safe and timely repatriation of Nepali and Sri Lankan nationals alongside Indian citizens during the ongoing crisis.

Diplomacy with Iran can resume “easily” if US President Donald Trump persuades Israel to halt its strikes, Majid Farahani, an Iranian presidential official, told CNN on Friday. “Iran believes in dialogue, directly or indirectly,” Farahani said, emphasizing that one phone call from Trump to Israel could restart talks. However, he ruled out a complete stop to nuclear enrichment, asserting it is for peaceful purposes, though the level could be lowered. European powers, including France, have recently hardened their stance, with French foreign ministry spokesperson Christophe Lemoine calling for “zero enrichment,” putting further pressure on Tehran in ongoing nuclear tensions.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that 517 Indian nationals have returned home from Iran under Operation Sindhu. Speaking about the latest evacuation, Jaiswal noted that a special flight from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, landed in New Delhi at 3:00 AM on June 21.

The Indian government initiated Operation Sindhu in the wake of to the escalating Iran-Israel conflict, ensuring the safe and timely repatriation of its citizens from Iran.

Four hours of talks in Geneva failed to produce a breakthrough as the Israel-Iran war deepened into its second week. European ministers hoped for future negotiations, while Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran was open to diplomacy only if attacks stopped and aggressors were held accountable. Meanwhile, Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue military strikes until Iran’s nuclear and missile threats were neutralised. No date was set for further talks.

Israel struck Iran’s Isfahan nuclear facility, but no hazardous materials leaked, according to Iran’s Fars News Agency.

(Reuters)

The IDF Chief of Staff, Eyal Zamir, revealed that strikes on Iran were prepared for years and accelerated secretly in recent months. Zamir said the operation succeeded due to a convergence of strategy and timing, warning that delaying would have forfeited Israel’s advantage. The surprise strikes achieved extraordinary results, he noted.

US President Donald Trump on Friday dismissed Europe’s diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the Israel-Iran conflict, saying Iran would rather negotiate directly with Washington. “Iran didn’t want to speak to Europe, they want to speak to us,” Trump told reporters, questioning Europe’s ability to mediate.

He acknowledged America’s limited influence over Israel’s ongoing military campaign and noted that “Israel is doing well in terms of war, Iran less so.”

Meanwhile, after a three-hour meeting in Geneva with Iranian officials, foreign ministers from Britain, France and Germany failed to make progress, urging further talks to avoid the war spiralling into a wider regional crisis.

US President Donald Trump on Friday rejected claims by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard that Iran is not pursuing a nuclear weapon. Speaking to reporters in Morristown, New Jersey, Trump said, “She’s wrong,” disputing Gabbard’s March testimony to Congress that Iran was not building a bomb.

Gabbard, however, clarified on X that intelligence shows Iran could produce a weapon in weeks if it chose. She accused the media of misrepresenting her remarks. Trump stressed that Iran cannot be allowed to build a nuclear weapon as tensions rise, especially amid ongoing Israeli strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites.

A strike on a residential building in Qom, Iran, has killed two people — including a 16-year-old — and injured four, state media reports. The attack hit the fourth floor as part of new strikes announced by the Israeli military. Footage geolocated by CNN shows fire and damage, while Iran’s air defences were activated in Tehran.

A flight carrying 290 Indian nationals evacuated from Iran landed in Delhi on Friday as part of Operation Sindhu. Zia Kulsum, one of the returnees, expressed relief, saying, “The situation in Iran is not good. We were very worried, but the government helped us a lot and brought us back home safely.” Mohammad Ali Qazim, who had been on a religious trip to Mashhad, added, “It feels very good to return home. The situation, especially in Tehran, is unsafe. The Indian government and the UP government ensured our safe crossing and return.” The Indian operation continues to evacuate citizens amid escalating tensions.

As per the latest updates, the Israeli military has announced new wave of attacks on the missile storage and launch infrastructure inside Iran.

According to the Israel Defense Forces, missiles were launched from Iran towards Israel, as reported by Reuters.

The Israeli Air Force announced that it struck three surface-to-surface missile launchers in western Iran overnight, claiming the launchers were “ready to fire”. The military also reported that a remotely piloted aircraft targeted and killed a group of Iranian soldiers in transit during the same operation. Among those killed was a commander from an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps base in the region, according to the statement.

Talks between Iranian and European officials in Geneva have been temporarily paused to allow the European delegation time for internal consultations, according to a report by Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency.

The negotiations, aimed at reviving diplomatic engagement amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, were described as “respectful and serious,” with all parties presenting their perspectives. However, Iranian officials stressed that meaningful progress hinges on a halt to current hostilities.

“The first round of talks was held with a respectful and serious approach, encompassing the perspectives of all parties involved,” IRNA reported. “Some of the issues raised could benefit from greater clarity to help pave the way for diplomacy.”

The report noted that the E3 nations — the UK, Germany, and France — are hoping to play a “historic role” in advancing diplomacy, particularly in the context of stalled nuclear negotiations.

Iran’s delegation emphasized that the country remains committed to dialogue and has not abandoned the negotiating table.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi told a UN Security Council meeting that the agency has found no evidence of damage at Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility following recent strikes.

Providing an update on several nuclear installations, Grossi confirmed that four buildings were damaged at the Isfahan site in last Friday’s attack. These include the central chemical laboratory, a uranium conversion plant, the Tehran reactor fuel manufacturing facility, and an enriched uranium metal processing plant that was still under construction. However, no rise in off-site radiation levels has been detected.

Grossi also said the Khondab heavy water research reactor, currently under construction in Arak, was struck. As the reactor was not yet operational and contained no nuclear material, he stated that no radiological consequences are expected.

The adjacent heavy water production facility was also reportedly hit, but again, no radiation risks have been identified. The IAEA continues to monitor the situation closely.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that the world is “racing toward” a major crisis as tensions between Israel and Iran continue to escalate.

Addressing the mounting conflict, Guterres said the nuclear issue remains central, highlighting a deep “trust gap” in ongoing diplomatic efforts. “Iran has repeatedly asserted that it is not pursuing nuclear weapons. But let’s be honest, there is a trust gap,” he said.

He urged both sides to halt the violence and return to meaningful negotiations, calling for restraint and renewed diplomatic dialogue to prevent further escalation.

Israel’s national ambulance service Magen David Adom reported that its teams are treating 17 people following the incident, including three who are in serious condition.

The ambulance service posted on X that among the injured are a 16-year-old boy with a shrapnel wound to the upper body, a 54-year-old and a 40-year-old with shrapnel injuries to their lower limbs. The remaining 14 individuals sustained minor shrapnel-related injuries, the service said in a statement.

Thousands of Iraqis gathered in Baghdad’s Sadr City for Friday prayers, chanting slogans against the United States and Israel amid escalating attacks on Iran, according to videos shared online.

Sadr City is a densely populated suburb of the Iraqi capital, home to over a million residents, predominantly Shia Muslims. According to Al Jazeera, the area has long been a stronghold of support for Muqtada al-Sadr, the influential populist Shia cleric and militia leader.

Al-Sadr, a vocal critic of the US and a close ally of Iran’s ruling clerical leadership, remains a powerful political force in Iraq.

Image: Reuters

Explosions were heard over Jerusalem and Tel Aviv shortly after the Israeli military announced that its air force was intercepting missiles launched by Iran, according to a report by Reuters.

– A cleanup operation is in progress in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba after Iran launched a barrage of missiles that struck and severely damaged a building. Tehran claimed responsibility for the attack, stating it had targeted a technology park housing military installations

– In Iran, an airstrike on a building in Tehran reportedly killed a nuclear scientist, according to unconfirmed reports from Israeli media outlets

– Amid rising tensions, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran is unwilling to enter into negotiations while Israeli attacks continue. Speaking ahead of his meeting with European officials in Geneva, Araghchi emphasised that dialogue is off the table under current conditions

– German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Germany and its European allies remain open to talks, provided Iran offers credible guarantees regarding its nuclear and missile programs

– Despite the escalating conflict, Russia’s nuclear agency has confirmed that Russian specialists continue working at Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant and operations there remain unaffected

Despite ongoing airspace restrictions due to its conflict with Israel, Iran has made an exception to facilitate India’s Operation Sindhu evacuation. According to reports, Iranian carrier Mahan Air will operate three special flights from Mashhad to New Delhi to bring back 1,000 Indian students stranded in the region.

The decision comes amid heightened regional tensions and limited flight connectivity, as many international carriers have suspended operations over Iranian airspace.

A senior Iranian military and political figure reported dead by Israel last week has resurfaced, declaring he is alive in a message broadcast by Iranian state media on Friday.

“I am alive and ready to sacrifice myself,” said Ali Shamkhani, a top advisor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to the CNN, his message is being widely circulated by state-affiliated media. Shamkhani has expressed unwavering loyalty to Iran’s leadership and optimism about the country’s future. “The victory is near. The name of Iran will shine in the heights of history as always,” he said.

Shamkhani had been presumed killed in the aftermath of Israel’s June 13 airstrikes on Iran, with reports of his death initially circulated by both Israeli and some Iranian outlets.

According to a report by Al Jazeera, Iran’s retaliatory attacks have resulted in the displacement of more than 8,000 Israelis. The report cited the Israeli Property Tax Compensation Fund and said about 30,000 requests have been made for compensation for damage to buildings or vehicles.

The ongoing Iran-Israel war is seeing several turns of diplomacy amid the missile strikes by both the nations. A look at what has happened so far:

– US President Donald Trump has given a two-week window for diplomacy before deciding on potential military action against Iran

– A powerful Iran-backed militia in Iraq has warned it will target US bases in the region if Washington intervenes

– Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi had also announced that Tehran will not enter negotiations with the US while Israel’s aggression continues

– Tensions are escalating rapidly, with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu declaring that “no one in Iran should have immunity”, hinting at potential strikes against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Israel’s defense minister echoed the sentiment, saying Khamenei “cannot be allowed to continue to exist”

– Overnight, Israel and Iran exchanged fresh strikes in their intensifying conflict. Netanyahu stated Israel aims to disable all of Iran’s nuclear facilities

– In response, Iran reportedly plans to target Israel’s Channel 14, accusing it of serving as a “propaganda channel” for Netanyahu