Israel has targeted Iran's Fordow nuclear site, after the US bombed the facility at the weekend, while also apparently striking the entrance of an Iranian prison. Iran has asked Russia for help, while vowing revenge against the US. Follow the latest and listen to The World podcast below.
Monday 23 June 2025 14:28, UK
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The German government is adapting its precautions in case of possible retaliatory strikes by Iran in close consultation with partners, a government official has said.
After the US attacked key Iranian nuclear sites this weekend, there have been fears over how Iran will respond.
Iran has vowed to defend itself after the US dropped 30,000-pound bunker buster bombs onto the mountain above Iran's Fordow nuclear site.
In a post to the Truth Social platform, Donald Trump also raised the idea of regime change in Iran.
Speaking on its adaptation of precautions today, a German official said: "We have done so since before the operations began. We will continue to do so.
"But we are making ongoing adjustments and are in very close and very constructive consultation with our partners".
NATO chief Mark Rutte is speaking ahead of the NATO summit.
Addressing the situation in Iran, he says that NATO allies have long agreed that Iran must not develop a nuclear weapon.
"Allies have repeatedly urged Iran to meet its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)," he says.
Rutte goes on to say the alliance's new defence investment plan will be 5% of GDP and this will help ensure security and defence.
"As leaders begin to gather for the summit here, this is our focus - ensuring we have all we need to deter and defend against any threat," he adds.
He notes the most "significant threat" facing the defence alliance is Russia.
Watch Rutte's speech below:
As the Israel-Iran conflict continues, a news conference in Paris might not seem hugely significant.
But today the son of the last shah of Iran, Reza Pahlavi, has been pitching himself as the steward of a "democratic transition" in his homeland, and has called on the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to "step down" - saying he will "receive a fair trial" if he does.
Pahlavi's father was deposed in 1979 by the Islamic Revolution, which led to today's Islamic republic in the country.
Speaking at the Maison de la Chimie conference centre in Paris, Pahlavi said Iran is at a "crossroads", with one path offering "bloodshed and chaos", and the other a "peaceful democratic transition".
Asked during pre-selected questions from journalists whether he'd like regime change to be a goal of the US and Israel, Pahlavi said it was "not any foreign government鈥檚 job" to "define regime change" but to "recognise that this is the ask of the Iranian people", according to our US partner NBC News.
"Where do Western democracies stand?" he asked. "Are they going to continue throwing the regime a lifeline, or recognise that this is a golden opportunity?"
Why does this matter?
It might not - there will undoubtedly be scepticism about Pahlavi's actual influence, intentions and democratic credentials.
But since the US bombed Iranian nuclear facilities at the weekend, there has been debate about Donald Trump's long-term ambition for the country.
Pete Hegseth, his defence secretary, said in a news conference at the Pentagon yesterday that the US did not want regime change in Iran. JD Vance, Trump's vice president, also said the US is not at war with Iran but with its ambition to have a nuclear weapon.
Watch below: Hegseth's news conference yesterday
As is his way, Donald Trump has muddied the waters on Truth Social, though. He suggested overnight he could be open to a change of government in Iran.
"If the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn鈥檛 there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!," the US president wrote.
Despite protests in Iran in recent years, if the current rulers were overthrown - a big if, given the control exerted by the current regime, even in its now weakened state - there would be uncertainty about whatever came next.
Pahlavi, though, is one of the few figures able to oppose the supreme leader publicly.
Earlier, we brought you footage of an Israeli strike apparently blowing the entrance gates off at Evin Prison in Iran (see 11.49 post).
Despite the strikes, the jail in Tehran is "under control", according to the Iranian authorities.
The Iranian Judiciary Media Centre said the situation at the jail is "now stable" and "all resources have been mobilised to manage the situation".
The prison is known for incarcerating dissidents, political activists and journalists.
Israel said earlier it was explicitly targeting the "heart of Tehran".
Israel's attack damaged parts of the prison, the Iranian Judiciary Media Centre said, adding that it was "clearly carried out in violation of international law".
We have just heard from the Qatari government after the US embassy in Qatar told its citizens in the country to "shelter in place" until further notice (see post at 12.17pm).
Dr Majed Al Ansari, Qatar's official foreign ministry spokesperson, has said the security situation in the country is "stable" and the advisories issued by a number of embassies to their nationals "do not necessarily reflect the existence of specific or credible threats".
The official also said the 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.
This is his full statement...
Air France has suspended flights to Tel Aviv until 14 July, a spokesperson for the airline has said.
The operator has also cancelled flights to and from Dubai and Riyadh until 24 June.
Flights to and from Beirut in Lebanon are also suspended until 25 June, the airline has said.
Separately, Finland-based airline Finnair said on Monday it had cancelled its flights to and from Qatar's capital Doha until 30 June due to the security situation in the Middle East.
The impact of the Israeli and American attacks on Iran's nuclear programme has been "huge", the former UK ambassador to Iran has said.
Rob Macaire told Sky's presenter Leah Boleto that when it came to the Fordow nuclear site it was unclear what was happening under the ground and it may take some time to know.
"The cumulative impact of the Israeli attacks and the US attacks on Iran's nuclear programme has seen huge damage," he said.
"The question is whether Iran comes out of this determined to rebuild that programme and to try to get towards a nuclear weapon as a result of this - or whether it comes out of it recognising that's not going to be an option and seeing if there is a negotiation route for them
"That is what is to play for now."
Israel has said today it hit Iranian government targets in Tehran in a series of strikes, including the notorious Evin Prison in the Iranian capital and the security headquarters of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guards.
Meanwhile, Iran described its attack on Israel as a new wave of its operation, saying it was targeting the Israeli cities of Haifa and Tel Aviv, according to Iranian state television.
Explosions were also heard in Jerusalem.
It follows US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend, which prompted fears of a wider regional conflict.
The maps below show strikes in Israel and Iran from this weekend and this morning...
We have reporting today on Vladimir Putin meeting with Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, in which the Russian leader condemned the US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
During the meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Putin also said Russia was "making efforts to assist the Iranian people".
Earlier, a source told Reuters that Iran's foreign minister would hand a letter to Putin from Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei seeking Russia's support.
Iranian sources did not elaborate on what assistance Tehran wanted but it is reported that Iran is not impressed with its long time ally Russia's support so far and the country wants Putin to do more to back it against Israel and the US.
Here are a few images from the meeting today...
There have been many questions directed to the UK government over whether it is in agreement with US strikes on nuclear sites in Iran.
And now a Downing Street spokesman has issued the following statement...
"We're clear that the prevention of Iran getting nuclear weapons is a good thing for this country.
"But our focus is on diplomacy. That is the priority and that is what every member of this government is working towards and that's been the focus of the calls with international partners over the weekend."
The spokesman added: "Iran should take the opportunity presented by the US to re-enter talks."
