Donald Trump is considering a range of options to use against Iran, including a possible strike, according to officials. But Iran warns US intervention would lead to "all-out war". Listen to the latest Trump 100 episode as you scroll.
Wednesday 18 June 2025 10:56, UK
Security and defence analyst Michael Clarke and international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn will be answering your questions on the Israel-Iran conflict in a live Q&A this afternoon.
Submit yours in the box at the top of the page.
We brought you news earlier on Israeli claims it had struck centrifuge sites in Iran overnight - see our 5.55 post.
Centrifuges are machines that can be used to enrich uranium. Enriched uranium can be used as fuel for nuclear plants, and for nuclear bombs.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said that two such sites in Iran were hit.
These are the TESA Karaj workshop, just west of Tehran, and the Tehran Research Centre, in the capital.
The IAEA added: "At the Tehran site, one building was hit where advanced centrifuge rotors were manufactured and tested.
"At Karaj, two buildings were destroyed where different centrifuge components were manufactured."
It seemingly continues Israel's efforts to cripple Iran's nuclear infrastructure.
But as we've explained in our 8.26 post, if Israel wants to go all the way it'll likely need US help.
A televised message by Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is expected to be broadcast shortly, according to state media.
We'll bring you text updates here, as he speaks in his first public appearance since shortly after Israel's attack on Iran last Friday.
We brought you some quotes earlier from Ali Bahreini, Iran's ambassador to the UN, who has been speaking to reporters.
He echoed lines from Iran's foreign minister, promising retaliation to any attacks on the country.
"We will not show any reluctance in defending our people, security and land. We will respond seriously and strongly, without restraint," Bahreini said.
He also warned Israeli attacks on Iran's nuclear structures risked a "possible hazardous leak".
"This is not an act of war against our country, it is war against humanity," he said.
To completely destroy Iran's nuclear programme, Israel would need to take out Fordow, the best protected facility.
Israel would likely need huge "bunker buster" bombs, so would the US actually provide these devastating weapons?
There is also a diplomatic option - so how does Donald Trump come to a decision here?
Our international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn breaks it down...
Family members of British staff at the embassy in Tel Aviv and the consulate in Jerusalem have been temporarily withdrawn.
The embassy and consulate will continue its work, but it reflects moves taken by other embassies as fighting remains ongoing.
The US has shut its embassy in Jerusalem until at least Friday, according to its state department.
By James Sillars, business and economics reporter
Oil prices have been bubbling upwards again due to developments in the Israel-Iran conflict.
The cost of a barrel of Brent crude ticked up near to $77 - a 4% rise - late yesterday after it became known that Donald Trump was considering US military involvement.
He has since urged Iran to accept an "unconditional surrender".
Brent has slipped back slightly, but the market remains glued to events.
UK natural gas costs are matching the upwards trend with LSEG data for day-ahead delivery contracts currently 16% up on levels seen earlier this month.
If sustained, it doesn't bode well for the next energy price cap review and bills from October - but it's early days.
More widely on the financial markets, the FTSE 100 has risen 0.1% at the open to 8,844 following yesterday's decline of almost 0.5%.
The rally, if you can call it that, is quite broad-based.
The pound is being supported by a weakening dollar ahead of the US interest rate decision this evening.
No change is widely anticipated. Trump is demanding a cut. There could be fireworks...
Israel's defence minister has warned of the end for leaders in Iran, and warned "a tornado passes over Tehran".
Defence minister Israel Katz posted on social media, suggesting the regime in Tehran was coming to its end.
He said: "Symbols of government are being bombed and destroyed... this is how dictatorships collapse."
For context:
Israel initially said it began attacking Iran on Friday over concerns of its nuclear programme.
But there have been more and more voices from the top of Israel's government that have increasingly signalled they want a regime change in Iran.
Any American intervention in the Middle East would be "a recipe for all-out war in the region", a spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry has said.
Esmail Baghaei made the comments in an interview with Al Jazeera.
When asked if he thought the US could control its ally Israel, Baghaei grimaced and said: "Not really."
He did not elaborate, but thousands of American troops are based in nearby countries within range of Iran's weapons.
It comes after it emerged that Donald Trump was weighing up what options he had to deploy in the Middle East - including a possible strike on Iran.
Ambassador's warning
An Iranian ambassador to the UN also said the country had told Washington it would firmly respond if it became directly involved with Israel's campaign.
"We will not show any reluctance in defending our people, security and land - we will respond seriously and strongly, without restraint," Ali Bahreini said.
Some brief comments to bring you now from the head of atomic energy in Iran.
Mohammad Eslami is quoted by Fars news agency as saying nuclear facilities remain in good condition, despite Israeli attacks.
"The morale of our colleagues at the nuclear facilities is excellent and they are working hard," he said.
Curbing Iran's nuclear capabilities - and preventing them from building an atom bomb - are a key part of Israel's stated goals in attacking the country.
Meanwhile, those attacks have not impacted the country's ability to supply fuel to its people, the oil minister has said.
Mohsen Paknejad said: "Naturally, in order for us to be able to have this supply continuously and long-term, there may be restrictions in some places, but we will not have a problem in terms of supplying fuel to the people."
Iran's overnight attacks on Israel seemed to be "much reduced" compared to previous nights, our Middle East correspondent Ali Bunkall says.
He's just been speaking to Breakfast presenter Wilfred Frost, where he reflected on the night's fighting, as well as Donald Trump's continued diplomacy-by-social media.
Speaking of the overnight attacks from Tehran, he says: "In terms of Iran, there were two waves of missiles sent towards Israel throughout the middle of the night.
"I think a total of about 25 to 30 missiles in all, so, much reduced from previous nights."
He says it isn't clear why this reduction in attacks has taken place.
Israeli control over Iranian skies
Meanwhile, Israel seems to have at least limited control over Israeli airspace, Bunkall says, backing up claims it has been making since Monday.
"They do seem to have supremacy at least over western Iran and the capital, Tehran. They were striking targets around the capital city throughout the night," he adds.
'Really extraordinary'
Bunkall describes Trump's spew of posts overnight about Israel and Iran as "really extraordinary" given the stakes of the conflict.
He adds: "We understand the US president is still weighing up whether or not to order the US military to join Israel's war against Iran.
"We don't believe a decision has been taken."
